THE LOST BOYS

THE LOST BOYS

16 Then Herod, when he saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, was in a furious rage, and he sent and killed all the male children in Bethlehem and in all that region who were two years old or under, according to the time which he had ascertained from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah:

          18 “A voice was heard in Ramah,

          wailing and loud lamentation,

          Rachel weeping for her children;

          she refused to be consoled,

          because they were no more.”     (Matthew 2)

 

                Somewhere in the middle of the heavenly host, assembled around the Throne of God and the Lamb, one angel leans forward and whispers to an archangel, “… who are those little boys in that new balcony?  … there are a couple of dozen of them, smiling, and waving their tiny hands at the King!  … but, who are they?!”  The archangel hushed him, and whispered, “…that’s the Bethlehem Balcony…”

                Down below, in time and space, a couple dozen heart-broken mothers meet in a support group they call the “M.O.B.” – mothers of Bethlehem.  One of the mothers, Hannah, clears her throat and begins the meeting, saying, “… it has been several years now, but I cannot close my eyes without seeing the soldiers kicking open doors – the screams, the crying babies, the helpless distress …”  

Another, Ruth, breaks in, “…it must have been how the mother of Moses, Jochabed, felt, waiting for the Nile crocodiles …”  

Sarah angrily interrupts, sobbing, “… yeah, but her boy was saved; mine was smashed against the wall by that brute soldier …”  

The room falls into a hushed silence filled with quiet sobs.  Elizabeth hesitantly broke the  silence, whispering, “I heard that one got away?!  They did not get them all?”

Anna added, “I remember them; they came for the census that Herod had…”  Several mothers, in unison, spit on the floor at the mention of the name of Herod.

Naomi cried, “I remember that demon, Herod; he even killed three of his own sons – what a mad man!”

Anna continued, “…but, I remember them; they came down from Galilee, and stayed for a while.  Their baby was born in the stables.  Bethlehem was full of outsiders that week and the only inn was full.  They stayed for a while, even after most folks went home – new baby delayed them, I guess?!  The shepherds still talk about that baby.”

Miriam interjected, “…yeah, those Magi showed up, left, then came the soldiers!”

Sarah angrily added, “…yes, their baby was the one Herod was looking for – something about ‘king of the Jews’ like Micah the prophet said?  All I know is that he is the one that got my baby boy killed!  And, I even bought some tables that were made by that carpenter; Joseph was his name?!”

The angel continued to stare at the new balcony in the Throne Room.  He could not fathom the joy and laughing coming from the alcove.  Then he watched as the Lamb stood and waved back to the boys.  Then, the Lamb arose and was in their balcony, holding them and singing to them!  They had a special, unexplainable bond.

On a trip to Jerusalem, decades later, Sarah met a quiet, serene lady and questioned, “…you are her!?  You are the mother of the boy Herod wanted to kill?  But, he killed my boy – and yours got away!  It is so unfair!  My baby died so that yours could live?!  It is so unfair!”

Mary, sadly, but excitedly said, “No, my son died so that you can live; let me tell you about my son, Jesus”

Sarah gasped, “…your son was the one they took to Golgotha?!”

Mary sat and explained the whole story, remembering and rehearsing what Isaiah had said so long ago!  Sarah cried; but, it was a new cry, a cry for joy over the risen King!

Sarah went back to Bethlehem and joined the group of believers there.  One Sunday, she donated a table which she had bought years ago, from the carpenter.  “Please take it and use it for the Eucharist table,” Sarah pleaded, adding “I bought it from Joseph, years ago.  I had two, but I sold the other one to some fellow in Jerusalem who wanted it for his upper room…”

And, somewhere in Heaven, the boys lost in Bethlehem smile in peace and purity and perfection.  And, their Brother smiles back at them.