An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt"

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son."

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying:

"A voice was heard in Ramah,

Lamentation, weeping, and great mourning,

Rachel weeping for her children,

Refusing to be comforted,

Because they are no more."

Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene."

- Matthew 2:13-23

In yesterday's reading, we read about the three wise men who came from the East, looking for the Child. They came to Jerusalem, the center of Jewish life and worship, and asked, "Where is He who has been born King of the Jews? For we have seen His star in the East and have come to worship Him." King Herod was disturbed when he heard about this, and consulted the experts on prophecy about the Messiah, the chief priests and scribes. They told him that the Messiah was to be born in Bethlehem. Herod told the wise men to search for the Child in Bethlehem, and then to return to tell him about the Child. The wise men found Jesus with Mary His mother, and fell down and worshiped Him. And when they had opened their treasures, they presented gifts to Him: gold, frankincense, and myrrh. Then, being divinely warned in a dream that they should not return to Herod, they departed for their own country another way.

Now when they had departed, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I bring you word; for Herod will seek the young Child to destroy Him." When he arose, he took the young Child and His mother by night and departed for Egypt, and was there until the death of Herod, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the Lord through the prophet, saying, "Out of Egypt I called My Son." My study bible notes that "Egypt is where Israel once took refuge and was made captive. As the Israelites fled from Egypt (Ex. 12:31-42), so Joseph flees into Egypt, by night. It is probable the gifts of the Magi paid for this journey. Some of the first steps of Jesus are taken in exile. This is one of a number of instances in Scripture where God's people must elude civil power in order to do His will." Let us think about what it is to live in exile. We recall that Moses named his child Gershom, meaning stranger or exile, saying, "I have been a stranger in a strange land." The quotation here is from Hosea 11:1. To live in faith in exile, away from community and familiar surroundings, is in some sense to depend solely on God, even to be tried in one's faith, as the early Christian monastics in the desert. Joseph is also a holy person, illumined as were the wise men by a dream.

Then Herod, when he saw that he was deceived by the wise men, was exceedingly angry; and he sent forth and put to death all the male children who were in Bethlehem and in all its districts, from two years old and under, according to the time which he had determined from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what was spoken by Jeremiah the prophet, saying: "A voice was heard in Ramah, lamentation, weeping, and great mourning, Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted, because they are no more." My study bible notes that the cruelty of Herod was prefigured at Moses' birth, when Pharoah attempted to kill all the male children in order to destroy the first Israel (Ex. 1:16, 22). This attempt by Herod is referred to by the Church as the slaughter of the Holy Innocents. The quotation from Jeremiah records the people of Jerusalem being led away into exile (Jer. 31:15). Says my study bible, "On their sad pilgrimage to an alien land, they passed Ramah, where Rachel, wife of Jacob, lay buried (1 Sam. 10:2). In his prophecy, Jeremiah pictures Rachel, who had long been dead, weeping even in her tomb for the fate that had befallen the people, her children. Now, the mothers of Bethlehem weep for the slaughter of their children, the Holy Innocents." These children have been regarded historically by the Church as saints and martyrs. "As Rachel was told her children would return from exile in Babylon (Jer. 31:16, 17), so Jesus will return from His exile in Egypt," my study bible adds.

Now when Herod was dead, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt, saying, "Arise, take the young Child and His mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who sought the young Child's life are dead." Then he arose, took the young Child and His mother, and came into the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was reigning over Judea instead of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. Once again, we are told of a dream that comes to Joseph, and how he heeds the messages in these dreams. Herod the Great died in 4 B.C. The dating of the Lord's birth, says my study bible, on which the A.D. (Anno Domini, Latin for "in the year of the Lord") calendar is based was off by several years. Archelaus was one son of Herod the Great, and was also known for his cruelty. He was banished by Augustus Caesar to Gaul in A.D. 6, after the Jews petitioned for his removal. So far in Jesus' young life, He has lived through great danger and exile. He is yet again in another kind of exile among strangers, because Joseph fears he cannot return to Judea.

And being warned by God in a dream, he turned aside into the region of Galilee. And he came and dwelt in a city called Nazareth, that it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophets, "He shall be called a Nazarene." Another dream gives Joseph warning! The family goes to Galilee, which is a land mixed with both Gentiles and Jews. It is ruled over by yet another son of Herod the Great, Herod Antipas. In some sense, Galilee is a place where they are still among "strangers" - Gentiles. And it is also a place of threatening rule: Herod Antipas will be responsible for the death of John the Baptist, and will also confer with Pilate when Jesus' fate is decided. About the prophecy regarding Nazareth, my study bible says, "The prophecy here cannot be conclusively identified. It has been taken variously as a reference to the Branch (Heb. neser) of Isaiah (Is. 11:1) of to the Nazirite (Heb. nazir) of Judges (Judg. 13:7; see Num. 6:1-21). Or Matthew may be alluding to passages which speak of the Messiah as despised, since Nazareth did not have a good reputation among the Jews (John 1:46). Nazarene later became a designation for followers of Jesus, especially in the Semitic world, although 'Christian' was the more common name." Whatever the connotation, we must understand Nazareth as it was understood in His time, as a town of mixed population, both Gentiles and Jews, far away from Jerusalem and the religious life of the temple there.

So in this passage describing the early years of Jesus' life, we are treated to an understanding of themes of repeated exile, of oppressive rule, and a life among strangers. It is also a life that is in some ways, clearly and even literally "set apart." This is in keeping with a holy purpose, sanctification. It is a life of difficulty, both for Him (we imagine) and certainly for His parents. And the hidden gem in this of course is the love of His earthly father or guardian, Joseph, and His mother, Mary. How they must have suffered for and deeply loved this Child! Joseph, in His great example of love to us, takes on the role of protector of all of them. There is the oppressive rule of Herod the Great, his son Archelaus, and the one to come of Herod Antipas -- all danger encountered for the sake of the Son whom they love. And there is God's help, the help of the Spirit, on which they rely in their exile with no other help -- the dreams given to Joseph, and the warning of the angel in the dream. Like the wise men in yesterday's reading, Joseph's heart is open to spiritual sight and hearing. He can perceive the word of God given to him, the communications of the Spirit, via angelic messenger. Let us consider what this means in our own lives. There may be times we live, in effect, like exiles, when we feel isolated or alone. Perhaps we even have to take steps to protect ourselves. But all can be a time of spiritual discernment, of a fashioning of a deeper reliance on God, in faith. Can we be like Joseph and the wise men, can we hear and perceive a relationship with God? Can we heed the Spirit guiding us in our lives? Are we capable of doing that? More fully we remember the great love that infuses this story. The wise men love the Child, and clearly the parents take on lives that reflect their love, care and protection of Him. They take on danger into their lives for Him. Can we do the same, and love so much, even for His sake?