The First Sunday of Christmas ---- 29 December 2013

Matthew 2:13-23

13 Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him." 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, "Out of Egypt I have called my son." 16 When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through 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 are no more." 19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 "Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child's life are dead." 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. 23 There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, "He will be called a Nazorean."

Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod.

• Theologians tell us that this event in the life of Jesus is done so that Jesus might be seen as a true Israelite, going into Egypt and then returning to the Promised Land.
• There are differences, of course. Jesus is a baby and it is Joseph who heeds the angel's advice to go to Egypt. Once there, Jesus and his family are not enslaved. The differences are small compared to the larger reason for the flight into Egypt. Jesus would be spared the slaughter of young children ordered by Herod and by going to Egypt and returning, Jesus follows the route of the Hebrew people – from Canaan into Egypt to escape destruction and then back into the land of the promise. The whole history of the Hebrew people is found in Jesus.
• Another point is found in Jesus being spared from death as Moses was. With this in mind, Jesus is compared to Moses since both were spared from death to save the people.
• There is still more to this than meets the eye at first glance. It may seem to be a story of escape and of tragedy. It almost seems to be a story of a “just-in-the-nick-of-time” escape from death.
• Many find great injustice in the story, saying what sort of God would permit such a tragedy in the killing of innocent children. There is no getting away from that question... and there is no answer to it either. There have always been injustices and until the Kingdom comes fully, there probably always will be. We don't have to like it and we as Christians will dedicate ourselves to removing such injustices as we can.
• Besides the identification of Jesus with the entire Hebrew people and the fulfilment of prophecy noted by the evangelist, the story points out that Jesus and his kingdom will be opposed by those whose interests are only for themselves. Herod did not what to meet the new “King of the Jews” to honour him or to debate with him. He found even the rumour and story of a new-born King to be a threat to his status quo. So he responded as those in power often do – with force and violence. There would be no discussion or power sharing. There would be no gentle acceptance of the transfer of sovereignty. There would be only blood and terror and “Rachel weeping for her children... ...because they are no more."
• It is a sad tale and it's one every nation has known. It is the way of earthly power, a power that opposes the way of God since the way of God threatens what appears to be their power. So innocence is laid waste and fear of such violence will keep everyone in line.
• Jesus was opposed all his life by those who were in power or were “insiders.” Jesus spent his life on earth as an “outsider” who was often not accepted by those who saw themselves as righteous, even those who strongly up held the God of Israel or who believed they upheld the God of Israel. Often they upheld their own privilege, saying it was God's will and desire. As it is with so many in history, their own will is interpreted as the will of God and then acted upon.
• What of us? How is this Good News for us?
• This story does plant Jesus firmly within the actions that make up the history of the world. The type of horror that Herod decreed in order to save his throne have been repeated many times. The attitude he held – to keep his power no matter what the cost – is often seen in the action of other leaders, great or small. It is something many of us have seen from leaders, large or small. Jesus has endured the exile, the separation from a home, the apprehension about being chased or betrayed that so many of us have.
• Should we think that Jesus does not understand our situations, our problems, or our predicaments, we need only read about the circumstances of his birth and his youth, especially this story of the flight into Egypt.
• Here is point so well put by the writer of the letter to the Hebrews. Jesus endured what any of us have endured and he understands.
• The letter to the Hebrews says this: ...it is clear that he did not come to help angels, but the descendants of Abraham. Therefore he had to become like his brothers and sisters in every respect, so that he might be a merciful and faithful high priest in the service of God, to make a sacrifice of atonement for the sins of the people. Because he himself was tested by what he suffered, he is able to help those who are being tested.
• We are saved by one who understands us. We are saved by one like us. We are saved by a God who loves us so much that he would become a part of the fabric of our universe and of our history... even if it meant misunderstanding, exile, and death.
• Isaiah puts it this way: It was no messenger or angel but his presence that saved them; in his love and in his pity he redeemed them; he lifted them up and carried them all the days of old.
• Thanks be to God for such grace.