Matthew 2:13-23 (NRSV)
Read Matthew 2:13-23 on biblegateway.com
Verse 13Now 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." Verse 14Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, Verse 15and 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."
Verse 16When 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. Verse 17Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: Verse 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."
Verse 19When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, Verse 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." Verse 21Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. Verse 22But 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. Verse 23There 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."
Devotion
Jesus' story is full of bookends. In his first precious moments of life, Jesus was lovingly wrapped in strips of cloth—his swaddling clothes. In his first dark moments of death, Jesus was also lovingly wrapped in strips of cloth—his death shroud. In his first few months of life, Jesus was sought out by the Roman ruler of Jerusalem, King Herod, to be killed. In his final months of life, Jesus was also sought out, this time even by his own religious leaders, to be killed. Jesus' example of powerful, radical love incarnate was bound to upset the powers that be, so that even before he could walk or talk, Jesus was seen as a threat. In the few short years of his public ministry, Jesus was constantly clashing with those in power and attracting negative attention. However, he was a living testament that love is more powerful than hate, a message we continue to need now as much as ever.
Prayer
God of love, we pray that we can be emptied of sin and selfishness, so that we might be filled to overflowing with the love, grace and truth of your son. In Jesus' name we pray. Amen.