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Christmas 2 2026 – Pilgrims Walking Through Darkness to Life
Rev. Doug Floyd
The Flight Into Egypt by Ren Yifang (early 20th century)
Christmas 2 2026 – Pilgrims Walking Through Darkness to Life
Rev. Doug Floyd
Matthew 2
In our Gospel reading today, three feast days collide: the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the Feast of the Holy Family, and the Feast of Epiphany. All three stories are connected, but our feast days separate them to focus on specific themes of each story. I chose to read the whole chapter of Matthew 2, so we could hear these stories together. In the birth of Jesus, we are confronted with unjust power, holy worship, horrific slaughter, and the fragility of Holy Family.
Our story begins with the King of Judah and wise men from the east. The wise men see the star and they follow. Longing hearts wanting to know truth, they followed the promise within their tradition but left their tradition and searched for the king to be born, the king to be adored.
Herod possesses the title of King but not the heart of a king. He is remembered as Herod the Great because of his great accomplishments. He rebuilt the Temple and much of Jerusalem. He also rebuilt several other Judean cities and built a seven-story mountain: Herodium. This mountain was both a fortress and a luxury resort. There were private royal apartments and housing for soldiers and servants. The floors were covered with tiles mosaics. The walls were covered in paintings. There was an amphitheater with an orchestra pit, a palace garden, a large dining hall, a heated bath house, and a swimming pool.
Herod not only built great buildings, cities, and fortresses. He also was a destroyer. Herod had his brother-in-law drowned, strangled his wife Marianne, killed her mother and father, and even executed two of his sons. When he was approaching death, he ordered a group of respected men to be killed so that the city would mourn. Thankfully this last order was not carried out.
The wise men look up at the star and follow. Herod looks down at his own kingdom and is afraid. Despite the glories of his achievements, this is a kingdom of dust and it will fall and fade. Herod sits on a seat of power in Jerusalem: the Holy City. He is afraid of an unknown child being born in the tiny, powerless village of Bethlehem. He tries to get the wise men to help him locate this child, this threat to his power.
As the wise men leave Herod’s presence, they see the star again and rejoice. They see, they follow, they find the child, they worship Him. Here is the mystery of the spiritual journey. Our eyes and hearts are mysteriously opened, and we seek after the True One, the lover of our souls. We follow the call, we behold the Lord, we adore Him. O come let us adore Him.
Heeding the dream warning from God, the wise men do not return to Herod but return home a different way.
First the wise men dream. Now Joseph dreams. An angel also warns him. “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” (Matthew 2:13, RSV2CE)
Behold the God of glory in a lowly baby on the run for His life. When the Father above sends the Son of God to earth, He sends him into the frailty of human existence. The babe is the Son of God in flesh and has all the power of heaven at His disposal. At the same time, he is vulnerable and carried to safety by Joseph and Mary. When God reveals His power and glory in our midst, He comes in weakness. While Herod grasps for power, Jesus never grasps for power. He takes the form of a servant. And eventually He humbles himself unto death.
We live in a world of Herods. We live in world of people who grasp for power in business, in entertainment, in politics, and even in the church. Yet Christ continues to reveal Himself in weakness, frailty, smallness, and even hiddenness. I used to want to see the fire of God come down, but now I want to fall down before His unspeakable glory. He is always drawing us to Himself. We are becoming wise men and women who look up, who follow, who adore.
In our story today, Joseph and Mary take Jesus to Egypt. The Coptic church celebrates this story of Jesus finding refuge in Egypt. This reminds us of the Old Testament story of Joseph and his family who find refuge in Egypt. In times of danger and famine, Egypt is a place of refuge for many peoples. This blessed refuge also becomes a place of slavery.
Sometimes the very places where we find refuge can also enslave. We are easily enslaved by our desire, our greed, and even our supposedly holy desires. How many people have sought to build a work for God and along the way become enslaved by their own vices? Lord have mercy on us. Expose our idols and lead us back again and again to true life in Christ.
At some point, Joseph hears from the angel again. Herod is dead and it’s time to return home. Egypt was never home for Joseph and his family or the children of Israel. We are all headed home to the new Jerusalem. It is the true refuge for all the peoples of the earth. Jospeh is cautioned from returning to Galilee due to Herod’s son now ruling. He takes his family to Nazareth.
In this one chapter alone, there are three dreams: two for Joseph and one for the wise men. If we pay attention, we discover that God speaks through dreams all through Scripture even to the pagan cultures.
I’m a dreamer and most dreams are entertaining. But I have had many very specific dreams about specific situations in my life and in the lives of others. I am convinced that our Lord is still speaking through dreams.
After the story of the wise men, and Joseph and Mary protecting Jesus, we are confronted by a horrific tale of slaughter in Bethlehem. This tale is actually a feast day in our church year. Last week, the church calendar observed the Feast of the Holy Innocents. How can this be? How can we call a feast remembering the heart-wrenching slaughter of innocent children?
First, the church celebrates a feast because these children were never abandoned by God. They are considered the first saints. St. Peter Chrysologus (Kris-Solo-goose) writes, “They have changed their labors into rest, their sufferings into refreshment, their sorrows into joy. They live, they are alive. They are the ones who truly live, they who merit to be slain for Christ. Blessed are the wombs which bore such babes, blessed are the breasts which nourished them, blessed are the tears which were shed for them, and conferred on the weeping ones the grace of baptism.”
And yet, the mothers grieve. Those who grieved then are comforted now. Sister Wendy Becket, asks us to consider the irony in all this. The Lord Jesus, who is to end his life by dying for others, begins his life with others dying because of him. His safety is assured, but his own Mother’s happiness is preserved amidst the misery of others. The world in which Christ arrives and lives was not a safe or easy place. From the very beginning of his life amid the bright stars and heavenly angels, darkness lurked.
The Holy Innocents remind us that our world is filled with sin and evil. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, RSV2CE)
Now we may not kill a village of children and yet we are still under judgment. In Romans 3, Paul quotes the Psalmist to remind us, “ “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one.”” (Romans 3:10–12, RSV2CE)
The Son of God is born into a world of corruption and sin. Multiple medieval paintings of the nativity include background images of the babes being slaughtered in Bethlehem. We are reminded that the nativity is not just a warm sentimental experience. It is a holy mystery of beauty and glory unveiled in the night of human evil. Jesus comes to reconcile us to God. He has come to restore all creation. We rejoice for evil will not prevail.
Even now we see oppressors all around in homes, in communities, in nations. But then we hear the word of promise.
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit, a haunt of every foul and hateful bird;” (Revelation 18:2, RSV2CE)
“Alas! alas! you great city, you mighty city, Babylon! In one hour has your judgment come.”” (Revelation 18:10, RSV2CE)
We are heading to the New Jerusalem. Even now our sights our set on this glory-filled city. John tells us, “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband;” (Revelation 21:2, RSV2CE)
“and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water without price from the fountain of the water of life. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:3–7, RSV2CE)
Today we rejoice that the Son of God has come. He came in our human frame. He lived and suffered the pains of human life. He descended to death, defeating death and has raised us up into heavenly places. These are mysteries and we struggle to speak of them. So we simply rejoice and join our voices to the saints across the ages:
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.”” (Revelation 5:9–10, RSV2CE)
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By Rev. Doug FloydRev. Doug Floyd
The Flight Into Egypt by Ren Yifang (early 20th century)
Christmas 2 2026 – Pilgrims Walking Through Darkness to Life
Rev. Doug Floyd
Matthew 2
In our Gospel reading today, three feast days collide: the Feast of the Holy Innocents, the Feast of the Holy Family, and the Feast of Epiphany. All three stories are connected, but our feast days separate them to focus on specific themes of each story. I chose to read the whole chapter of Matthew 2, so we could hear these stories together. In the birth of Jesus, we are confronted with unjust power, holy worship, horrific slaughter, and the fragility of Holy Family.
Our story begins with the King of Judah and wise men from the east. The wise men see the star and they follow. Longing hearts wanting to know truth, they followed the promise within their tradition but left their tradition and searched for the king to be born, the king to be adored.
Herod possesses the title of King but not the heart of a king. He is remembered as Herod the Great because of his great accomplishments. He rebuilt the Temple and much of Jerusalem. He also rebuilt several other Judean cities and built a seven-story mountain: Herodium. This mountain was both a fortress and a luxury resort. There were private royal apartments and housing for soldiers and servants. The floors were covered with tiles mosaics. The walls were covered in paintings. There was an amphitheater with an orchestra pit, a palace garden, a large dining hall, a heated bath house, and a swimming pool.
Herod not only built great buildings, cities, and fortresses. He also was a destroyer. Herod had his brother-in-law drowned, strangled his wife Marianne, killed her mother and father, and even executed two of his sons. When he was approaching death, he ordered a group of respected men to be killed so that the city would mourn. Thankfully this last order was not carried out.
The wise men look up at the star and follow. Herod looks down at his own kingdom and is afraid. Despite the glories of his achievements, this is a kingdom of dust and it will fall and fade. Herod sits on a seat of power in Jerusalem: the Holy City. He is afraid of an unknown child being born in the tiny, powerless village of Bethlehem. He tries to get the wise men to help him locate this child, this threat to his power.
As the wise men leave Herod’s presence, they see the star again and rejoice. They see, they follow, they find the child, they worship Him. Here is the mystery of the spiritual journey. Our eyes and hearts are mysteriously opened, and we seek after the True One, the lover of our souls. We follow the call, we behold the Lord, we adore Him. O come let us adore Him.
Heeding the dream warning from God, the wise men do not return to Herod but return home a different way.
First the wise men dream. Now Joseph dreams. An angel also warns him. “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” (Matthew 2:13, RSV2CE)
Behold the God of glory in a lowly baby on the run for His life. When the Father above sends the Son of God to earth, He sends him into the frailty of human existence. The babe is the Son of God in flesh and has all the power of heaven at His disposal. At the same time, he is vulnerable and carried to safety by Joseph and Mary. When God reveals His power and glory in our midst, He comes in weakness. While Herod grasps for power, Jesus never grasps for power. He takes the form of a servant. And eventually He humbles himself unto death.
We live in a world of Herods. We live in world of people who grasp for power in business, in entertainment, in politics, and even in the church. Yet Christ continues to reveal Himself in weakness, frailty, smallness, and even hiddenness. I used to want to see the fire of God come down, but now I want to fall down before His unspeakable glory. He is always drawing us to Himself. We are becoming wise men and women who look up, who follow, who adore.
In our story today, Joseph and Mary take Jesus to Egypt. The Coptic church celebrates this story of Jesus finding refuge in Egypt. This reminds us of the Old Testament story of Joseph and his family who find refuge in Egypt. In times of danger and famine, Egypt is a place of refuge for many peoples. This blessed refuge also becomes a place of slavery.
Sometimes the very places where we find refuge can also enslave. We are easily enslaved by our desire, our greed, and even our supposedly holy desires. How many people have sought to build a work for God and along the way become enslaved by their own vices? Lord have mercy on us. Expose our idols and lead us back again and again to true life in Christ.
At some point, Joseph hears from the angel again. Herod is dead and it’s time to return home. Egypt was never home for Joseph and his family or the children of Israel. We are all headed home to the new Jerusalem. It is the true refuge for all the peoples of the earth. Jospeh is cautioned from returning to Galilee due to Herod’s son now ruling. He takes his family to Nazareth.
In this one chapter alone, there are three dreams: two for Joseph and one for the wise men. If we pay attention, we discover that God speaks through dreams all through Scripture even to the pagan cultures.
I’m a dreamer and most dreams are entertaining. But I have had many very specific dreams about specific situations in my life and in the lives of others. I am convinced that our Lord is still speaking through dreams.
After the story of the wise men, and Joseph and Mary protecting Jesus, we are confronted by a horrific tale of slaughter in Bethlehem. This tale is actually a feast day in our church year. Last week, the church calendar observed the Feast of the Holy Innocents. How can this be? How can we call a feast remembering the heart-wrenching slaughter of innocent children?
First, the church celebrates a feast because these children were never abandoned by God. They are considered the first saints. St. Peter Chrysologus (Kris-Solo-goose) writes, “They have changed their labors into rest, their sufferings into refreshment, their sorrows into joy. They live, they are alive. They are the ones who truly live, they who merit to be slain for Christ. Blessed are the wombs which bore such babes, blessed are the breasts which nourished them, blessed are the tears which were shed for them, and conferred on the weeping ones the grace of baptism.”
And yet, the mothers grieve. Those who grieved then are comforted now. Sister Wendy Becket, asks us to consider the irony in all this. The Lord Jesus, who is to end his life by dying for others, begins his life with others dying because of him. His safety is assured, but his own Mother’s happiness is preserved amidst the misery of others. The world in which Christ arrives and lives was not a safe or easy place. From the very beginning of his life amid the bright stars and heavenly angels, darkness lurked.
The Holy Innocents remind us that our world is filled with sin and evil. The prophet Jeremiah reminds us that “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately corrupt; who can understand it?” (Jeremiah 17:9, RSV2CE)
Now we may not kill a village of children and yet we are still under judgment. In Romans 3, Paul quotes the Psalmist to remind us, “ “None is righteous, no, not one; no one understands, no one seeks for God. All have turned aside, together they have gone wrong; no one does good, not even one.”” (Romans 3:10–12, RSV2CE)
The Son of God is born into a world of corruption and sin. Multiple medieval paintings of the nativity include background images of the babes being slaughtered in Bethlehem. We are reminded that the nativity is not just a warm sentimental experience. It is a holy mystery of beauty and glory unveiled in the night of human evil. Jesus comes to reconcile us to God. He has come to restore all creation. We rejoice for evil will not prevail.
Even now we see oppressors all around in homes, in communities, in nations. But then we hear the word of promise.
“Fallen, fallen is Babylon the great! It has become a dwelling place of demons, a haunt of every foul spirit, a haunt of every foul and hateful bird;” (Revelation 18:2, RSV2CE)
“Alas! alas! you great city, you mighty city, Babylon! In one hour has your judgment come.”” (Revelation 18:10, RSV2CE)
We are heading to the New Jerusalem. Even now our sights our set on this glory-filled city. John tells us, “I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband;” (Revelation 21:2, RSV2CE)
“and I heard a great voice from the throne saying, “Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away.” And he who sat upon the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Also he said, “Write this, for these words are trustworthy and true.” And he said to me, “It is done! I am the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give water without price from the fountain of the water of life. He who conquers shall have this heritage, and I will be his God and he shall be my son.” (Revelation 21:3–7, RSV2CE)
Today we rejoice that the Son of God has come. He came in our human frame. He lived and suffered the pains of human life. He descended to death, defeating death and has raised us up into heavenly places. These are mysteries and we struggle to speak of them. So we simply rejoice and join our voices to the saints across the ages:
“Worthy are you to take the scroll and to open its seals, for you were slain and by your blood you ransomed men for God from every tribe and tongue and people and nation, and have made them a kingdom and priests to our God, and they shall reign on earth.”” (Revelation 5:9–10, RSV2CE)