Josh Garrels sings, ‘What Child is This?’ Take a moment to ponder the new-born Jesus, who entered into our world in such a fragile way.

What Child is this who laid to rest

On Mary's lap is sleeping

Whom angels greet with anthems sweet

While shepherds watch are keeping?

Why lay He in such mean estate

Where ox and ass are feeding?

Good Christians fear for sinners here

The silent word is pleading

This, this is Christ the King

Whom shepherds guard and angels sing

Haste, haste to bring Him laud

The Babe, the Son of Mary

So bring Him incense, gold and myrrh

Come peasant king to own Him

The King of kings salvation brings

Let loving hearts enthrone Him

Nails, spears shall pierce Him through

The cross he bore for me, for you

Hail, hail the Word made flesh

The Babe, the Son of Mary

The Babe, the Son of Mary

Today’s reading is from the Gospel of Matthew.

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

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.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘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.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 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. 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.’

Two kings. One a young child – poor, vulnerable, not yet even aware of his lineage as a true Son of David. The other a powerful, ambitious, ruthless man ruling as King over Israel through Rome. Yet Jesus does not go unnoticed by him. Ponder how it is that simply the presence of Jesus evokes such a response from Herod.

How might this presence of Jesus invite us to respond, perhaps in the parts of our life where we like to rule?

As you hear again of Joseph’s response to God in the events of his life, stand in his shoes and seek to understand more deeply all that gave him impetus to act.

Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

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.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘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.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 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. 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.’

‘There he made his home.’ Speak with Jesus about where you need to find ‘home’ in these days.

Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit.

As it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be

World without end

Amen