Lamentation – Matthew 2:13-18 Reflection
“Thus says the Lord: A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation” was spoken by the prophet Jeremiah long before Mary and Joseph had to flee. Unjustified deaths have occurred throughout history because of anger and evil infiltrating our human sphere. No matter your age, the horror of deviance and superiority is never far from our thoughts. We all know people who have witnessed this firsthand and those who prevail in hope response stories and prayer. We can become distressed because of the rise of anger, selfishness, and other vices surrounding us. To help us find peace, God gives us the gift of hope so our lamentation and weeping can be soothed in deep prayer and not an eye for an eye. Saint Joseph knew what Jesus’s life would become, so he responded best by taking flight. Sometimes our response, like Joseph needs to be an action to move away instead of towards.
The Flight into Egypt by James Tissot. (full-resolution image of painting).
More details are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Christmastide Reflections
Matthew 2:13-18 – Scripture*
The Escape to Egypt
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.”
The Massacre of the Infants
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.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Matthew 2:13-18 Reflection – Lamentation.
Would you like to contribute related thoughts to these Lectio reflections on the Gospel readings? Since Lectio is not the only contemplative prayer style, others might appreciate these types of expressions in this ministry. Do you see God’s grandeur everywhere and unconditionally enjoy sharing the love of Christ that you have inside? Are you willing to be anonymous in what you would share? If so, email me.
Prayer for young families:
Lord, let the young families of our communities get to know your joy, peace, comfort, and love despite worldly distractions.
Attributions
*This site has permission to use the New Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (NRSVCE) Bible Matthew 2 passage.
The Immersive Prayer website follows the guidelines for image web use at the Brooklyn Museum and the Jewish Museum websites.
Page and discussion group on these Lectio Divina daily Gospel Readings.
Discussion group on St. John of the Cross.