Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Reflection ~
Unfortunately, the same conditions of personal destruction that angels warned St. Joseph about still exist in various situations today. It is easy to see that evil continues to infiltrate the human sphere creating unjustifiable fear and death. Through my father’s end of WII involvement and one of my children’s college research projects, the sadness of the Holocaust never leaves me. It is one of the reasons I have learned to weep and pray sincerely with Joseph so that I may counter anger with peace. To be like St. Joseph means that sometimes we must purposely stay away from “places” where we know evil may exist. Instead, we can pray with others and St. Joseph for peace.
The Flight into Egypt by James Tissot.
The full-resolution painting and more detail are available on the Brooklyn Museum website.
Additional Christmastide Reflections
Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 – 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 Return from Egypt
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.”
Additional Thoughts
Thank you for meditating on this Gospel and reading this Lectio Divina on Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23 Reflection – To be like St. Joseph
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.