Home for Christmas? 23

The Word became flesh and dwelt among us

We often skate over the end of Matthew's version of the nativity story. It doesn't fit with our cosy view of Christmas. He wanted, though, to emphasize that right from the start this child was in danger, and that his coming brought trouble and pain in its wake because of the implicit challenge to the corrupt powers that ruled his world.
Jesus and his parents become refugees in Egypt, and the fury of Herod is unleashed on many other children in Bethlehem. It is an old story, but a modern one too. Innocent children the world over suffer at the hands of despots who cannot bear to lose the power that is all that makes them feel worthwhile. It is tempting to feel that perhaps it would have been better to leave things as they were - Jesus' birth stirred up a hornets' nest. But ultimately "peace" which is simply collusion and compromise is no peace at all.
The "home" for humanity which God builds through Jesus life and ministry is one which is built on truth. In the end, too, this child does not escape the wrath of another Herod (this king's son) and the might of the Romans who support him when he dies on the cross.

• Have you ever had to take a stand on something, knowing that if you did so it would lead to trouble and suffering for yourself or others?
• Were you tempted not to?

Matthew 2 13-23

Now after the wise men 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 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. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: 

‘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.’

 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.’ 

Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becamest poor;
Thrones for a manger didst surrender,
Sapphire-paved courts for stable floor.
Thou who wast rich beyond all splendour,
All for love's sake becomes poor.

Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man;
Stooping so low, but sinners raising
Heavenwards by thine eternal plan.
Thou who art God beyond all praising,
All for love's sake becamest man.

Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.
Emmanuel, within us dwelling,
Make us what thou wouldst have us be.
Thou who art love beyond all telling,
Saviour and King, we worship thee.

credits

Frank Houghton (1894-1972)
For more about the background to this lovely hymn, written by a missionary bishop to China in difficult times, see here.