The text for today displays a tension between two extremes. On the one hand, Herod’s means of securing his power was dark and murderous, necessitating the holy family’s flight to Egypt. On the other hand, Joseph’s three dreams bore witness to God’s protective hand and sovereignty over each twist and turn as he brought “the child and his mother” first from Bethlehem to Egypt and finally to Nazareth of Galilee. Even the locations were intriguing and ironic. Egypt was historically a place of oppression for God’s people, yet it provided a place of refuge for Israel’s Messiah. And who would guess that neither Tiberias nor Sepphoris, the famous cities of Galilee, but Nazareth, an obscure village of little repute, would end up being the childhood home of the Messiah?
Surely Herod’s evil scheme could not thwart the coming of God’s Messiah! More than that, the narrative evokes clear memories of the exodus. Like Moses, whom God sent to save the Israelites, Jesus, God’s eschatological agent of salvation, was delivered before fulfilling his mission to save God’s people as well. This note of solidarity is also sounded in today’s lectionary reading from Hebrews, which affirms Jesus’ sharing of his brothers’ and sisters’ sufferings and trials.
Even as a baby, Jesus faced rejection and was rescued. He was a saved Savior, a delivered Deliverer.
