Sometimes You Have to Fly

Matthew 2:13-14

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,

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Fly by night, away from here
Change my life again
Fly by night, goodbye my dear
My ship isn't coming and I just can't pretend

"Fly by Night" by Rush

Here’s a harrowing story. Imagine if you will, a man whose wife has just given birth. The last week of her pregnancy had been difficult. During that week they all had traveled a long way and when they arrived, medical services she needed were not available. Services were available, but they were denied, for no special reason they were sent packing.

Nearly the moment they got settled in what passes for a place, she gives birth, at least it seemed like an easy delivery. Maybe it was easier than most births, but then again he’s a guy; what do guys really know about the physical and emotional trauma of childbirth? In any event, it was the birth of a child without a doctor or even a midwife. It had to be harrowing for her no matter how easy it seemed.

This was followed by a great commotion. Visitors bringing gifts present them to the child, not the father, not the parents, to the child. There’s enough drama for an entire Broadway season happening in the ramshackle place. Finally the visitors leave and there is what will pass for peace and quiet. He’s finally able to get some shut eye.

His rest is anything but peaceful though. His dreams are racked by violent images. He is warned by his dreams to leave and leave quickly.

So his wife has just given birth, she was the “hostess with the mostest,” and she finally got the baby to sleep; now he is going to wake her up so they can pack up and to take the family across the border to a place that isn’t particularly friendly to immigrants from his neck of the woods because “The Man” is coming to get him. How long will they have to stay? The dream only says to stay until the next dream tells him to return, so God only knows.

This is the story of the birth of Jesus and the flight to Egypt. They certainly had to fly by night. Their ship wasn't coming, their lives were about to change again forever without pretense.

Jesus was sent as a baby to Egypt to live as a political refugee. Yes, I said our Lord was a political refugee. He was sent by The Father to a place where refugees of his faith, skin color, politics, and so on were not particularly welcome. It couldn't have been easy living as a refugee, but it was still living and that wasn't the case for other boys his age in the City of David.

If there is a point Matthew is strong on it is this, the life of Jesus is the blessing of prophecy fulfilled. He is the long awaited Messiah. He is Emmanuel, God with us. He tells us that there is nothing we can face that our Lord hasn’t faced himself. There is no pain or suffering he himself hasn’t faced. In these trials and tribulations he is God and God is with us; even when he was a refugee himself.  In our flights, Christ is with us.  After all, he precedes us in flight.  We're just catching up.