A terrible journey begins: Read Matt 2:13-18
Contemplation
Joseph has had a terrible warning in the night. He’s frightened and shaking us awake. Get up! Get up! We need to go! Now! Now! Something horrible is happening. We need to saddle up, Mary, Joseph, baby and me. Where will we be safe? Not here. We need to go to another country. Frightened, we fumble in the dark for our things. There’s animal noises, sweat, tears. The baby is crying. Mary, panicked, can’t feed him as well as usual.
Now we rush out – still groggy and puzzled. As we start off along the road, we hear more about what Joseph heard in the night. He tells us he has been warned. Herod is angry. He is killing people – children! Run, run to Egypt! Herod is not king there. Maybe we will be safe there? As we run, we find strange people. They often don’t want us. Sometimes as we travel, tired along roads we do not know, with the fear behind us, they spit and shout.
Who are these odd people coming into our country? What do they want here? Why can’t they just go back home and leave us in peace? Why are their problems with their king our business? It’s not easy fleeing to another country – hearing stories from home about people we know who have been attacked by the soldiers. No family, no friends, strange language. No welcome.
When have I needed safety?
Have I found it?
Have I recognised God guiding me?
Have I ever felt unwelcome?
Have I made others feel unwelcome?
Can I recognise God in other people who need help?