Christmas 1 with Matthew

December 29th Matthew 2: 13-23.

The holy family flees to Egypt. Sceptics may struggle to take this story at face value. Matthew loves to show God fulfilling prophecy in Jesus, but his attempts to make things fit can seem forced and contrived. Is one of Matthew's motives in this passage to explain why the Messiah comes from Nazareth rather than Bethlehem? What was the point of avoiding Judea when the family return? True, one of Herod's sons rules there, but Galilee is ruled by another of his sons.

There are echoes of the great Hebrew leader Moses in this passage. He fled from Egypt into exile, and then returned there to begin his great work of salvation. Jesus flees to Egypt for sanctuary, but returns to the Holy Land later to begin his work.

WHATEVER we make of this passage, the theme of tyranny, bloodshed and suffering refugees is as relevant and urgent today as ever.