From Magi Visits to Flights to Egypt and Back - A Reflection for the Day of Epiphany (Matthew 2)

 

The Visitation - Rembrandt - Detroit Institute of Art


Matthew 2:1-23 New Revised Standard Version

In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, wise men from the East came to Jerusalem, asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star at its rising, and have come to pay him homage.” When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him; and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea; for so it has been written by the prophet:

‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
    are by no means least among the rulers of Judah;
for from you shall come a ruler
    who is to shepherd my people Israel.’

Then Herod secretly called for the wise men and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child; and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” When they had heard the king, they set out; and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen at its rising, until it stopped over the place where the child was. 10 When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. 11 On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 12 And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

13 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.” 14 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

16 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. 17 Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah:

18 “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.”

19 When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, 20 “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.” 21 Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 22 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. 23 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.”

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                It is the Day of Epiphany; the day when the Magi visit. The lectionary text for this particular day comes from Matthew 2, but it ends in verse 11 with the presentation of gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh from the visiting sages who have followed a star in the sky to the home of the Holy Family in Bethlehem. It is a great story that gives rise to great carols. If only that was the end of the story.  But it’s not. Yes, the magi give homage to Jesus (the holy family is no longer hanging out in the barn as pictured in religious art). It’s two years later, give or take a few months. The family is at their home, whatever that might have been (remember in Matthew there is no manger scene—that’s Luke).

                The driving force in this story isn’t the presentation of gifts, it’s Herod’s fear of a rival. When he hears about this star in the sky, he asks his advisors for guidance. They refer him to the promise found in Micah, which suggests the messiah would emerge from the town of Bethlehem (Micah 5:2). Herod gave the magi directions to Bethlehem, which brought joy to them, but led to plotting on the part of Herod. How might he do away with his rival? As a side note, on this Day of Epiphany in the year 2021, an effort will be made by the current President’s allies to undermine the election of his rival. It may be coincidental, but it is worth noting. This will be no ordinary Day of Epiphany in the United States of America.

                After the magi arrive in Bethlehem, they pay homage to the child and present their gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. This visit and the gifts presented take on significant meaning as time passes. The key message is that the magi represent the Gentile world, which will give their allegiance to Jesus the Messiah. Consider this message from St. Augustine:

And it has, or so it seems, its own authority, what with its having become a worldwide festival. That seems about right, what with the Magi being the first Gentiles to recognize Christ the Lord. They didn’t have the Words of Christ to lead them on. Rather they followed the star that appeared to them as a sort of visible speech, an image, as it were, of the wordless Word; as Matthew put it, it was as though Heaven had a tongue (2:1–12). Now the Gentiles gratefully acknowledge that day, the day their first fruits were picked. And we continue to do so, gratefully dedicating this day to Christ the Lord with all appropriate pomp and circumstance. [Saint Augustine of Hippo. Sermons to the People (pp. 188-189). The Crown Publishing Group. Kindle Edition.]

But as I noted, this isn’t the end of the story. After the magi present their gifts they’re warned of Herod’s plots and head off in a different direction, avoiding the king.

                As for the Holy Family, they too are warned of the plot and flee to Egypt until Herod is no longer alive. According to Matthew, this fulfills a prophecy that “out of Egypt I have called my son.” There is, of course, a modern currency for this story, because the Holy Family become refugees, fleeing violence in their homeland. As Matthew shares, the Holy Family survives by taking flight. The other male children, two years and under, are put the sword of Herod’s soldiers. Again, Matthew turns to scripture, and drawing from Jeremiah, speaks of Rachel’s grief at the loss of her children (Jer. 31:15). While Jeremiah may have had the exiles in mind, Matthew finds a new application. The story ends with the Holy Family’s return home, but not to Bethlehem, but Nazareth in Galilee, for according to Matthew it wasn’t safe to return to Bethlehem, even after Herod’s death.

                As we contemplate the message of Epiphany, what is it that we hear? What word does this passage for us as we head into 2021? How and where do you see the light of Christ made manifest in our world? What part will you play in sharing that light with the world?

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