Destiny

The Gospel

Matthew 2:13-15,19-23

After the wise men 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, 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."

When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, "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." Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. 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. 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."

The Sermon

Our story of the holy family gets a little mixed up this week and next.  This Monday's gospel reading tells the story of the Maji arriving in Bethlehem. Today's gospel reading tells what happened after the Maji left. Joseph has another dream and in the dream he is told they must take refuge in Egypt because Herod has sent out an order for all Jewish boys under the age of two to be murdered. Herod was corrupt and evil. He wanted to do all that he could to retain his power and he perceived this infant as a threat.

So, Joseph and family escape to Egypt. This story is very similar to the story of Moses. Fourteen hundred years before Jesus birth, pharaoh, the ruler of Egypt, had ordered that all male Jewish infants be thrown into the Nile because he feared too many Jews were being born and he was afraid the Egyptian people would be overpowered by sheer numbers.

In both cases, Moses and Jesus live out their destiny. Moses leads his people out of Egypt and into freedom. Jesus leads us into the kingdom of God.

So what is our destiny? What has God destined for us to do? A couple of weeks ago at bible study one of our participants shared a thought provoking metaphor. She said that when one door closes in life, another one becomes available. You just have to turn the knob. Turning that knob is what following your destiny is all about.

I believe God has destined us for great things. No, we may not become president of the United States. Maybe not even mayor of Chariton. God looks for us to do things that are spiritually great and spirituality is measured differently. There is no worldly power or fame in spiritual greatness. Spiritual greatness is measured by the love we give to one another.

Last week in the reading from John the author said that we are children of God and as God's children we are expected to do Godly things. So, be brave and let the Holy Spirit guide you. Love one another and give of yourselves whenever another child of God needs you. It could be helping a family seeking refuge because they fear for their lives as Joseph's family did. It could be tucking your own loved one in bed and telling them that you love them.

Let the Holy Spirit be your guide.

Amen