Week 6 - Entering into the Kenosis of Jesus Day 4
MORNING FACE TO FACE WITH GOD:
Begin with Prayer to the Holy Spirit
Prayer on Matthew 2: 13-15: The Flight into Egypt:
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him. Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt. He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Read the Reflection; then pray using Matthew 2: 13-15; ask for an intimate knowledge of our Lord, who has become man for me, that I may love Him more and follow Him more closely (#104)
1. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him. Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt: Joseph plays a key role in the early life of Jesus. Instructed by the angel, he takes Mary to be his wife and thus spares her an ignominious death. He is there to help Mary with the birth of Jesus, as together they deal with the obstacles and challenges of their circumstances. Once again, Joseph is visited by an angel who tells him to flee to Egypt. Both he and Mary are experiencing, bit by bit, the prophecy that Simeon had made: "and you yourself a sword will pierce."
2. "Out of Egypt I called my son": The Holy Family stayed in Egypt until the death of Herod who had ordered the slaughter of the innocent children two years and under. Matthew tells us that Jesus' return to Israel was in fulfillment of a prophecy made by Hosea 11: 1: "When Israel was a child I loved him, out of Egypt I called my son." For Hosea, Israel began its existence with the Exodus event when God entered into a covenant relationship with His people. Matthew is telling us that we are experiencing a new Exodus event in Jesus who will establish us in a new and everlasting covenant with God. Jesus is inaugurating the new Israel!
I prayed this morning with St Joesph and his role as father and protector. He recognized his responsibility to watch over his family, his love for God is great. Being a righteous man, his life was determined by God, these past several months for Joesph have been eye opening. His prayer life has come to life through dreams and God's presence, his faith has continued to grow where now his total obedience is to God and the calling he has been given. As a father myself I pondered my own life, being the protector and provider has always come natural, it was the righteous man that I struggled with when the kids were around. That relationship with God was a part time one on Sundays. As fathers we have the responsibility to protect our children from the evils of this world, this is done by our example more than our words. Getting to the point to where God is the one you take direction from is the solution. Herod is still seeking to ruin the Christ child in each of us, a life with Pray will help you guide and protect them.
This is the year of St Joesph, ask him for intercessory prayers in your life and the lives of your children.
What is God saying to you? The evils of this world still exist but within the confines of your heart I will lead you. In Egypt Joesph had nothing to fear for I was always with him. They had need for nothing, in his humble surroundings there was all that he needed. Be ready with prayer and our daily conversations.
Dear Father, I can't see You but I sense You along with other things. I know the road ahead is bumpy but You will lead us through with no worries. I pray for those caught in an evil trap, allowing their minds to be controlled by world powers, break this bondage and turn their hearts to You. Prayers for fathers this morning, help them see they are enough for You have called them for this roll, may our love of St Joesph grow this coming year. I ask this in Jesus name, Amen.
Mary, Mother of Peace, Pray for us.
St Joesph, Protector of the Holy Family, Pray for us.
Viva Cristo Rey.
Greater is He that is in me than he that is in the world. 1 John 4:4b
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