What Now

This reflection takes us beyond the familiar manger scene into the unsettling aftermath of Christmas, where Joseph receives urgent divine instructions to flee to Egypt with Mary and Jesus. We're confronted with a profound truth: God's guidance often comes one step at a time, not as a complete roadmap. Joseph's story teaches us that obedience sometimes begins after the celebration ends, when plans change unexpectedly and comfort must be sacrificed for faithfulness. The passage draws striking parallels between Jesus and Israel's journey out of Egypt, showing how Jesus completes what Israel began but couldn't finish. While Herod's violent response to perceived threats reminds us that evil is real and suffering cannot be ignored, Matthew anchors our grief in hope by connecting it to prophetic promises of restoration. As we stand in that strange in-between space after Christmas, facing an uncertain new year, we're invited to trust that the same God who carried the Christ child through danger walks with us into whatever comes next. The question isn't whether we can see the whole road ahead, but whether we're willing to faithfully walk the part we can see.