Wednesday, June 6, 2012

The Holy Family Flight Into Egypt



The Holy Family Flight Into Egypt  
June 1st - 24th Bashans    

The entry of the Lord to Egypt: Fulfills the prophecies: "Behold the Lord ride on a swift cloud and will come to Egypt" (Is: 19 : 1)

The Fathers of the Church explained that the cloud denotes St Mary. His entry is a Blessing for His Chosen little flock (Lk 12:32) This fulfills the prophecy "Blessed is Egypt My people." (Is 19 : 25)  The idols of Egypt were destroyed when the Lord entered any city to fulfill the prophecy: "The idols of Egypt totter of His Presence, And the heart of Egypt will melt in its midst." (Is 19 : 1)  

St John Chrysostom  explained what written in the 2nd chapter of the Gospel according to St  Matthew about the Entry of the Lord to Egypt:  

1-The saying of Angel to St Joseph "Arise, take the Child and His Mother" that St Mary is attached to the Lord and not to St Joseph.  The Angel did not say (Take your wife)  

2- The Lord demonstrated to us, by His flight to Egypt, that all who desire to live godly living must suffer "and all who desire to live godly in Christ Jesus will suffer persecution."  (2Ti: 3: 12)

 3- This teaches us that we have to gladly  accept any trial and follow the commandments and words of the LORD as St Joseph did when he did not return till the Lord ordered him " And stay until I bring you the word" ( Mt: 2: 13). "Out of Egypt I called My Son" (Hosea  11:1)  This prophecy was fulfilled "Arise and take the young Child and His mother and go to the land of Israel." (Mt  2:20)  

"In that day five cities in the land of Egypt will speak the language of Canaan" (Is  19 : 18)   This prophecy was fulfilled when the five western cities were joined to the Christian faith. "In that day here will be an altar to the Lord in the midst of the land of Egypt" (Is 19:19)  

This Prophecy was fulfilled when an altar was consecrated  By the Lord Himself according to the Holy Tradition  at the St Mary Mooharak Monastery at Assuit.  

Geographically the spot on which the altar is situated in the middle of Egypt "And a pillar of the Lord at its border" (Is 19:19)    Again the Holy tradition explained that this prophecy was fulfilled by the entry of St Mark the Apostle, the Egyptian lands preacher, to Alexandria at the border of Egypt.  

The Lord is waiting to enter the door of our hearts.   May the Lord Support us to allow Him to enter  our hearts and minds  " Behold I stand at the door and knock, if any one hears My voice and opens the door I will come to him and dine with him" (Rev: 3:20).  

It is said that we are born without our will but we can not be saved except when by our will we accept the Lord in our hearts. That is why some painters draw the picture of the Lord knocking on a door that has no door knob from its out side.  

May we open our doors and hearts to the Lord when He comes knocking at our door.


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