The Return To Nazareth       9-24-06

Read The Gospel According To Matthew 2:13-23

Matthew 2:23.  And He went and lived in a town called Nazareth. 

Killing! Violence! On August 7, 1944, on my 18th birthday, I registered for the draft. My brothers were already in World War 2. If I had to go, my parents would be at home alone with no one to help them with the farm work. I talked to a member of the draft board about a deferment. He advised me to apply for a deferment and that it would not be granted; but, it would cause a delay in the draft for a few weeks which would enable us to get the corn crop in and the tobacco crop sold. I’m so happy I got to stay in my home, sweet home, until we got that years crop harvested.

After World War 2 there have been more wars. So where are we today and what is in the news these days? Kathleen Parker began her column “Translating the Pope” in Thursday's Times News with these two sentences: In non-news today, Muslims are outraged. Also, the sun rose at its usual time and the Earth continued to turn on its axis in the customary fashion.

In that little village called Nazareth, until ready for His public ministry, Jesus made his home. It is a sweet thought that the Son of God dwelt for so many years in a home on earth. His pure and sinless life opened out there in Nazareth. No doubt, we wish we could know more of that sweet and blessed home-life; but the little we are told about it is enough, or God’s Spirit would have given us more of the story. We know there was no sin in Jesus, and we can think of His gentleness, His obedience, His love, and of all His other graces. He was a natural child and such a boy as God loves, or as He would have every boy to strive to be. We have one glimpse of Him at twelve, when He began to think about His relation to His Heavenly Father, yet we must note that He went back to Nazareth and resumed His place of duty, staying several years longer. At twelve He was not preaching, and working miracles and going about doing good in a public manner, but for the time remaining at home, a dutiful child, a glad, helpful youth, If Jesus found His Nazareth home wide enough for His blessed life, surely we should not think any home too narrow for our little lives to grow in.

PRAYER: Father, its such a joy to read about the angels protecting the life of baby Jesus, and to read about Jesus living in His home in Nazareth here on earth. Father, we know there is no other place like home. We pray that you will bless our homes and keep us safe from all harm. In Jesus’ name we pray. Amen.

Luther McCollum