The Obedience of St Joseph, Exile Into Egypt & Dismas the Good Thief

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Taken from the book: "St Joseph Prince of the Church"

Being the head of the Holy Family and its appointed guide and provider, Joseph received yet another message from the Archangel Gabriel, the Messenger of the Lord:

“Arise, and take the child and his mother, and flee into Egypt, and remain there until I tell thee! For Herod will seek the child to destroy him!” - St. Matthew 2:13

Joseph didn’t know why Herod wanted to kill the Child Jesus, nor did he have time to think about this, all he knew was he had to get his wife and son to safety. They quietly stole away into the night, moving like shadows in the street. The night would have been cold and dark, their only lamp the light of the moon and the stars in the sky. As Joseph guided the donkey out of Bethlehem, he pondered in his heart: “Why would a king want to hurt an innocent child? What has my son done to warrant this murderous plot? He’s just a baby!” Mary, too, wondered with Joseph as to why this child was a target for Herod’s anger.

The words of Simeon, the elder from the temple, echoed in their minds: “Behold,this child is destined for the fall and rise of many!” Could this already be the beginning fulfillment of his words? Jesus was barely two months old and already he had stirred up hope in the lowly and fear in the mighty! To St. Joseph was given the responsibility and honour of safeguarding the life of the Christ Child as well as that of the Blessed Virgin. The Wise Men of the East had inquired to Herod about the birth of the King of the Jews in Bethlehem and this made him nervous. Rather than risk losing his crown, Herod unleashed his wrath and his insecurities by sending his soldiers to Bethlehem to kill every boy under the age of two years of age, just to be sure. While soldiers were swarming into Bethlehem and tearing infants away from their mothers’ breasts, the Holy Family were already far into the desert.

... and he sent and slew all the boys in Bethlehem and all its neighbourhood who were two years old or under ... - St. Matthew 2:16

The angel had given no other instruction other than to flee to Egypt and to remain there until further word. This uncertainty would have been incredibly distressful to Joseph, but he being a perfect model of obedience to the Will of God asked no questions. He stands in great contrast to the great Lawgiver Moses who made numerous inquiries and hesitations as the Lord commanded him to bring the Israelites out of Egypt, even though the Lord had promised to be among him and his people. The Lord even said that he would show many signs and wonders for their consolation, and yet they complained and caused themselves grief.

Joseph was commanded by the angel to get up and go, no help is promised, no directions given and no words of consolation. In the Gospel of St. Matthew, Joseph is shown to us as a man of faith and a man of action - obedient upon receiving his instructions and is shown to us as a perfect example of complete submission to the Divine Will.

So he arose, and took the child and his mother

by night, and withdrew into Egypt...

- St. Matthew 2:14

Concerning this man of action, we are given the words of Pope Benedict XVI to contemplate the example St. Joseph gives us of his faith and fidelity to the Lord:

“In Joseph, faith is not separated from action. His faith had a decisive effect on his actions. Paradoxically, it was by acting, by carrying out his responsibilities, that he stepped aside and left God free to act, placing no obstacles in his way. Joseph is a ‘just’ man because his existence is ‘ad-justed’ to the word of God.”

- Pope Benedict XVI, Yaoundé, Cameroon, March 18, 2009

The sun, beginning to rise, and their cover of darkness slowly vanishing, we can imagine Our Lady praying silently over her boy, her lips whispering a prayer for divine help in her hour of need and especially for Joseph, her just husband who was leading them into exile:

“Hearken to my words, O Lord, attend to my sighing. Heed my call for help, my king and my God! To You I pray, O Lord; at dawn you hear my voice; at dawn I bring my plea expectantly before you. Protect [us], that you may be the joy of [us] who love your name! ... O Lord, bless the just man ... surround him with the shield of your good will.” - Psalm 5:2-5, 12

Though his wife was praying quietly, Joseph heard her pleas to the Lord and was touched by her reverence. She was a strong woman and though she cried, her tears filled him with the strength to walk onwards, regardless of how tired his feet were.

Thus says the Lord: “Cease your cries of mourning, wipe the tears from your eyes. The sorrow you have shown shall have its reward …” - Jeremiah 31:16

Christ was Joseph’s love and salvation, and though He was not flesh of his flesh or blood of his blood, Jesus was still his son. And as long as he kept his faith in the Lord - especially during trials and sufferings - Joseph would not fail. As the terrain turned rougher, the family spent several days walking in the hot sun and sleeping under whatever shelter they could find. Also, Joseph got very little sleep since he kept watch almost all night, as it was not uncommon to hear stories of travelers being robbed, raped, and even killed in the desert!

There is a tradition as early as the 3^rd century, found predominately in the Eastern Church, that the Holy Family themselves encountered thieves in the desert. Upon traveling, St. Joseph and his family found themselves in an area inhabited by a band of thieves – one of whom was named Dismas. Dismas saw this vulnerable family approaching and was about to attack and rob them when his eyes saw the face of the Divine Infant. It is said that he recognized the Child Jesus as his Lord and at once repented.

During their flight into Egypt the Holy Family fell into the hands of robbers. One of them, ravished by the beauty of the Child, said to his companions: ‘Verily I say to you that if it were possible for God to assume our nature I should believe this Child to be God.’ ... they allowed the Holy Family to depart unhurt. - Blessed James of Voragine (1226-1298), Sermon on the Flight into Egypt

It is said that later at the crucifixion, Dismas was the thief to the right hand of Our Lord, in whom he professed his faith, and asked pardon. Traditionally on a crucifix, Jesus tilts his head to his right-hand side, acknowledging the reverence paid to him by the Good Thief.

And he said to Jesus, “Lord remember me when thou comest into thy kingdom”

- St. Luke 23:42

The desert was a no man’s land, save for thieves and wild animals. On the rare occasions that the Holy Family encountered a group of nomads, St. Joseph would cautiously approach them to see if they had good intentions and if they had any food to spare, as their supplies were running low. He would accept only what was offered and would decipher if this group was noble or not to be trusted. If they were in fact well-meaning people, he would bring Mary and Jesus along to eat and rest. These encounters were few, but we imagine that they must have run into some people, as there would be other cautious travelers going to or from Egypt. But these rest stops were few and lasted only a few moments as they were not safe until they reached Egypt.

THE HOLY INNOCENTS

Meanwhile, Herod’s fury raged in Bethlehem and its surrounding towns, innocent blood streamed down the streets as mothers and fathers wept for their sons. Joseph saw his wife’s tears as she thought about these families - families that were just like theirs and he, though strong on the outside, was weeping bitterly in his heart. Just thinking about the fathers wrestling to save their sons made his heart swell with sorrow.

Had the angel not warned him, it would have been him, fighting to save his only son. It would have been his wife, sobbing in the streets. It would have been his boy who was killed by the sword of a jealous king. These men’s sons would be the first martyrs to spill their blood for Jesus Christ - these Holy Innocents dying for Christ without even knowing it, but great is their reward in Heaven.

After construction of the Church of the Nativity, built over the spot of Christ’s birth, the Empress St. Helena (ca. 250-330) brought the relics of some of these little children and placed them in one of the church’s underground chapels, which was subsequently dedicated to their memory. Under the altar repose the little bodies and holy relics of these innocent children, beloved by God and His Church.

The Roman Catholic Church celebrates these victim children, piously referred to as the “Holy Innocents”, on December 28^th. The Church also names them “Flowers of the Martyrs” as they were the buds of the new Church, being cut down in the persecution of Herod.   

... I saw under the altar, the souls of those who had been slain for the Word of God, ... and they cried out with a loud voice, saying, “How long, O Lord, (holy and true), dost Thou refrain from judging and from avenging our blood on those who dwell on the earth?” - Revelation 6:9

“Joseph guarded from death the Child threatened by a monarch's jealousy, and found for Him a refuge; in the miseries of the journey and in the bitterness of exile he was ever the companion, the assistance, and the upholder of the Virgin and of Jesus.” - Pope Leo XIII, Quamquam Pluries, August 15, 1889