"Come after me": Holy Family at Egypt: Egypt as a disciple Nation: Can a nation be a disciple?
"The Flight to Egypt.13* When they had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “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.”14Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.15* He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophetd might be fulfilled, “Out of Egypt I called my son.”" (Mathew Chapter 2)
Holy Family traveled to Egypt to take refuge in the fright of Herod's fury. Jesus Mary and Joseph found their home at Egypt until the death of Herod. When I think of Egypt, I view a nation which has given refuge to many of the Biblical Heros. It was in Egypt, Joseph took refuge as a slave and he was lifted to the status of Governor. It was at Egypt the Israel found their home in Joseph's prosperity and power then became slaves of the labors. It was in Egypt Moses took refuge as baby later who helped to deliver the Israel from the Egypt in exodus to Cannon. Now, after the exodus, Jesus the savior of the world with His foster father and Mother Mary took refuge at Egypt, where He spend His infancy and the beginning of His childhood.
What a great nation Egypt is? The nation which gave refuge to the salvation history and to the savior.
When I reflect upon discipleship, I tend to think of an individual as a person, family as a unit, a community as a faith organization. However, I did not visualize a nation being a disciple until today. I think ancient Egypt has served as a disciple to the salvation history. It has participated in the migratory process of patriarchs, it has nurtured and nourished the biblical heroes and it has given refuge to the salvation. Now, in Jesus and Holy family flee to Egypt in protection of Jesus from the murderous king Herod, Egypt participated in the salvation of the world. From this, I understand a nation and its goodness can serve as a disciple to Jesus.
Individual's faith ignites the family, family's faith ignites the community, the communities faith can ignite and illumine a nation. Thus discipleship life of an individual, family, and community can transform a secular nation into a discipleship nation. Holy family's stay in Egypt transformed Egypt as a disciple nation. Jesus infancy blessed Egypt and its neighborhood and it appears to me that Jesus the savior made an official visit to announce the salvation, in the places, where the Israel's forefathers had spent their life time in slavery and hardship. It appears to me He took the good news there in His infancy in His innocent presence. How blessed the Egypt is?
While Israel was called to serve as a discipleship nation in salvation history, Egypt also represent the ecumenical discipleship to Jesus. There were lot of Jewish leaders followed Jesus secretly. Joseph Arimethew was one of them. He supported Jesus from far. There are many disciples to Jesus even today in many walks of faith and in many government positions of the world. Mahatma Gandhi was one of them. Being a Hindu, he followed Jesus' Mount sermon and he then applied those teaching in his popular Ahimasa doctrine.
Holy Family traveled to Egypt to take refuge in the fright of Herod's fury. Jesus Mary and Joseph found their home at Egypt until the death of Herod. When I think of Egypt, I view a nation which has given refuge to many of the Biblical Heros. It was in Egypt, Joseph took refuge as a slave and he was lifted to the status of Governor. It was at Egypt the Israel found their home in Joseph's prosperity and power then became slaves of the labors. It was in Egypt Moses took refuge as baby later who helped to deliver the Israel from the Egypt in exodus to Cannon. Now, after the exodus, Jesus the savior of the world with His foster father and Mother Mary took refuge at Egypt, where He spend His infancy and the beginning of His childhood.
What a great nation Egypt is? The nation which gave refuge to the salvation history and to the savior.
When I reflect upon discipleship, I tend to think of an individual as a person, family as a unit, a community as a faith organization. However, I did not visualize a nation being a disciple until today. I think ancient Egypt has served as a disciple to the salvation history. It has participated in the migratory process of patriarchs, it has nurtured and nourished the biblical heroes and it has given refuge to the salvation. Now, in Jesus and Holy family flee to Egypt in protection of Jesus from the murderous king Herod, Egypt participated in the salvation of the world. From this, I understand a nation and its goodness can serve as a disciple to Jesus.
Individual's faith ignites the family, family's faith ignites the community, the communities faith can ignite and illumine a nation. Thus discipleship life of an individual, family, and community can transform a secular nation into a discipleship nation. Holy family's stay in Egypt transformed Egypt as a disciple nation. Jesus infancy blessed Egypt and its neighborhood and it appears to me that Jesus the savior made an official visit to announce the salvation, in the places, where the Israel's forefathers had spent their life time in slavery and hardship. It appears to me He took the good news there in His infancy in His innocent presence. How blessed the Egypt is?
While Israel was called to serve as a discipleship nation in salvation history, Egypt also represent the ecumenical discipleship to Jesus. There were lot of Jewish leaders followed Jesus secretly. Joseph Arimethew was one of them. He supported Jesus from far. There are many disciples to Jesus even today in many walks of faith and in many government positions of the world. Mahatma Gandhi was one of them. Being a Hindu, he followed Jesus' Mount sermon and he then applied those teaching in his popular Ahimasa doctrine.
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