Window 2a: The Flight into Egypt

Window 2a:  “Take the child and his mother
and flee to Egypt” (Matthew 2:13).

The first panel of the second window along the north aisle shows us the holy family once more, this time as they journey to Egypt.  Mary holds Jesus and is riding a donkey; Joseph walks beside, still holding his lily-topped staff.  

The text centers the image in Matthew 2:13, immediately after the wise men have departed.  Matthew writes, "And when they [the wise men] were departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeareth to Joseph in a dream, saying, "Arise, and take the young child and his mother and flee into Egypt, and be thou there until I bring thee word:  for Herod will seek the young child to destroy him."

As the image shows, Joseph immediately "took the young child and his mother by night, and departed into Egypt" (Matt 2:14).  This prompt and unquestioning obedience saved Jesus' life, since Herod sent orders to kill all the children in Bethlehem who were two years old and under. 

 The parallel of these events to the story of baby Moses, who was saved when Pharaoh ordered the death of all male Hebrew infants (Exodus 2) provides clear foreshadowing of Jesus' life and mission.  Like Moses, Jesus brings his followers a new "law" and "salvation," although these look quite different from the Exodus and the Ten Commandments of Moses' time.  Images in Window 5a (Sermon on the Mount) will return to this parallel.

Of this parallel to Moses, the writer of Hebrews notes, "...consider the Apostle and High Priest of our profession, Christ Jesus: who was faithful to him that appointed him, as also Moses was faithful in all his house.  For this man was counted worthy of more glory than Moses, inasmuch as he who hath builded the house hat more honor than the house" (Hebrews 3:1b-3).  Jesus, therefore, is like Moses but greater in that Jesus is the builder of all things.  

The image in the symbol medallion is a dove, identified as "the dove of purity and divine inspiration" in the dedication bulletin (Sept. 1948).  In Window 1a (The Annunciation), the dove illustrated the presence of the Holy Spirit; in Window 3a (Baptism), the dove is also used to represent the Holy Spirit descending on Jesus.  

But its connection to the event depicted in Window 2a is a little more difficult.  Certainly we might say that Joseph was divinely inspired to take his family to Egypt.  But, since the scripture says that an angel appeared to him in a dream, the dove of divine inspiration doesn't seem like quite the right image.

One possibility might be the view of the dove as a symbol of new life, first in the rebirth of the world after the flood (when Noah sent out a dove, which returned with an olive branch), and now in the salvation that Christ will bring.  

Another possibility is viewing the dove as an image of sacrifice (which it was during Jesus' time, in fact being used for that purpose when Jesus was presented in the temple (Luke 2:22-24).  This once more provides foreshadowing of Jesus' mission -- his sacrifice will replace the need for doves (and other animals) in sacrificial rituals.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, thank you for the gift of salvation made possible by your sacrifice and resurrection.  Help us to live faithfully in the new life you offer us; we pray that you would help us discern your will and, like Joseph, respond fully and promptly to your direction.  Amen.

North Aisle, Window 2:  
The Flight into Egypt; Young Jesus in the Temple

Window Dedication:

Window 2 is a gift from James Olsen