Matthew Study 2:13

"... Arise... flee to Egypt... stay there until I bring you word..."

Angels appear to us in dreams.

They direct us, warn us, fight for us, and open prison doors for us. They are not people who died and went to heaven. Nor are they the persona of good wishes and well intent from grieving individuals.

Angels are created beings - and there are swarms of them - most of them acutely active in the carrying out of God's plans. Sometimes they appear in a physical, human-like form. Other times, like in this case, they share God's Word through the medium of dreams. Either way, their word is as good as Gold.

"Stay there until I bring you word." This wasn't the first time God's people took refuge in Egypt. In the Old Testament, Jacob's family went to into Egypt where God provided for them during a time of drought. Here, as well and there, the pilgrims are guided with a promise. In essence, God tells the Holy Family, "Go into Egypt and wait. Settle in, use the provisions given through the gifts of the Magi. One day I will call you out of Egypt. But, for now, simply wait until I come back for you - and I will come back for you."

We often enjoy the thrill of guidance, yet find ourselves waffling in the wait. Some of us think we've become abandoned. We begin to read all sorts of things into our dilemma. Has he forgotten about me? Doesn't he understand my situation? Have I forever been exiled, never return to my green pastures again? Some of us, in our waiting, are fearful to do new things, to make new friends. We're afraid to get too rooted. After all, we think, we'll be gone fore we know it. Why waste the time?

But time is not wasted while waiting on the Lord. Besides, my dear saint, you may be waiting for a long time. OT Joseph's tribe waited 200 years before Moses brought them out of Egypt. And we have been waiting 2000 years for the glorious Call of the Trumpet.

Waiting is life.

God's timing is unlike anything else.  Best to root into community as if he's never going to call us Home, and live as if the Call will come this afternoon. The only thing we, who are waiting on the Lord, really know is, "stay there until I bring you word."

So remember: He was big enough to call you In; he is big enough to call you Out. For now, keep one ear heavenward, with the other earthward, and go about your days with joy. Bloom where you are planted. Witness the Lord wherever you are and enjoy your Gift of Life, for which the Christ Child gave his Gift of Life.

One Day, when you least expect it, you will hear the Word and you will be called - and guided by his holy angels - into your Promised Nazareth.