Joseph's Dreams

"...an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.’" Matthew 2:13-15, 19-23

In eight short verses in the gospel of Matthew, Joseph has three dreams which guide him to make major changes for him and his family. First the angel of the Lord tells him to leave Bethlehem and go to Egypt, then from Egypt to Israel, then from Israel to Galilee to the village of Nazareth. Clearly listening to our dreams is important! Each of these moves was because of the powerful, ambitious, ruthless Herod who feared a threat to his rule and wanted to kill anyone in his way.

As a rampant dreamer, I have learned to write my dreams down and to pay attention to them. There is a long list of dreamers in scripture whose lives and whose people's lives are saved and transformed by their dreams. Joseph, Daniel, Jacob, Pharaoh, Solomon, and Joseph come to mind. There are ministries and businesses that help you interpret your dreams today. Paying attention to our dreams can often expose prophecies that can change the trajectory of lives or enlighten paths for healing.

One interpretation of Joseph's dreams I found to be very helpful is this. The presence of Jesus invokes furor from Herod. Why? Because his rule is threatened and his insecurity terrifies him. Just as other demons in the gospels react to Jesus, so the Light of the Christ terrifies the darkness in Herod. This question might be a transformational one for us: How might this presence of Jesus invite us to respond in parts of our lives where we like to rule? And perhaps the learning to take away from it would be not to herod. Using herod as a verb could be a great reminder of the danger of trying to control and the peace that comes with letting go.

On this day when we remember the Holy Innocents, the infants King Herod massacred in Bethlehem when he was seeking to kill the newborn Jesus, it is fitting that we relinquish the need to control and label it as heroding, recognizing its danger. Listen to your dreams ike Joseph did, because they just might lead you into a place of safety and peace, home where the heart is.

Happy 4th day of Christmas.

Georges de la Tour, Joseph the Carpenter