Please read the Scripture passage before the homily.
Think of this passage in terms of family. God has a family. In Christian language we speak of a Trinity of persons we call Father, Son and Holy Spirit. This is God’s family, bound together by mutual love and creativity, where the three persons can live in perfect harmony and powerful relationship. When God took on human flesh, God took on our human family. The family that is God came to include our human family. God is part of our family.
Think in terms of Egypt. Egypt welcomed the Israelites, fleeing drought and famine in the time of the ancient patriarchs. Egypt, on another occasion, would enslave the Israelites and engage in genetic cleansing. Egypt, again, would welcome the family of Joseph and Mary, saving the life of Jesus. Egypt welcomed God by welcoming Jesus. Egypt was the place where God chose to live in a human family in a time of danger. Egypt became something of a womb out of which God would call God’s Son as in childbirth. In Egypt God found a home in a human family.
Think in terms of Nazareth. Not by accident is the place where Jesus grew up called Nazareth. Its name is very similar to the Hebrew word nazir, which designed a person as especially consecrated to God. God’s nazir grew up in Nazareth. In Nazareth God blessed and consecrated our human family.
It is within the family that God consecrates each of us at birth. It is in the family that we have experienced the hospitality of the Egypts of our live. It is in the family that we have found protection when Egypt seemed to threaten our wellbeing.
God is not far from us and our families.