An angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream, and said, “Rise up, take with thee the child and his
mother, and flee to Egypt; there remain, until I give thee word. For Herod will soon be making search
for the child, to destroy him.”
He rose up, therefore, while it was still night, and took the child and his mother with him, and withdrew
into Egypt, where he remained until the death of Herod, in fulfilment of the word which the Lord spoke
by his prophet, I called my son out of Egypt.
St. John Chrysostom comments on this scene:
On hearing this, Joseph was not shocked, nor did he say: “This is strange. You yourself made it known
not long ago that he would save his people, and now you are incapable even of saving him—we have to
flee, to set out on a long journey and spend a long while in a strange place; that contradicts your
promise.”
Joseph does not think in this way, for he is a man who trusts God. Nor does he ask when he will return,
ever, though the angel left that time vague: “Stay there until I tell you to return.” Joseph does not
object; he obeys and believes and joyfully accepts all the trials.