Immigrants seeking refuge in the US often arrive with complex histories and diverse motivations, but a common thread is the desire for safety and stability. Many are fleeing violence and unrest in their home countries. They may be facing political or religious persecution, armed conflict or war, human rights violations, or gender-based or sexual orientation persecution.
The Holy Family was a refugee family. There is little doubt about this. We know that in the first year of Jesus’s life, he was forced to flee his own country because of political oppression. Family life is difficult enough for most of us. Life can be harsh and unfair, it can be cruel and it can be devastating. The Holy Family faced all of this.
Wouldn’t it be something if today in our world there was no longer any need for people to flee their own country. But this is not the case. In fact, we are in the midst of a refugee crisis. In our world today, there are over 80 million people who have been displaced from their homes because of war or crisis. They, like the Holy Family, are fleeing political violence in an effort to save themselves and their families.
It's important for us to renew our understanding that Christmas is more than exchanging gifts and gathering together with our family and friends. It’s most important for us to re-discover that the issue of refugees is very high on Jesus’s agenda. Welcoming refugees is central to our responsibilities as Christians. It will be especially true in the upcoming year as we prepare for what is going to be a very political year.
We should make it our priority to know what the Church teaches on immigration. Catholic social teaching says that it is a human right to migrate in order to survive and protect one’s family. Catholic social teaching also says that governments have a right to regulate their borders, but when they do so it should be with justice and mercy. So in the upcoming months as we hear talk about immigration and deportation policies, we need to judge whether these policies are characterized by justice and mercy. If not, they are opposed to the teaching of Jesus.
The flight of the Holy Family continues in our world today. The Holy Family is no longer fleeing Herod. It is fleeing political violence in Gaza, the Ukraine, and so many other places in our broken world. The Holy Family is Christian, Jewish, Moslem and every other religious sect. The Holy Family is white, black, brown and yellow. The Holy Family speaks every language and dialect on earth. The Holy Family is looking for safety and humane treatment.
Where is God in this story? Neither Mary nor Joseph could begin to imagine what the future might hold for them. But they had given their consent to God, and they would not back down. Somehow, they knew that their God would never abandon them. That was enough. And God does not disappoint.
Today we pray for all families: small and large families, those coming to grips with sickness or death, those struggling to find employment or a home, dysfunctional families, single-parent families, those torn apart by disharmony or anger. We pray for families displaced by war, hatred or oppression. We pray for anyone begging for refuge, longing for peace.
Our celebration of Christmas comes and goes very quickly. But Christmas is a celebration that cannot be contained in just one day. Let’s commit ourselves today to welcome all refugees with justice and mercy. Let us welcome them as we would welcome Christ Child.
