The Refugee Holy Family

Now after they had left, 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.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt I have called my son.’ When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the wise men, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the wise men. Then was fulfilled what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah: ‘A voice was heard in Ramah, wailing and loud lamentation, Rachel weeping for her children; she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.’ When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ‘Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.’ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling over Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, ‘He will be called a Nazorean.’ Matthew 2:13-23

Too often we see images of the Holy family in quiet repose, in a perfectly clean stable, surrounded by angels. None of our lives are ever that pristine. I don't think the new parents, Mary and Joseph felt overwhelming peace so far from their parents and home. And, the story would get worse, with the child's life threatened and the small family becoming refugees and fleeing to Egypt. A messy, away from home life, got much scarier. They must have heard the reports of the children that were slaughtered and must have heard the horror stories when they were finally able to return home. And even then, they had to avoid their true home and start life again in Nazareth. Few us of know the trauma of life as a refugee, but Jesus understands and has compassion for all of them. May we, followers of Jesus, who was displaced from home, have compassion for and work to make refugees welcome and at home here.

Gracious Creator, who gave us Jesus, the Savior

remember the challenges of his family's life

and turn our hearts to the ones who suffer today.

We want to close borders and shut out refugees

thinking we are protecting our precious homeland 

and are instead shutting out the living spirit of God.

Make us humble enough to see the need among us

give us strength to provide shelter for those displaced

and hearts that see Jesus in the face of all refugees. Amen.