Matthew 2:13-14
"Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."
Today is the Feast of the Holy Family. All through Advent and into Christmas we have been reading about the coming of hope, love, and light to the nations….Jesus Christ. Finally he arrives to the magi, shepherds and Simeon among unnamed others. In our religious celebrations, we sing about peace on earth, joy to the world and other favorites. But the reality of the time was that the country was in upheaval. Romans were in control and the Jews wanted no part of them. Then today it is revealed to Joseph that they must escape to Egypt because their son, the savior of the world, now had a target on his back. All children under the age of 2 across the territory were to be executed. Any parent in their right mind would flee.
Christmas is a time of peaceful celebration, but we are quickly reminded of the reality of world politics. There are refugees in the holy land today trying to escape tyranny. There are hundreds of thousands of parents escaping the middle east looking for hope and shelter. And it's not just there. Even in our own community, there are families who seek to escape their nuclear family due to violence and abuse. Consider today what you can do to help those in need. You may not be able to house someone, but maybe you can do something financially or can give time to support an organization that brings comfort. Remember, the Holy Family were refugees, and Jesus himself was a target. Pray for peace today and do what you can to help those in need.
