The Baptism of the Lord, January 12, 2025
Two of the four Gospels tell the story of the birth of Jesus, though from different perspectives. However, both introduce Jesus to the world as a poor child, who prefers the company of poor and outcast people. In Luke's Gospel, Jesus is born in a stable because there is "no room" for him in the inn. In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus is visited by exotic Magi, wise men, from afar. However, soon after their visit, the family of Jesus must run for their lives to escape the fury of a murderous king who is afraid of anyone who might have a claim to the title "king."
In Matthew's Gospel, Jesus became a refugee, a child who migrated with his family to avoid violence. Through the centuries and today, the poor leave their homes, fleeing intolerable poverty and danger, to seek a better life somewhere else.
World War II caused the displacement of millions of refugees in Europe and Asia. A few years after the end of the war, another conflict broke out in Israel and Palestine, and there were many more refugees. In 1952, Pope Pius XII wrote a remarkable papal document, Exsul Familia Nazarethana, where he spoke of the Holy Family, who were refugees from the homicidal King Herod. Pope Pius asked Catholics to recall the refugee Holy Family and to offer charity to modern refugees who face hunger and danger as they seek a safer, more prosperous home. As we end our Christmas celebration, remembering the visit to the Holy Family by the Magi and the subsequent need for Jesus, Mary, and Joseph to leave Israel for Egypt, let's recall the Catholic Church's traditional teaching about the migration of people.
Pope Pius opened his 1952 document with these words:
The émigré Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every refugee family. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, living in exile in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are, for all times and all places, the models and protectors of every migrant, alien, and refugee of whatever kind who, whether compelled by fear of persecution or by want, is forced to leave his native land, his beloved parents and relatives, his close friends, and to seek foreign soil.
Speaking harshly to Catholics who refused to come to the aid of migrants, especially those at risk of death or of losing their faith, the Pope quoted Saint Ambrose (4th century) who said: "For who is so callous, unfeeling, hard-hearted, and cruel that he does not want men saved from death and women from barbarous attacks worse than death?" Refugees still flee from death, and women still endure "barbarous attacks worse than death."
People of goodwill can differ on what our proper immigration policy should be. But no Christian can reject the command of Christ to "love your neighbor as yourself."
Followers of Christ defend the equality of every human person and the right of every person to have basic human needs met.
Those of us who have what we need for life have an obligation to share from our bounty with the poor. If we are followers of Jesus, we cannot despise our homeless brothers and sisters who are always present to us in Center City; nor can we cast aside migrants. Jesus teaches us that everyone in need is our neighbor, and he commands us to "love your neighbor."
When the baby Jesus had to flee from His home with His parents, He identified for all time with those who are displaced by threats of violence. Let's open our hearts to Jesus as He comes to us again and again disguised as a poor person, perhaps as a refugee. Jesus taught us that whatever we do to the poor, we do to Him.
