He said, “I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.”
[Adapted from “The People Walk,” Janné Grover, Nov/Dec 2021 Herald]
From a Jewish author writing to a Jewish and Gentile audience, the importance of connecting Jesus to Israel is found throughout Matthew’s Gospel, beginning with the genealogy in the opening verses. The family fleeing to Egypt parallels Jacob’s journey to Egypt with his family to escape famine (Genesis 46:3). It is an important connection for Matthew’s author, and it also places the Holy Family in the life circumstance of refugees seeking “a future of hope for their children” (Doctrine and Covenants 163:4a).
Today we see movements of displaced people who walk, seeking safety from political oppression, war, poverty, natural disasters, and decimated lands due to climate change. We cannot overlook the decisions of the powerful and privileged, some out of greed and some out of comfort or convenience, that disproportionally affect those unjustly disadvantaged of resources. We cannot claim God’s care for the Holy Family without recognizing God’s care for all families.
Artist Kelly Latimore creates icons of contemporary people and circumstances as recognition of saints among us here and now. One of his pieces, “La Sagrada Familia,” depicts the Holy Family as immigrants. “We can see the journey of any refugee as not simply a political issue, or an issue at all,” he writes about the work. “We are talking about people, with names, faces, and stories. They have something to teach us about what we know, about who God is, the world we live in, and who are our neighbors.” The image powerfully connects Matthew’s birth story to those seeking refuge today. In his article, “Jesus as Refugee” (Nov/Dec 2020 Herald), Michael Wright reminds us that “there is always a complicated sacred story behind every refugee.”
“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere” (Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.).
These familiar words from a leader of the Civil Rights Movement in the United States echo the prophetic voice of defiant hope to all who walk in darkness. We see evidence of peaceful resistance to injustice as people walk with the oppressed seeking liberation. We cannot claim Jesus’ story as sacred apart from the real-life stories of those who walk in darkness today. To do so risks using the sacred story as a form of religious escapism or elitism, rather than a call to compassionate action on behalf of the One whose name and mission we claim.
Prayer Phrase
“Love does no wrong to a neighbor…” (Romans 13:10).
Individual Action
Create welcoming spaces in your congregation for refugees by organizing social events and support groups. Offer to mentor a refugee, helping them navigate their new environment and providing emotional support. Take the time to learn basic phrases in the refugees’ native language to make communication easier and show respect for their culture.
Today’s Prayer for Peace
Engage in a daily practice of praying for peace in our world. Click here to read today’s prayer and be part of this practice of peace.