We celebrate the feast of the Epiphany, the revelation of Christ to the world. It is a great feast in which we remember the 3 wise men from the east and their journey to see the Christ-child. They were wise men and so they knew the risk they took traveling to see a “new king” in a land occupied by a foreign nation. This could go very badly for them.
Yet, they traveled a long distance to visit this child. They defied the king and refused to return to him with information about the location of the Christ-child. Their act of defiance caused both the death of the Holy Innocence but also provided the Christ-child and his family time to get away.
They headed to Egypt. They were refugees seeking asylum from this foreign and hostile government. Without passport or visa, they walked into Egypt to escape the risk to Jesus from the king. I am sure they heard the stories as they wandered through Egypt of the death of the babies in Judea. Mary would have been heartbroken to learn that other children died so that Jesus could live.
And so, we have this story that should be a tale to us today as we deal with refugees and those seeking asylum. We should treat them like we would treat the Child Jesus if he came to our country. This story plays out each day at our airports and our borders. We have the choice to be like the Roman’s and demand that they die rather than given them asylum. Or we could be like the Egyptians and welcome them in with open arms.
Today, these children of God need our help. They need protection, food, clothing, and a chance at a happy and fulfilled life. Are we willing to be real Christians and help them or are we more intent on building a wall and casting them back their country of origin so they can die at the hands of a repressive government? Remember, we will be judged on how we treat those most in need just like the story of the sheep and the goats.
I chose to help those most in need. And I hope you will join me!
Pax et Bonum,
Bishop Greer