Feast of the Holy Family
December 28,2025
Today we celebrate the feast of the Holy Family who fled for their lives
into a foreign land, much like the journey of so many others who are
displaced in our current world.
We know the story in Matthew’s gospel all too well. Once again, the
angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream telling him to take his
new little family, Mary and the baby Jesus, to Egypt to keep them safe
from Herod who was searching for the infant in order to kill him. Joseph
and his family then fled by night and stayed in Egypt until the death of
the terrible ruler, Herod.
In this day and age, usually a couple anticipating the birth of their first
child comes with support from family and friends sharing in the joy of
their good news, but not Mary and Joseph. Nowhere in the scriptures
does it say that Mary had the support of women around her to give her
guidance during her pregnancy or information on what to expect during
the birth, nor how to care for the baby once it was born. Neither Mary
or Joseph had the opportunity for parenting classes. Forget the baby
showers with gifts of knitted booties, onesies or packages of diapers. I
can’t imagine what it must have felt like for Mary to know that she gave
birth to an innocent baby who was love personified and yet was already
hated so much that they had to flee for their lives. What were the fears
and challenges they experienced on the way? Did they have welcoming
strangers to lighten their journey?
Now, in your imagination fast forward more than 2000 years: Jose,
Maria and baby Jesus are fast asleep in their simple dwelling when at
three in the morning, Jose receives a message that someone is looking
for them. Immigration agents, better known as ICE had been spotted in
the area. They quickly pack some food and their meager belongings
and creep out of the house. As they quietly go down darkened alleys
Maria prays that the baby won’t wake up and start to cry. They make
their way several hundred miles, mostly on foot or helped by strangers
who provide them a ride and safe passage. Finally, they cross the state
line into a territory new to them where they hope their family will be
safe. They have taken risks before and have trusted strangers.
Comparing the Holy Family to today’s immigrant families highlights
shared experiences of displacement, vulnerability, and seeking refuge,
emphasizing themes of rejection, finding shelter, fleeing persecution
and being strangers in a foreign land, prompting calls for compassion
and welcoming migrants as embodying Christ’s own journey.
All the while they-Joseph or Jose- have been concerned. How will they
be received? Will they be welcomed and given the help they need to
adjust to a new reality? Will they ever be allowed to return safely to
their home of origin?
Mary and Joseph were turned away from lodging in Bethlehem, finding
shelter in a stable. Immigrants frequently experience societal rejection,
prejudice and difficulty finding safe shelter. The sign at the bottom of
our hill, “I was an immigrant and you gave me shelter” is there to
remind all who see it that as members of the human family we are
called to practice radical hospitality; demanding justice, compassion
and action to welcome the stranger while challenging the systems that
create such suffering.
There are many definitions for family but all are called to the same
challenge-to see one another with God’s eyes and above all, put on
LOVE.
Agnes Ann Schum SL