The Migrant Gospel

Refugees La Sagrada Familia Kelly Latimore

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said,
“Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you;
for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”   
Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt, 
 and remained there until the death of Herod.
This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet,
 “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”

                                              Matthew 2:13-15

You may have heard that another caravan of migrants, perhaps 5,000 strong is moving slowly through Central America toward the border between the United States and Mexico. Previous groups have been met with draconian measures by the Americans, with these desperate people being treated like hardened criminals. Children have been snatched from their parents and housed in inhumane conditions. Some as young as five have gone to court and expected to understand the issues and speak for themselves. It is a travesty that is almost incomprehensible in a democratic society. Yet President Trump makes sure that the crowds at his ego rallies know that his administration will repel migrants and his language has become increasingly strident and racist.

Of course the resistance to migrants is not exclusive to the United States. It is happening in a number of "advanced" societies from Australia to Europe and, yes, here in Canada. We have a new political party which has already sent out dog whistle messages about sustaining the purity of Canadian values, and in my estimation the Conservatives aren't much better.

The image above is a reminder that what is sometimes called the Holy Family were migrants, fleeing circumstances which were life-threatening. They eventually returned to their homeland but not without experiencing danger. And this aspect of the incarnation is central to the fulfillment of God's plan, according to Matthew.

Why is it then that supposed Christians in some countries are often amongst the harshest critics of migration? Perhaps their "faith" doesn't have much to do with the gospel at all.