Like Jesus, Forced to Flee

This is the World Day of Migrants and Refugees, which we acknowledged as we gathered for worship this morning.We are aware that millions of people are on the move around the planet for a variety of reasons, everything from food insecurity, to conflict, to climate change. Often these causes are intertwined. The United Church formally acknowledged Refugee Day in June, but this is the date for many other religious groups. 

Pope Francis has addressed the plight of migrants and refugees often and did so once again to mark this solemn occasion. I always appreciate that in his addresses and written messages on issues of social justice Francis offers thoughtful theological rationales. The title for his message this year is 

Like Jesus Christ, forced to flee. 

Welcoming, protecting, promoting and integrating 

internally displaced persons. 

He is referring to the story in Matthew's gospel of how the family of the child Jesus was forced to flee Bethlehem for Egypt for fear of Herod.

The plight of refugees and migrants is no less real today than before the onset of the coronavirus pandemic. If anything, it could be worse. The European Union is abandoning the idea of mandatory refugee quotas, as it revives an attempt to change Europe’s asylum and migration rules after more than four years of deadlock.

These long-awaited migration proposals, delayed by the pandemic, would allow EU member states to choose whether to accept refugees, or to send them back to home countries. 

Here in Canada our borders have tightened and refugee claimants have years-long waits for hearings. 

In Trenton a group has been attempting to welcome a Syrian refugee family for five years and just as it seemed that the process was coming to fruition COVID stymied the efforts. 

In some respects it seems that many countries have hardened their hearts to this humanitarian crisis, in part because of fear of a health crisis.

Whichever date we choose, it is essential that our compassion and practical concern for migrants and refugees not waver. By doing so we honour Jesus, the refugee. 

                 Refugees and migrants camp on a road following a fire at the Moria camp in Greece

                Photograph: Alkis Konstantinidis/Reuters