Matthew 2:13–23
Today’s dreadful text describes circumstances we know all too well in our world today. Two poor parents with a young child flee a murderous monarch in search of basic safety in a distant land. The United Nations refugee agency defines a refugee as “someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence.” Mary, Joseph and the infant Jesus certainly fit this description as they flee Herod’s tyranny to Egypt. Jesus’ life began as a refugee, as a “stranger in a foreign land.” Little wonder, then, that Jesus would later commend those of whom he could say, “I was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35)
John Fife is one Presbyterian who recognized Christ’s presence among strangers and refugees. During the 1980s, as immigration from Central America to the United States increased, and with it, corresponding government crackdowns, Fife helped develop a network of religious institutions in Tucson, Arizona, to assist those most at risk for detention and deportation. This early iteration of what is now the Sanctuary Movement recognized that many undocumented immigrants might rightly qualify for asylum as refugees but may not be able to navigate the court system that could ultimately grant them that status. Provision to such migrants comes in many forms, from basic shelter and protection to resources to navigate the system.
There is nothing wrong with the principle of secure borders, but in the United States and in many countries around the world, immigrants and refugees too often become scapegoats for people’s fears. Can you imagine Mary, Joseph and Jesus wandering into Egypt on their donkey, only for the locals to call them “invaders”?
Certainly, the government is in desperate need of immigration reform. But the ministry of the Church needs to be guided by the will of God made manifest in Christ, whatever the government may (or may not) be doing. We need more John Fifes to call us back to Scripture and its call to welcome the stranger. It’s not only a straightforward biblical command; it’s a chapter in the very life of Jesus.
Prayer:
Gracious God, help me to welcome anyone whose path I cross, whether they look and sound like me or not, whether they are from my neighborhood or a distant land. Give me the eyes of Christ, that I may see in each person a child of God, made in your image. Amen.
The Rev. Dr. Brian Lays is the pastor of Riverside Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville, Florida, where he lives with his wife and two sons. A native of Denver, he graduated with his Master of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from Pittsburgh Theological Seminary and his Doctor of Ministry degree from Columbia Theological Seminary. He enjoys playing tennis, traveling and reading.
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