Tuesday December 28th: Feast of the Holy Innocents

“It Is Rachel weeping for her children, refusing to be comforted”…..

Matthew 2:13-18

The Gospel tells us that God spoke to Joseph and said: “Rise, take the child and his mother and flee to Egypt.” The holy family was saved not through angel songs, Christmas stars, and pageantry, but through the burdens and the trials of traveling as refugees. This Gospel story has a very clear message for us today.

Pope Pius XII reminds us: The migrant Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every … migrant, alien and refugee of whatever kind who, whether compelled by fear of persecution or by want, is forced to leave his native land, beloved parents and relatives, close friends, and to seek a foreign soil.”

Let us pray that the Christmas story takes root in our hearts so that we can see the refugees with God’s eyes. As people of faith, this is the time for our hearts to be transformed so that we welcome those who seek safety in our land with compassion, care, and justice. (cf Karen Rossman OP.)

Photo by Guduru Ajay bhargav from Pexels