Reflect
Born in a stable, Jesus knew true poverty and was forced to flee to a foreign land to escape persecution and slaughter. The Holy Family knew the hardship of being refugees, outsiders dependent on the kindness and generosity of others. Mary, Joseph, and Jesus—in this sense—are icons of the refugee, orphaned from their homeland, a new Israel. “For you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt” (Lv 19:33–34).
Pray
Holy Family,
Pray for me.
Let me be filled with the mercy and love of God.
Open my heart to the strangers around me.
And give me eyes to see your presence in the poor,
in the homeless, in the refugee, in all who come in need.
Act
Where is God calling you to help someone in need, to welcome a stranger at work, in your neighborhood, or perhaps at school? What is one thing you can do to make that person feel welcome? And what is one way you can help them feel just a little more at home?
refugees refugees refugees