Jesus the Refugee?

I don't know about you, but I haven't been able to watch the nightly news lately without giving in to tears. The stories from Ukraine break my heart, especially the faces of the children. In thinking about our scripture reading for today, I can't help seeing Mary, Joseph, and Jesus' escape to Egypt in a different light.

Following the worship of the magi, Joseph is visited by an angel who tells him to get up and flee with Mary and little Jesus to Egypt. Wicked King Herod, inadvertently alerted to Jesus' existence by the magi who are looking for "the king of the Jews," doesn't want a toddler taking his throne, so he plots to kill Him. Joseph, being the devout man that he is, doesn't question the angel's words. He gathers his small family and hurries them down to Egypt where they live in both exile and safety until Herod's death.

Because Jesus left His homeland to escape a murderous king, He understands what it's like for these precious Ukrainian children. Perhaps two-year-old Jesus whimpered in Mary's arms as they hurried out of Bethlehem, trying to avoid detection. Maybe He broke down and cried because He was hungry and tired and just wanted to go to bed, like the sweet, little boy I saw on the news. And like all of these Ukrainian little ones, He, too, left His Father behind--in Heaven.

Watching the news, it's easy for me to wonder why God would allow such suffering. That answer is far beyond my finite comprehension, but the encouragement of the Gospel is that God walks with us in the middle of our pain. As I watched the news last night, Jesus reminded me that He is with each refugee, through the kindness and generosity of the people in neighboring countries, through the hugs and hot meals given in Poland, through the people in America who are booking B&Bs in Ukraine, just so they can donate to a family in need. And in His love, Jesus weeps with them for He is the Man of Sorrows who suffered unspeakably Himself, to give us hope both for this life and for eternity.

Lenten reading for today: Matthew 2:13-21

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