The Migrant And The Messiah

Migrants, at the border.

It's the headline, as we head toward Advent.

The New York Times summarizes the situation as follows: 

"...Thousands of migrants from Central America have massed along the border of Mexico and the United States — with thousands more on the way. American border patrol agents fired tear gas at them on Sunday to prevent hundreds from reaching the border.

Mr. Trump has vowed to keep the migrants on Mexican soil while they apply for asylum in the United States, a process that could squeeze them into squalid, overcrowded shelters for months, possibly even years. Mexican officials say the strain is already causing a humanitarian emergency, creating a political crisis for Mr. López Obrador [the new Mexican president] even before he takes office.

'Mexico should move the flag waving Migrants, many of whom are stone cold criminals, back to their countries,' Mr. Trump wrote on Twitter on Monday. 'Do it by plane, do it by bus, do it anyway you want, but they are NOT coming into the U.S.A. We will close the Border permanently if need be. Congress, fund the WALL!..'

A complicated, sorted situation -- for sure.

For starters, every nation-state is entitled to border security.  Just opening up a national border, in a carte-blanche way, is not wise - or -- frankly -- humanitarian.  

But is 'turning-away' and walling-out migrants -- in a carte-blanche way -- wise and humanitarian?

Well, if the migrant is criminal and life-threatening, there is wisdom in failing to great entry into a nation-state. 

But if the migrant is legitimately in need of asylum because, indeed, their safety and well-being are in jeopardy -- well -- that's another story.

To be specific:  a biblical story. In fact -- a Christmas story!  

As James Martin has pointed out:

"...With refugees and migrants in the news, some commentators have sought to draw parallels between their plight and that of the Holy Family—Jesus, Mary and Joseph. How accurate are these comparisons? Were Jesus, Mary and Joseph what we would consider today “refugees”?   

Yes. 

In the second chapter of the Gospel of Matthew, we read the story of the “Flight into Egypt” in which, after the birth of Jesus and the visit from the Magi, an “angel of the Lord” comes to Joseph in a dream and warns him to leave Bethlehem for Egypt (Mt 2:12-15). Why? Because King Herod was planning to “seek out the child to destroy him.” Mary and Joseph do leave, along with Jesus, and, according to Matthew, make their way into Egypt. 

Afterward, King Herod slaughters all the male children in Bethlehem under two years of age...[And so] A family is forced to flee their homeland for fear of persecution. This is the classic modern-day definition of a refugee. So, according to the Gospel of Matthew, what is going on? A family is forced to flee their homeland for fear of persecution. This is the classic modern-day definition of a refugee..." https://www.americamagazine.org/faith/2017/12/27/were-jesus-mary-and-joseph-refugees-yes

Again, please note: there are some refugees/migrants not comparable to the fleeing Mary/Joseph/Jesus.  For example, as the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol tweeted on Sunday: 

 "...Today, several migrants threw projectiles at the agents in San Diego. Border Patrol agents deployed tear gas to dispel the group because of the risk to agents' safety. Several agents were hit by the projectiles..."  https://twitter.com/CBP/status/1066842405415124994

Scripture does not defend such refugee/migrant action.  

But neither does scripture assume that such refugee/migrant action (by several) is the action of all refugee/migrants. In fact, scripture tends to 'side' with refugee/migrant/immigrant people, inferring most flee their homeland for honorable and needed reasons.  

One of the most forceful biblical indicators is in 1 Kings 8:    

“…And don’t forget the foreigner who is not a member of your people Israel but has come from a far country because of your reputation. People are going to be attracted here by your great reputation, your wonder-working power…Honor the prayers of the foreigner so that people all over the world will know who you are and what you’re like…(I Kings 8:41-43, The Message)

News sources confirm the motive and demeanor of most migrants/refugees/immigrants approaching the U.S. border.  As the BBC reported:

"...The migrants, who are mostly from Honduras, but also from Guatemala and El Salvador, say they are fleeing the threat of violence in their home countries and looking to make a better life for themselves and their families.  They have traveled in large groups, dubbed "caravans", for more than 4,000km (2,500 miles) from Central America and most want to reach the United States, where they say they plan to ask for asylum. Among them are many families with young children..." (emphasis added) https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-46339085

As in previous immigrant episodes, we need to be especially mindful of the children.   For Jesus was explicit:  “Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs.” (Matthew 19:14, NRSV).  

But once again, as in previous immigrant cases, the children are in peril.  As the Reuters reported yesterday,

"...After traveling north from Honduras and spending a week in the Mexican border town of Tijuana, Maria Meza...set out on Sunday with her five children to claim asylum at the U.S. border crossing.She and hundreds of other Central American migrants were blocked by Mexican police and staged a protest in front of the border, some rushing the U.S fence. Three tear gas canisters shot from the U.S. side landed around Meza and her children, who range in age from toddlers to teenagers...“The first thing I did was grab my children,” said Meza...“I was scared, and I thought I was going to die with them because of the gas”... Her young son James nearly fainted when a canister landed near him. Meza fell and struggled to get up amidst the gas. A young man gave her his hand and pulled her to her feet...“We never thought they were going to fire these bombs where there were children, because there were lots of children,” said Meza..." https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-immigration-family/there-were-children-says-migrant-mother-tear-gassed-at-u-s-border-idUSKCN1NW015

Still, it's complicated.  I mean what do you do, when, as the U.S. Customs and Border Patrol tweeted, several migrants threw projectiles, endangering agents. 

All I know is that Jesus would find some way to prioritize the children.

For just as the Jesus-Child is at the center of the Christmas tale of Mary/Joseph/Jesus fleeing the violence of Herod -- the Migrant-Child is at the center of the current tale of the thousands of refugees fleeing the violence of Central America.  

For often in immigrant narratives, it is the children who suffer the greatest.  As James Martin again reflects:

"...From 1992 to 1994, I worked with the Jesuit Refugee Service in Nairobi, Kenya, where I came to know hundreds of refugees who had fled from Sudan, Uganda, Somalia, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Rwanda, Burundi, Côte d’Ivoire and many other countries out of a “well-founded fear of persecution.” Some, as the Holy Family had feared, had seen their children murdered in front of them. Others had watched as their parents were slaughtered before them. 

Despite their intense and almost unimaginable suffering, they were among the most faithful people I have ever met—holy families in their own ways. Surely these families deserve our protection as much as the Holy Family did..."  

I agree.

In making this affirmation, I am not downplaying the complexity of the current crisis at our Southern border.

And I am not purporting, I know all the practical, political answers.  I don't.

But I am asserting that the spiritual, biblical answer is clear:

• We are to welcome the stranger, the refugee, the migrant, the immigrant (Leviticus 19:34)
• We are to prioritize the safety and well-being of the children (Psalm 127:3-5). 
• We are to tear-down walls, not build walls (Ephesians 2:14-18).  

All this is wildly controversial.

Especially, bringing the immigrant into the Christmas story.

But there is a direct connect between the refugee and the Redeemer -- the migrant and the Messiah.

For God always sides with the persecuted and the oppressed -- the poor and downtrodden -- the sojourner and those in transit.

For the Son of God who comes this Christmas, is the Son of Man -- who -- as Jesus attested -- had "...nowhere to lay his head...” (Matthew 8:21).

At this very moment, thousands are at our Southern border, with nowhere to lay their head. 

I know it's grating -- inflaming -- and political.  

But I can't imagine Jesus shouting:  build a wall.

Instead, I sense Jesus admonishing:  over-time, welcome them in.  

Discreetly.  Lawfully.  Care-fully. Wisely. Discerningly. 

But welcome them in!  

"...For I was hungry, and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty, and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger, and you invited me in…Then the righteous will answer...‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in…

‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’  (Matthew 25:35-40)