Mary and Joseph were warned subconsciously to become migrants thereby avoiding Herod (Matthew 2:12). Before Jesus spoke one word he was a threat to King Herod!
Historian Barbara Tuchman concluded “War is the unfolding of unexpected events.”
Illegal invasions with ongoing warfare in the Persian Gulf and North Africa have resulted in the worst refugee crisis since WWII. The UN and other agencies reported refugees have risen 41% since 2000 to a staggering 244 million people. They, like the Holy Family, must take tremendous risks in order to survive. How is it possible for anyone in December 2016 to be unaware of millions meandering throughout regions now at war?
Last year Franciscan Fr. Richard Rohr was quoted in pointing out the First Incarnation was actually the “big birth” of creation over four billion years ago. December 25th is when we pause in this sacred season to celebrate our invisible God of compassion who took on a human form. A special invitation goes out to 7.4 billion human beings who are invited to be members of a completely new society where no one makes war.
Fr. Rohr concludes, “We are all in school!” For the first time in nearly eighty years this December, I learned of professional midwifes who are called “Doulas.” The Chinese word for birth is “to come out to the world.” Was there a Doula present with Mary and Joseph at the moment Jesus entered our world?
Are enough Doulas present among millions of migrants when a baby is due?
This year we might sense a spiritual presence of Dietrich Bonhoeffer and Franz Jagerstatter. Both were WWII martyrs who warned of dictatorship but did not flee. They embodied a mandate of prophet Ezekiel who “gave the warning.” (Ezekiel 3:16)
While rejoicing in a new history, will we be awake when new Herods appear?
