December 27/28, 2025
Feast of the Holy Family
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/122825.cfm
Happy 3rd / 4th Day of Christmas, and happy Feast of the Holy Family.
Despite our lovely Christmas carols and our beautiful nativity scenes, the little town of Bethlehem would not sleep in heavenly peace for long. We sing together with the angels, “peace on earth, and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!" But the reality is that the powers of the world recognized Jesus, not as Lord at his birth, but as a threat to their rule.
From his hilltop fortress three miles from Bethlehem, King Herod looked down on royal David’s city and did not plan to come and adore Jesus. Instead, the old dictator, who was in his mid-seventies and was wracked with illness, became increasingly desperate to cling to power. He hatched a plan to massacre every boy two years old and younger in Bethlehem and its vicinity. He ordered his death squads to thunder down upon the mangers and inns and quiet houses and reenact the darkest moment in Israel’s history when Pharaoh drowned the firstborn sons of the Hebrew slaves in the Nile during the time of Moses.
The little Lord Jesus’ only defense was the protection of his holy family and the warning of the angel. And so, the newborn king became a refugee. Mary and Joseph sought sanctuary in Egypt, and like their ancestors, they became strangers in a strange land.
In the wake of World War II, there were almost 12 million displaced people in Europe. Pope Pius XII wrote a papal letter that said,
"The émigré Holy Family of Nazareth, fleeing into Egypt, is the archetype of every refugee family. Jesus, Mary and Joseph, living in exile in Egypt to escape the fury of an evil king, are, for all times and all places, the models and protectors 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, his beloved parents and relatives, his close friends, and to seek a foreign soil” (Exsul Familia, “The Exiled Nazarene Family,” 1952).
When I was in formation as a deacon, Kate and I were required to undertake a service ministry. The two of us worked with a refugee family from the Congo through a program at Kentucky Refugee Ministries. For several months, we accompanied this family of two parents and six kids as they learned to navigate American culture. The family survived a genocide in their home country in central Africa, losing several family members before they escaped to a refugee camp in Kenya. Like the Holy Family, they had to flee their native land and seek refuge abroad. They spent ten years in limbo, living in that camp, before being legally allowed to settle in Louisville. Despite the horrors they experienced, the father told me that he thought they had won the lottery by being able to come to America.
Since settling in Louisville, the parents have found employment, learned to drive, and, though they already spoke English, they have continued to improve their language skills. The kids have been in school and are thriving. The family is Catholic. They sing in the choir at their local parish and have worked exceptionally hard to acclimate and to be accepted.
Despite their best efforts, while Kate and I accompanied this family, we personally witnessed several ugly episodes of xenophobia. At Kroger, a cashier verbally berated them for not understanding how the credit card machine worked. And walking on their street, we witnessed neighborhood kids taunting them and mocking their African origins. Getting to know this family put a face on refugees for Kate and me. I think of them on this feast day when we celebrate the Holy Family, who are the patrons of all refugees and immigrants.
We are facing a crisis of refugees and immigrants today, in our country, just as Europe did in the wake of World War II. Both Pope Francis and Pope Leo have addressed messages to our country, calling on us to care for the immigrants in our community.
Last month the US Bishops issued a special statement in which they opposed the indiscriminate mass deportation of immigrants, the separation of families, the loss of legal status, the unsuitable conditions in detention centers, and the overall vilification of immigrants. They wrote, “we are troubled by threats against the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of hospitals and schools.” Our bishops are advocating for meaningful reform of our immigration system. The concern of our popes and bishops is rooted in Scripture.
In the book of Leviticus, the LORD tells the people of Israel, "When a foreigner resides among you in your land, do not mistreat them. The foreigner residing among you must be treated as your native-born. Love them as yourself, for you were foreigners in Egypt" (Leviticus 19:33-34). The memory of exile and immigration is strong in the religious memory of Judaism and Christianity, just as it is in the national narrative of our country.
As we remember the Holy Family today, let us pray for the immigrants among us. If you feel called to act, I would recommend supporting Catholic Charities or Kentucky Refugee Ministries. We also have a refugee committee here at St. Agnes that Ken Stammerman leads that you might get in touch with.
As we continue the Christmas season, we have made room for Baby Jesus in the mangers in our houses. We are called to make room for Christ, who is present in the migrant and the stranger.
May God bless you and your families this Christmas season
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