…as Jesus identifies with migrants

By Rev. John Damian Adizie

Have you ever imagined yourself leaving your homeland with few luggage on your head to an unknown destination? Have you ever traveled without any direction due to war or other unfavourable situations?

Can you imagine yourself sleeping in a refugee camp where there are no adequate food and water supply? Worst still, have you   ever   imagined   yourself   being   rejected   as   a   refugee,   with   nobody   to accommodate you? Do you even know that without the grace of God, we all are potential refugees?

Refugees are not criminals. They did not commit any crime. Most of them never applied   to   become   refugees.   It   is   the   most   unpredicted   and   most   unfavorable situation anyone can face. A refugee   is rather someone who has been forced to flee his or her country because of persecution, war or violence. As long as the problem of insecurity is concerned, we all are potential refugees.

Desist from perilous journeys, Buhari warns illegal migrants

Nigeria has not been declared a warring nation yet the number of internally displace persons in this country is enormous. So many Nigerians are living in IDP camps due to BokoHarram, Herdsmen and farmers clashes and other forms of insurgencies.

Considering the plight of refugees and migrants, December 18th has been set aside as International Migrants Day. The plight and the welfare of the migrants is among the major challenges facing the world today. Most nations, including America are beginning   to   close   their   borders   due   to   overflow   of   migrants.

International migrants Day is celebrated annually a week before Christmas. And Christmas, as we know, is the celebration which marks the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ, who came to abolish every forms of barriers. Our Lord Jesus Christ shared in the plight of the migrants. As long as heaven is concerned  Jesus  was  a   migrant   here  on  earth.

Gay Singaporean man wins right to adopt surrogate son

St.  John   declares,  “No   one  has ascended into heaven but he who descended from heaven, the Son of man” (John3:13). Jesus Christ is the first citizen of heaven. From heaven He migrated into the  world.

As soon as he was born into the world he was taken to Egypt as a refugee.When King Herod wanted to kill him, “Behold, an angel of the Lord appeared toJoseph in a dream and said, “Rise, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt,and remain there till I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.”

And he rose and took the child and his mother by night, and departed toEgypt, and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfil what the Lord has spoken by the prophet, ‘Out of Egypt have I called my Son.’ ” (Matthew2:13-15).

With this journey to Egypt at the early stage of his life our Lord Jesus Christ identifies with refugees and other migrants. Jesus knew what it means to be a refugee. He understands their challenges and that is why he encouraged his followers to always welcome the strangers. In the gospel of Matthew 25:35 he even presents the care for strangers (refugees) as one of the ticket to heaven. “…I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” Each time we receive a stranger or a refugee we are receiving Jesus.

We can favour Jesus by favoring the migrants. The best way to enjoy Christmas is by visiting any refugee camp of your choice. As you share your food with the hungry refugees God will richly bless you and it shall be well with you in Jesus name – Amen!

God’s covenant of peace, blessing

Rev. Fr. John Damian is the parish priest, Catholic Adoration of the Holy Spirit and Orphanage homes, and also the Spiritual Director, Intl’ Youth Empowerment and Rehabilitation Center Amede Egoro, Ekpoma, Edo State.