National Migration Week 2008
January 6-12, 2008
The Holy Family as Refugees
Matthew 2:13-15
When [the magi] had departed, behold, the angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, "Rise, take the child and his mother, flee to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you. Herod is going to search for the child to destroy him."
Joseph rose and took the child and his mother by night and departed for Egypt.
He stayed there until the death of Herod, that what the Lord had said through the prophet might be fulfilled, "Out of Egypt I called my son."
Jesus as a Migrant
Matthew 8:19-20
A scribe approached and said to him, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus answered him, "Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
Welcome for Strangers
Exodus 23:9
You shall not oppress an alien; you well know how it feels to be an alien, since you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt
Leviticus 19:33-34
You shall treat the stranger who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you, have the same love for him as for yourself; for you too were once strangers in the land of Egypt
Deuteronomy 10:17-19
For the Lord, your God, is the God of gods, the Lord of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome, who has no favorites, accepts no bribes; who executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.
Deuteronomy 14:28-29
At the end of every third year you shall bring out all the tithes of your produce for that year and deposit them in community stores, that the Levite who has no share in the heritage with you, and also the alien, the orphan and the widow who belong to your community, may come and eat their fill; so that the Lord, your God, may bless you in all that you undertake.
Matthew 25:35
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me.
John 15:12
This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.