Saturday 28 December

The Holy Innocents, Martyrs

1 John 1:5-2:2, Ps 123:2-5, 7-8, Matthew 2:13-18

The holy refugees

The Holy Family were refugees. In today’s world they would be living in an overcrowded refugee camp somewhere in the Middle East or Africa, along with 4.5 million other refugees – the highest number in history. New Zealand, an under-populated first world country, accepts an “allocation” of 700 refugees every year. We have enacted strict laws to limit and control the admission of any more. But there are no “queue jumpers” because there is no “queue”; just a mass of suffering humanity, desperate for a new home in which to live decent lives. Can’t we – can’t I – do more to help them?