Some Post-Advent Musings

Some Post-Advent Musings

I, like many other Christians, spent the Christmas season seeking to maintain a focus on the incarnation of Jesus Christ while navigating the media push to consume. Along the way, reading the Biblical narratives, I saw the birth stories in a whole new light—a perspective I’d like to share.

Displacement

A few things caught my eye in Luke 2:

1. While Canadians debate the government aba ndoning the mandatory long-form census, in Judea, an issue that infuriated the oppressed Jewish society was what we could call the “long-trip census.” Luke may sound casual, but for the people of the land the census meant complete social upheaval—and in Acts. 5:37 Luke records that a similar census led to armed revolt.
2. The edict applied to EVERYONE in Judea, not just Joseph and Mary. This was not a quiet or romantic stroll from Nazareth to Bethlehem with Mary riding a Donkey. (A donkey isn’t even mentioned in the text!) What we have is a mass migration of subjugated people. ALL were forced to go to the home of their ancestors. No family members would be left behind to protect homes and businesses. Joseph and Mary could not wait for the pregnancy to come to term, and like everyone else, could take only that which they could carry.
   
3. Bethlehem is 90 miles from Nazareth. On le vel ground the average person can walk three miles and hour. This was not level ground. And remember, Mary was pregnant. We’re looking at a good five to seven days—and nights—of travel with thousands of others migrating in different directions.

I was struck by the parallels with what today are identified as internally displaced people (IDP). There are 27.1 million IDPs in similar situations today—forced to flee from their homes out of obligation or due to armed conflict, violations of human rights, or natural disasters. They are among the most vulnerable people in the world. In many cases the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) isnot able to provide protection or assistance due to hostile local governments.

Then I turned to Matthew 2. Here we have Joseph waking his wife and son, who is now a toddler (he could be up to two years old). He tells Mary about the danger from Herod and they immediately sneak out of town, avoiding detection by Jewish and Roman authorities, and escaping to Egypt.

When displaced persons cross an international border in today’s world they become known as refugees. In 1951 the UNHCR developed a convention on refugees that, as of October, 2008, 147 countries have signed onto. Not all have (e.g. Thailand). The convention provides certain protections to this deeply vulnerable community. But life is far from ideal. We can estimate that Joseph, Mary and Jesus spent up to ten years as refugees in Egypt before repatriationto Judea (and actually returning to Nazareth). In short, Jesus’ childhood (up through his pre-teen years) was that of a refugee.

Migration Rhetoric

Now I recognize there are significant complexities around migration issues. I believe, for instance, that it is vitally important to distinguish between economic migrants and asylum seekers—people whose lives are at risk were they to stay in—or be returned to—their country of origin. (Notwithstanding, I have some serious issues with the current system of economic migration in Canada … but I’ll save that for another post). The plight of the estimated 43.3 million displaced persons in the world demands the careful attention of all. Unfortunately, for those who are legitimately in fear for their lives, the rhetoric of the media and our current government has created a very awkward and at times untenable situation.

So what if Joseph and Mary had decided to flee to Canada?

1. If they had they traveled by foot and crossed an international land border with the USA they would have been turned away. This is because of the "Safe Third Country" legislation that came into effect in December, 2004. Though the refugee determination systems are considerably different, both countries are considered safe for refugees and, as both are signatories to the 1951 refugee convention, it is alleged that the plight of the person(s) will be duly considered and the asylum seeker will be safe. So had Joseph and Mary really felt that they needed to get to Canada, they likely would have tried to sneak across the border (as has recently been happening in Quebec as migrants cross at unsecured border crossings with Vermont).
2. Had Joseph and Mary come by sea—especially with others seeking asylum—recent precedence indicates that the government would publically claim that the boat was full of terrorists. Joseph, Mary and Jesus would have been detained while the government pursued every possible lead to confirm whether they were terrorists. (Recent track records indicate that either the government is not very good at surfacing these alleged threats or the vast majority of those coming are indeed genuine asylum seekers.) To make matters worse, the present government in Canada has submitted a bill that would result in even lengthier detentions and, were Joseph to come alone first and be deemed a genuine refugee, still result in a five-year moratorium before being able to sponsor Mary and Jesus into the country! By that time Herod would surely have found the mother and child.
3. Another option for the asylum seeker is to come by plane on a visitor’s visa. Once arriving, they would claim refugee status (and may as a result experience a short period of detention), they would enter the Canadian refugee determination system. It was a spike in claims from the Czech Republic and Mexico under this system that led the Canadian government to place visa requirements on both countries. But that subject merits another post. (I’d better be careful. That’s the second post suggestion I’ve made in this initial post!)

Some would argue that new rules and proposed laws are needed due to the perceived abuse to the Canadian systems. It’s easy to manipulate we are told. I suggest, rather, that the refugee determination system in Canada is indeed the best in the world, and when properly staffed and funded, is very effective assessing and determining genuine situations that require protection.

But to the point at hand:

How does the idea that Jesus was born in displacement and raised in a refugee situation impact your view of advent, your worship of Jesus, and your response to the issues surrounding refugees today?