Refugees - The Holy Family
Flight into Egypt
They walked over 200 miles to escape Herod's army.
Joseph is looking back to see if any soldiers are following them.
Mary is looking forward with some trepidation while
baby Jesus is feeling safe in His mother's arms.
20 X 30 - acrylic on cradled birch panel
THE STORY: The magi (wise men) had arrived in Jerusalem looking for the place where the newborn king was laid. King Herod asked them to return to him once they had located the baby so that he too might pay the child homage. Of course it was Herod's plan to have the new born king killed. After the magi located the child, an angel came to them and told them not to return to Herod, so they went home taking a different route.
When Herod heard that he had been deceived he was furious and ordered all boys under the age of two be killed.
An angel came to Joseph in a dream and said, "Get up, take the child and His mother and flee to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you otherwise. Herod is searching for the child to destroy Him." Joseph got up immediately and took them to Egypt.
Learn more from Franciscan Media or read Matthew 2:1-23
HOLY INNOCENTS Feast Day:
Western Church, December 28th
Eastern Church, December 29th
“During the flight into Egypt, the child Jesus experienced with his parents the tragic fate of the displaced and refugees, which is marked by fear, uncertainty and unease. Unfortunately, in our own times, millions of families can identify with this sad reality. … In each of these people, forced to flee to safety, Jesus is present as he was at the time of Herod. In the faces of the hungry, the thirsty, the naked, the sick, strangers and prisoners, we are called to see the face of Christ who pleads with us to help. ...”
--Pope Francis (106th World Day of Migrants and Refugees. September 2020)
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