I first mentioned Welcoming the Stranger back in September as I was just starting the book about the immigration debate.  Rather than post a review in which I’d cajole you to read the book at your earliest convenience, I asked if one of the authors would be willing to engage a few questions which could be posted here.  Jenny Hwang graciously agreed and I’ll be posting our interview in two parts next week.  I’m mentioning this now so you can set aside a few minutes of your Christmas week to consider some significant questions about immigration, questions that will undoubtedly only become more prevalent in the coming months.

It occurs to me that Christmastime is a great time to thoughtfully engage the issues surrounding our nation’s immigration debate and policies.  Consider the Magi: central characters in the Christmas story whose visit provoked one of lesser-known chapters of the first Christmas.

When [the Magi] had gone, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream. “Get up,” he said, “take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt. Stay there until I tell you, for Herod is going to search for the child to kill him.” So he got up, took the child and his mother during the night and left for Egypt, where he stayed until the death of Herod.  -Matthew 2:13-15

Most of us know the story of Jesus’ birth quite well.  The story that follows- a family displaced by circumstances beyond their control- is less known but regularly experienced by many around the world, including the USA.

I hope you’ll stop by the blog next week for a chance to engage with Jenny Hwang on ideas and issues that matter all of the time, perhaps more poignantly so during Christmas.