Advent Welcome

Will we make room at the inn–and in our lives–for the coming of Christ?

(Photos courtesy of Fr. Steve Josoma)

Nativity scenes are a beautiful sight outside of countless churches during the Advent and Christmas season. I always smile when I see shepherds and wisemen outside looking in on Mary and Joseph, cuddling a child in swaddling clothes—the baby who would become our Savior and Lord. The opening verses of the Gospel of John say it all so well: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God and the Word was God… The Word became flesh and lived among us.”

A Nativity display outside St. Susanna Catholic Parish in Dedham, Massachusetts has caused a stir. Out front of the church, the shepherds, sheep, and wise men were all there, but Mary and Joseph and baby Jesus were gone! And in the place where they should have been, a dramatic sign with bold letters replaced the holy family with the words, “ICE WAS HERE.”

Mary and Joseph gave birth to baby Jesus in a manger because of an “Executive Order.” King Herod, the representative ruler of Rome, told everyone to go back to their homes to be taxed. To follow the order, Mary and Joseph packed their bags for Bethlehem. When they brought their child into the world, they were migrants without a home.

But baby Jesus and Mary and Joseph were missing at St. Susanna’s this year, as are many congregants from our churches as ICE has begun new mass deportation campaigns in Boston, as they have in other cities around the country–Los Angeles, Chicago, North Carolina—with New York and other places likely to come next. The vast majority of the immigrants who are being picked up, thrown into vans, and taken to places where their families can’t find them are NOT guilty of any crimes. But that is the Trump administration’s big lie, and they keep lying about it. Clergy and churches are asking how to keep their immigrant neighbors safe, many of whom are members of their churches and communities.

Leaders of the Boston Archdiocese were critical of the Nativity scene and ordered that it be taken down, saying they don’t want “divisive political messaging.” The Rev. Stephen Josoma of St. Susanna’s said the intent of the display was to “evoke dialogue,” not cause a furor. Some parishioners were surprised by the archdiocese’s response given the strong statement from U.S. Catholic bishops just a month ago which condemned the Trump administration’s aggressive immigration enforcement. Pope Leo told the American Catholic Bishops “Not to be silent” in the face of these unjust new government immigration enforcement policies.

The Catholics setting up the Nativity scene are heeding Pope Leo’s words, testifying to the inhumane policies that are detaining and deporting their immigrant brothers and sisters without any due process of law, separating families, and overturning the gospel commitment to compassion.

The New York Times reports that other Nativity scenes have popped up around the country this Christmas season, including one at a church in Evanston, Ill., that includes a baby Jesus figure with his hands bound by zip ties. In another Nativity scene near Chicago, Mary, Joseph and Jesus are missing, with a sign telling viewers that, “Due to ICE activity in our community, the Holy Family is in hiding.”

I am both surprised and encouraged by the bold actions clergy and congregations are taking to respond to increasingly aggressive Trump immigration policies. Many clergy are also pointing out the obvious: that the immigrants being targeted are virtually all people of color.

Last week, I was on a call where I heard how churches are responding to ICE in North Carolina. The Rev. Nancy Petty, senior pastor of Pullen Baptist Church, shared how the church opened their doors to the 450 construction workers beside the church who were afraid to come to work. They partnered with local organizers to host a training on how to support immigrants and disrupt ICE activities. 500 people showed up on a weekday! Hundreds more are showing up for training at Presbyterian and Methodist Churches in North Carolina–on Monday nights! As Rev. Petty said, “This is not a moment that we’re in, it’s something that’s been happening, and it’s going to keep happening. We have to stay vigilant and ready to respond.”

This week, I had the opportunity to do a podcast with my long-time friend, Rev. Gabriel Saguero, an evangelical pentecostal pastor of a Latino lead multi-ethic church in Orlando, Florida, and the founder of the National Latino Evangelical Coalition NALEC. They have just announced a powerful national initiative called Advent Welcome. Gabe and NALEC get new messages and calls virtually every day from immigrants in trouble and needing help. He reports how much church attendance has gone down in Latino churches due to fear of deportation–one church from 400 members now to 40 coming each week. They have a three part campaign: active prayer, accompaniment of immigrants, advocacy for immigrants. NALEC is calling this Advent Welcome. And I can’t think of anything better to do this advent. Let’s all spread the word about this initiative, and find whatever ways we can to boldly share the Gospel message: that Christ still dwells among us, especially in those who are vulnerable and oppressed.

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