It is hard to hear the Gospel on the Sunday after Christmas. Amid the familiar glow of Silent Night and angel songs, the lectionary turns us toward a darker truth. An angel appears to the Magi in a dream, warning them not to return to Herod. Another angel comes to Joseph, urging him to flee with Mary and the child to Egypt. The Holy Family becomes refugees, crossing borders into unfamiliar and uncertain territory in order to survive.

This is not a sentimental story. It is a story of fear, displacement, and resilience. It is a reminder that Jesus’ life begins not in safety, but in migration.

In a time when many immigrants are living in fear—when neighbors are scapegoated, dehumanized, and targeted by hateful rhetoric and harmful policies—this Gospel calls us to speak clearly and courageously. Immigrants are not a threat. Immigrants are human beings, beloved by God, deserving of dignity, safety, and welcome.

At Lutheran Engagement and Advocacy in Nevada, we continue to stand with and support our immigrant siblings. Guided by our faith and the story of a refugee Savior, we reject anti-immigrant prejudice and hate, and we work for policies and practices rooted in compassion, justice, and love of neighbor.

The Christmas story does not end at the manger. It moves into the world—and it calls us to move with it.