Joseph and Mary Were Refugees? Really?

Recently I came across a graphic that made an interesting statement:

Interesting and assuredly complete and total nonsense.

If you read the accounts of the birth of Christ, the only people present the evening of the birth were Mary, Joseph, and the shepherds. They were all Jewish people.

None of them were refugees.

And everyone was on his way to register for the census, each to his own city. Joseph also went up from Galilee, from the city of Nazareth, to Judea, to the city of David which is called Bethlehem, because he was of the house and family of David... (Luke 2:3-4)

Mary and Joseph were not refugees. Joseph was simply returning to his hometown, nothing more.

But, you ask, what of the magi? They were Arabs!

Good question and an accurate observation.

They showed up two years later. They were not present at the manger even though they are portrayed as present at any traditional creche scene.

Therefore, here is a more accurate version of the graphic:

“Ah, yes,” you say, “but what about their flight to Egypt?”

The reality is that Egypt was part of the Roman Empire and the Holy Family did not need special permission to move to a country that was under Rome. Also, Egypt already had a sizable Jewish population.

Don’t get me wrong. The refugee problem in the United States needs to be dealt with legally and humanely. I confess, I have no solution.

But don’t alter a religious story in order to emotionally manipulate people. I would hope that most people are above that.