Refugees in Our Midst by Denise Simeone
Permission to reprint this article comes from Celebrations Publications( CelebrationPublications. org), originally published in December 2016. Art by Julie Lonneman( Julie Lonneman Studio)
Tag, you’ re it!
When I was growing up in Ohio I played a variety of games with neighborhood kids and cousins. A common one was hide and seek tag. One person was the chaser or it and tried to tag someone else. There was a place, usually a tree trunk or a pole called safe or home. It was a place where you could run to, touch it, and catch your breath before you went out running again.
I was reminded of this game and its focus on the role of a safe place when I read the first chapters of Matthew’ s Gospel. Matthew begins his infancy narrative differently than Luke; in fact, this is the only Gospel where we hear about the dreams of Joseph.
6 • The New Wine Press • January 2017
In Matthew, Joseph plays a pivotal role by showing fidelity to God’ s call as he protects Mary and her newborn child.
Perhaps as we delve into these initial chapters of Matthew, we catch a glimpse of our role and responsibility in the world. As we anticipate or begin this liturgical new year, let us explore three related passages.
Joseph’ s Dreams
On the Fourth Sunday of Advent and during the Christmas Vigil Mass, the church proclaims the story of Joseph’ s troubling discernment. In the first of four dreams, Joseph receives a message by an angel that