The Heli family lived in a village in northern Palestine. As you know this is a part of the world marked by terrible violence and age old hatreds. The Heli children grew up hearing stories of how their grandparents and great-grandparents had lived freely in their land, how their country had been invaded and taken over by a foreign government. Life was hard and the conflict was often brutal. Some of the village folk grudgingly accepted the state of affairs and got on with life as best they could; others fought back, becoming terrorists bent on forcing the foreign government to withdraw.
When the Heli’s were about to have their first child the government demanded they move to a village in the south. They made what was a difficult trip for a heavily pregnant woman and set up their home in a new village. Any peace they experienced was short-lived. One morning the villagers awoke to the sound to government soldiers moving door to door, tearing terrified children from the arms of their parents and then cold-bloodedly executing them. The slaughter was ordered by a government which figured the best way to eliminate future threats to power was to kill the future leaders.
The Helis were lucky to escape. Knowing the government had given orders to kill all children in that area they had no option but to flee to their neighbouring country, Egypt, and seek refuge. They had no time to arrange visas, no time to apply for asylum and then wait for their application to be processed. If they were to save their child there was no option other than sneaking across the border and living the fearful shadow life of an unlawful entrant into a foreign land. It was only years later, after the threat died down, that they were able to go home to their beloved homeland.
You of course know the Heli’s. You recount their story every Christmas, the story of Joseph, son of Heli, his wife Mary, and their baby son, Jesus.
Source: Scott Higgins based on Gospel accounts of Jesus' birth
Applications: refugees, oppression