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Good Morning.

Today is the Birthday of Michael Bond the celebrated children’s author and creator of Paddington.

I was one of those children who adored his Paddington books when growing up which explains why I loved the Paddington Bear trail in London last year. 50 Paddington statues in prominent positions close to museums, and key landmarks. Each bear was created by an artist, designer or celebrity. I was sorry when finished at the end of December.

The idea that a Peruvian immigrant bear got a warm friendly welcome seemed quite real as people queued to take their selfies.

The reality for some migrants here in parts of Northern Ireland is quite different. No welcome. Told to leave. Their property attacked.

The Bible tells us that Mary and Joseph fled with Jesus into Egypt after Epiphany. It is silent on what happened there but apocryphal legends captured in Italian paintings tell us how, on the way, dragons bowed , the lions and leopards adored , palm-trees bent down to give them dates, and the journey was miraculously shortened.　

Stories and legends have a neat way of idealising and sanitising the reality of what it is like to be an outsider.

In the Old Testament book of Leviticus it says, "When a stranger lives with you in your land, don’t take advantage of him/her. Treat the foreigner the same as a native. Love him like one of your own. Remember that you were once foreigners in Egypt."

Lord God,

We were separated from you and you came and sought us,

We were outsiders but you prepared a place for us and made us welcome.

Help us to reflect your welcome in our lives.

Amen.