Reflecting on the Role of Women During the Holy Family’s Journey

Sunday evening, January 11, 2026, an intimate group gathered via Zoom for a grounding Epiphany Reflection Series led by our very own Mo. Linda.

Our world is feeling the weight of a society that continues to be made less safe for our immigrant neighbors and for everyone. The militarized presence of ICE in our neighborhoods “makes us all less safe,” as NY Bishop Matthew Heyd states (click here to watch his statement during an Interfaith Vigil for Renee Nicole Good and the 39 people who have died in ICE custody).

During this season of Epiphany, we are quite literally met with a brutal “revelation” of a world made less safe. Gathered together on our laptops and computer screens, we were in search of comfort and meaning.

Mo. Linda graciously led the group through an almost Visio Divina (the practice of using visual art to connect with God) of learning and contemplation by presenting various images of the Holy Family’s Journey interpreted throughout a wide variety of cultures and time periods.

What struck our group the most were the images of women that surrounded the nativity scene. In a sudden realization, we were made aware of how these images, such as “Wise Women Also Came” by Jan L. Richardson, were “speaking into a silence” of the story of the Holy Family’s journey, as Mo. Mary stated to the group.

Indeed, an epiphany!

The “appearance” of women shaped a deeper and more grounded understanding of Mary and Joseph’s journey with baby Jesus. The midwives, the doulas, the emotional and physical caretakers who would have surrounded Mary and her birth.

As Mo. Linda powerfully affirms,

“There is no way that Jesus would have been born without the knowledge and labor of the women who surrounded Mary at the time.”

Stories of women from contemporary periods helped our group to understand Mary and Joseph’s struggle out of Egypt from King Herod’s massacre of children and towards a more safe place:

“My world came crashing in when the war in Syria started. I was afraid for my children. One day we were told our village would be attacked so there was nothing else to do but flee. With kids in arm and 8 months pregnant, we fled for our lives, literally, running on foot out of the village. Unknowingly I was running towards danger.” ~ Syrian mother

“What is in front of you is danger, but what is behind you is destruction,” as Mo. Linda reflectively shared with the group.

As the session closed, we left with reminders of Mary’s difficult journey to escape the threat of King Herod’s decree behind her and face the unknown dangers that lay ahead of her. We were reminded of the women who face these choices today. We were touched by the images of women bringing gifts to Mary, Joseph and Jesus, coloring a clearer picture of the nativity scene. Women, such as Renee Nicole Good, who brought the gift of community care by advocating on behalf of immigrant neighbors for a safer world.

History rhymes and our group ended with this reminder after reflecting and contemplating on image after image and story upon story.

As a member of our group shared with us later, an Epiphany hymn:

“In the bleak mid-winter . . .”

“What have I to bring thee?

. . .I will bring my heart.”

Within these dark and unsafe times, we will bring our hearts.