Where Hope Is Born: Accompaniment at Christmas
16 December 2025|Fr. Eric Goeh-Akue, S.J.
As we approach Christmas, we are reminded of a story that began in vulnerability, when a young family sought shelter, found no place to rest, and welcomed new life in the simplest of surroundings. The birth of Jesus was, in many ways, the story of displacement: a child born far from home, whose family would soon flee violence and become refugees themselves.
This season invites us to return to that humble beginning and to rediscover the light that entered the world not in comfort but in uncertainty, not in privilege but in poverty and faith. Advent calls us to watch and to wait, and to nurture hope even in the midst of darkness.
Today, that call feels more urgent than ever. Around the world, millions of families are displaced by conflict, persecution, and disaster. Communities that have already endured so much continue to face new crises, from wars and political upheaval to the effects of climate change and rising costs of living. Yet, at the very time when needs are growing, we are witnessing an erosion of solidarity. Governments are closing borders and hearts are hardening. Compassion, once seen as a strength, is too often dismissed as naïveté.
And yet, amid these challenges, grace continues to appear. Across the world, where we accompany refugees in camps, schools, and community centers, we at Jesuit Refugee Service see hope continue to be born through small acts of courage and care: a teacher ensuring that children can keep learning, a host community welcoming strangers with kindness, and a refugee volunteer accompanying others who are newly arrived.
This is the heart of accompaniment: walking side by side and refusing to let suffering have the last word. It is a daily act of faith in the goodness that still resides in humanity and a belief that together we can build communities of hope and resilience even in the harshest circumstances.
As we celebrate the coming of Christ, may we recognise His presence in every person seeking safety, dignity, and peace. Let us allow the light of Christmas to soften our hearts and renew our commitment to those on the move.
Each gesture of compassion and solidarity helps us continue to accompany refugees around the world. Together, we can keep hope alive where it is most fragile.
This Advent, may we open our doors as the innkeepers who say “yes” to welcome, and open our hearts as companions who walk in faith and love.
