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Friday, December 16, 2011 |
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IMMIGRATION
By St Mary Administrator @ 3:28 PM :: 36 Views ::  :: Social Justice
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On January 7-8, 2012, the Solemnity of the Epiphany of Our Lord will mark the beginning of the Church’s observance of National Migration Week. In his encyclical Pacem In Terris (Peace on Earth), Pope John XXIII told us: “Every human being has the right to the freedom of movement and of residence within the confines of their country; and, when there are just reasons for it, the right to emigrate and take up residence elsewhere.”
We have learned that people “on the move” – refugees, migrants, immigrants – are very special to God; they need to be special to us, too. We are prepared to welcome Jesus Christ once again into our world, into our lives and into our very being. In Luke’s gospel today, Gabriel’s visit to Mary starts the process of refugee status for her and Joseph – they wish to stay, but their circumstances force them to leave their home. Throughout His public ministry, Jesus was always moving from place to place, and He taught us that when we welcome a stranger, we welcome God. We are all familiar with Mathew 25 – “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me”. God identifies with the struggling migrant because He became one. We must now learn to see the face of God in every refugee, migrant, or immigrant that we encounter throughout our lives.
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