Saturday, 9/5/15
In this migrant
crisis there were two of Our Lord’s words that could apply to us. One is, “You
shall love your neighbor as yourself.” The other is “I was a stranger, and you
took me in.” The first asks us to see ourselves in the migrants; while the
other asks us to see Christ in them.
What did Jesus mean
by telling you to love your neighbor as yourself? I had always taken him to
mean that you had to love your neighbor as much as you love yourself.
But he could also
have meant that you should love your neighbor as though he or she were
yourself. I mean, he meant for you to practice empathy. Imagining you were that
other weary person.
I don’t know about
you, but I am surprised by all the pictures I see of the people catching
trains, overloading boats, or swimming to freedom. What surprises me is that
they seem to be as nice as we are, or even nicer. They are people who gave up
everything in their search for a good future for their children.
Then, Jesus said, “I
was a stranger, and you welcomed me.” Each of those parents, and each of their
kids, is so dear to Jesus that he sees anything you do for one of them is the
same as though you were dong it for him.
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