| Sixth Sunday of Easter |
We have heard that some of our number who went out without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind. Acts 15:24
Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. John 14:27
Let us pray: Dear God, throughout our Biblical history, you have constantly asked us to welcome the stranger. Bless us and ensure that our response to the issue of immigration is directed by a world view that is shaped by biblical principles rather than secular rhetoric. Help us act in ways that show that no one is really an outsider, recognizing that all your peoples are invited to be saved through faith in the risen Lord. You call on us to aid the vulnerable. Help us to see the alien and the stranger as individuals made in your image, people who also are the object of Christ’s love and as people of intrinsic worth in need of our affirmation and support. Amen.
http://www.usccb.org/nab/051307.shtml
Jesus wants us to be at peace and not to be troubled or afraid. Jesus knew He was asking a lot of us. So to help and strengthen us after He leaves, Jesus sent us a special assistant, the Holy Spirit. Jesus did not want to leave behind disciples who were afraid to follow him.
In the early Church, the leaders followed this same model. They wanted to stop troubling the Gentiles who turn to God. So they sent special messengers to help the new members of this Church do what is right.
What does it mean? Simply that all are invited to be saved through faith in the power of Christ. Including me and you. There are no borders to this new faith. You are not stopped if you live on the wrong side of the
Why not use the occasion of this inclusive theme in Sunday Scriptures to review the statement issued this week by Christians for Comprehensive Immigration Reform?
The statement notes that: “We believe in the rule of law, but we also believe that we are to oppose unjust laws and systems that harm and oppress people made in God's image, especially the vulnerable (Isaiah 10:1-4, Jeremiah 7:1-7, Acts 5:29, Romans 13:1-7).
Just as today’s Gospel seeks to be inclusive and not to place any hardships on the hearts of the faithful, this series of readings also encourage us to obey God rather than man and to reform our unjust practices.
Only if you thoroughly reform your ways and your deeds; if each of you deals justly with his neighbor; if you no longer oppress the resident alien, the orphan, and the widow; if you no longer shed innocent blood in this place, or follow strange gods to your own harm, will I remain with you in this place, in the land which I gave your fathers long ago and forever.
Please review the statement and meditate on its significance. Then, considering contacting your members of Congress and urge them to support these principles in passing any immigration reform. Click here for a form that makes contacting your members of Congress easy and fast.
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