God’s Solidarity with the Stranger

We are called to recognize the inherent dignity of those who are displaced, vulnerable, and marginalized. The scriptures repeatedly point to God’s solidarity with the stranger, reminding us that caring for those without security or status is essential to our moral responsibility. But there is another, theologically startling characteristic of scripture: from beginning to end, God too is portrayed entering our world in the guise of a stranger in need of hospitality. When we welcome the stranger, we affirm our shared humanity and acknowledge that no one is truly an outsider in the eyes of the Divine. The challenge is clear: our compassion must extend beyond comfort zones and cultural boundaries. We cannot claim to follow the path of love while turning away from those in need. Justice and mercy require that we see, welcome, and support the vulnerable among us—not as an act of charity, but as an expression of our shared belonging.

May we recognize the Divine in the face of the stranger
and offer our lives as an open door of welcome and compassion.

(inspired by Ched Myers and Matthew Colwell, Our God Is Undocumented)