Welcoming the Stranger

If we say we love the Divine, our lives should reflect that love in concrete ways. Too often, religion shields us from this responsibility. We use spiritual language to justify self-interest rather than examine our participation in systems of exclusion. The call to welcome the stranger is clear, yet we hesitate. Fear, prejudice, and comfort block our response. But solidarity is not optional. It is the necessary expression of love. We are responsible for the well-being of those forced from their homes. Migration is not new; it is part of our shared human story. Our commitment must be to recognize each person as part of our human family and to act with compassion and justice in response.

May we go forward with hearts open to the stranger,
living out love through acts of compassion and justice.

(inspired by Richard Rohr, We Have Not Yet Begun to Love; Pope Francis, A Stranger and You Welcomed Me)