Daily Reflection: Monday, August 14
Memorial of St. Maximillian Kolbe, priest and martyr
… The Lord, your God, …mighty and awesome… who has no favorites… executes justice for the orphan and the widow, and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him. So you too must befriend the alien, for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt. The Lord your God, shall you fear, and him shall you serve…. (Dt 10:17-20)
Care for the wellbeing of aliens, migrants and refugees is hard work, never convenient and usually messy. For Christians and Jews, however, it is a moral imperative. Europe has been burdened by waves of poor people from the Middle East and Africa. We in the US have likewise received many and see many, many more who would come to us. It is hard to square our policies, much less the frequent inhumane treatment they receive with the command of God: Befriend them.
John Frambes, ofm
Read also:
This week’s Letter from the Pastor
