God's Word on Immigration
- AndreaGrace
- 1 day ago
- 6 min read
These are threads from our BeLoved Sunday morning liturgy last week. A liturgy is a public prayer service.
Rev. AndreaGrace's Opening Prayer
Oh God – Our Loving Parent
Caring parent to all people – of all races and creeds and ages
We gather today and hear your word which echoes through the ages:
to treat each person with LovingKindness
and to help the immigrant – for our families were once immigrants.
Trusting in Your abundance, inspire us today.
Show us what we can do to spread your love and help those who are struggling around us.
Through our liturgy today, may we know your love more intimately and be transformed to share it more abundantly.
In your many holy names we hope and pray and trust. Amen.
Scripture Readings
This past Sunday''s lectionary, continues Jesus’ “Sermon on the Mount” from the gospel of Matthew where Jesus lays out our way of living. What Jesus teaches, builds on the Laws of Love laid out in the Jewish Torah. It continues to echo today.
The first reading is from Leviticus 19 – the third book of The Bible – which follows Exodus and the Israelites life in the Promised Land. This chapter includes the Divine commandment:
“And when a foreigner resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the foreigner. The foreigner who resides with you shall be to you as a citizen among you. You shall love the wayfarer as yourself, for you were foreigners in the land of Egypt. I AM the Holy One; I AM your God.”
The gospel is from Matthew 5:21-32. Throughout Jesus’ ministry, he invites people to look beyond the letter of the law to the Spirit of the law – the Spirit of Love and Justice – extravagant love that is merciful and compassionate. A higher call.
Rev. AndreaGrace's Reflection
I love how God works! I don’t often touch on the news during my reflections during our Sunday morning services – because I believe that if we can immerse ourselves in God’s love, then we are transformed and we carry that love into the world. We are filled with wisdom as to know what is ours to do. But – what is going on with the ICE raids has rattled me. It feels like the freedoms we once had – even to write to the president – can now put our very lives in danger.
I had been praying about how to incorporate this into Mass and there appeared this week’s readings.
To all that follows, I add excerpts from the article on the Sinsinawa Sister's work in Minneapolis. You can read the entire article here. In conclusion...
"At this moment in history, when fear is normalized, violence is amplified, and democratic life is under strain in the United States and across the world, the Leadership Conference of Women Religious (LCWR) raises a clear and unwavering moral voice: violence is not the Gospel response. The way of Jesus calls us to a love that refuses harm, rejects domination, and insists on the dignity of every person."
A Joint Letter from 154 Bishops of The Episcopal Church - Whose Dignity Matters?
Give Me Your Tired, Your Poor
Rev. AndreaGrace reflects: I AM reminded of the words of Emma Lazarus courageously written on the Statue of Liberty that greeted my family.
They are words God speaks to us too:
Give me your tired, your poor,Your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,The wretched refuse of your teeming shore.Send these, the homeless, tempest to me,I lift my lamp beside the golden door!”
They were put to music by Irvine Berlin nearly a century ago. It’s also important to remember that Jesus and the Holy Family were refugees. All of this is woven together in a contemporary version of the song. Listen and allow the Spirit to move in us – inspire us – touch our hearts….
Where Did Jesus Go? by Sara Thomsen
We often forget that Jesus' ways were controversial and counter-cultural. This song explores His life and presence today.
Prayer Experience: What Is Mine To Do?
Today, for our prayer experience, we are going to create a list of ways we can be God’s hand and feet and love... Some of the ways we can Live the God’s Law of Love regarding immigration.
Contact our congress people
Promote messages that immigrants make our community stronger
Reach out to immigrants we know – especially refugees – offer assistance – including attending appointments with them
In Massachusetts, volunteer with or donated to the Luce hotline – which people can call if we see an immigrant being detained. Their motto is If you see ICE, call LUCE
Make a donation to people on the front line like the Sisters of Sinsinawa
Knit red hats or purchase yarn that others can knit or purchase a red hat. In the 1930s, Norwegians knit red hats to protest Fascism. Eventually, the hats were banned. A Minneapolis yarn-shop owner has resurrected the tradition. The New York Times calls this "craftivism."
Attend a protest
Pray
There was an older woman who lived in New York City. She realized she couldn’t get out and about to help those in need, but she could pray. Each day she spread out the newspaper on the floor and laid on it with her arms outstretched and prayed for all those mentioned in it. She did what she could do.
Communion of Saints
"The Communion of Saints" refers to the belief that all believers are connected in this world and the next - that death does not separate us. Just as we ask people ot pray with and for us in this world, we can ask those on the other side to pray, too. Just as we turn to experts to help us in this life, we can turn to saints who have crossed into eternal life to help us, as well. Two saints who worked with immigrants in their lifetimes are:
Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini
an Italian immigrant who became an American citizen. She established an order of sisters who ministered to immigrants and people who were impoverished financially. You can learn more about her here or watch her movie: Cabrini.
Fr. Samuel Mazzuchelli
another Italian immigrant who worked along the Great Lakes in Michigan, Wisconsin and Illionois. He ministered with Native Americans and is said to be the first person who translate The Christian Bible into an Indigenous language. He was a mediator between different immigrant groups and the locals. He helped establish schools and churches as well as the Sinsinawa Order of Sisters who are ministering to immigrants in Minneapolis today. Their work today was just featured in a national publication. You can learn more about Fr. Samuel here. By the way, Fr. Samuel is one of AndreaGrace's ancestors and the namesake for one of her sons.
Other Songs to Pray With
At This Table by Idina Menzel
Let There Be Peace on Earth recorded by The Boston Pops with a Youth Choir
Anthem by Tom Conry
Prayer from the UCC
Creator God, open our eyes so we can see you in the eyes of our immigrant brothers and sisters,
eyes downcast for having lived so long in the shadows, eyes challenging us to join them in the streets or picket lines,eyes lifted looking for the Christ light in us.
Compassionate God, who has come to dwell among us,open our ears to hear the cries of your children,
children being separated from their parents,rounded up in raids,led to detention centers,silently giving up dreams.
God of Justice, who crosses all boundaries,give us courage to resist, to say NO
to unfair labor practices,to unjust laws like SB 1070,287g contracts.
Give us the strength to stand with and for
your inclusive love,faith to believe,another world is necessary and possible.
Let it begin with us.
from the UCC
A Blessing from Rev. AndreaGrace
Be blessed….
with a holy anger that moves you to action
with courage to take action
with a spirit of love that supersedes any laws
with recognizing Christ in each person you see
Be blessed in the name of God – our Divine Parent
Jesus – our teacher and
the Holy Spirit – source of wisdom and grace
Amen.
PS
Please forward this to someone else who cares about our immigrants or whom needs to learn more about the topic
If you're interested in joining Rev. AndreaGrace & The BeLoved Community for prayer some week at 10 AM ET, fill out this form. No obligation - at all. You will receive a reminder with the topic of the week and the zoom link.
Comments