Texas bishops identify three teachings Christians must heed when it comes to this latest immigration crisis: 1) Children are exceptional, and Jesus issued a stern rebuke to his disciples when they tried to shoo them away. (Luke 18:15-16) The bishops could also have reminded us that Jesus was once a child refugee himself. (Matthew 2:13-14) 2) Christians are commanded to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, give drink to the thirsty and welcome the stranger. When you have done it for the least of these, say the bishops, you have done it to Jesus. (Matthew 25:40) 3) Christians are to extend hospitality to strangers. (Romans 12:13; Hebrews 13:12) The bishops remind us that we do not know what these children may have experienced in their own countries. We do know that their plight breaks the heart of God, they go on to write. The bishops wisely acknowledge Americas fears about homeland security and the financial costs of getting involved. Even so, they call upon Christians to rise above these fears and allow Gods love to shape our hearts and our response. The bishops next offer concrete suggestions for how individuals and churches might respond. Prayer, short-term housing and other life necessities while the long-term status of these asylum seekers is being resolved are among their prescriptions. To paraphrase John Wesley — Methodisms founder — the bishops admonish the faithful to do as much as they can for as many as they can for as long as they can.
Posted on: Wed, 20 Aug 2014 03:03:22 +0000