EVERYBODY'S CHALLENGE - Jesuit Refugee Service | USA

the defenceless and uprooted, those who easily fall victim to economic
exploitation and political manipulation, those who come
last. These people are described by the Old Testament as being at the
tail of human society (Deuteronomy 28: 43-44). Jesus came among us,
but then had the experience of not being accepted or welcomed
by his own, that is, by us. He was forced to flee while still an infant,
and was obliged to change residence on several occasions because
of the hardness of human hearts. Jesus identifies with the homeless
so that he may bless all who welcome him in the refugee and curse
those who do not assist him in the migrant (Matthew 25:31).
The Lord Jesus lives out the commandment of his Father, You
shall love the stranger (Deuteronomy 10:19). Commentators note that
this is the only occasion on which the Old Testament exhorts us to
love anyone other than God, or anything other than God’s commandments.
The word of God establishes for us that the way we
treat a refugee is the criterion of whether our faith is authentic. To
exploit a refugee, to neglect or ignore a person in need, is to turn
away from the one true God. It is to serve a God other than the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The heart of our Christian faith is at stake here. We are called not
only to resist the disintegration of Christian values, the Gospel places
clear social and economic demands on us as well. We are called to
move beyond the comfortable level of good intentions and fine words
to resolute action. Twenty years ago, Fr Pedro Arrupe urged us to be
men and women for others, believers who find the love of God inconceivable
without practical love for the poorest in society.
Through no fault of their own, millions of our sisters and brothers
find themselves forced out of their homes and their countries by
war, oppression, threats or starvation. They are driven out into the
unknown, where often they must live without dignity or rights, without
even the basics to stay alive. These are people, fathers and mothers
like yourselves, who love their children: they suddenly become
strangers in a foreign land, outcasts often even among Christian
people. Resolve to take action then, and resolve to love, for love is
shown in deeds rather than words. Study the impact of your own
decisions. Measure your resolve. Share with others your experiences
of working with refugees, migrants and homeless people.
As you come to know refugees better, sharing their hopes and
disappointments as well as their sorrows and joys, your own con-
94