Jesus the refugee has lessons for us about immigration

Fittingly, the upcoming Feast of the Epiphany, Jan. 6-7, launches the Church's observance of National Migration Week. On this feast, we are reminded that all of us from different parts of the world share a common faith in Jesus, the "light of the nations" and the savior of the world.

The Scriptures do not tell us where the Magi came from. In early Christian art, they were depicted as three "wise men" coming from Asia, Africa and Europe. Through them, Jesus was manifested as the light of the world.

Though He was born in one particular place, in one particular culture, Jesus came to save all people and to lead them to a new vision of life and love.

On the run

Jesus began His life as a refugee, when His parents, Mary and Joseph, had to flee to Egypt to protect Him from the insecure ruler Herod, who saw this "newborn king," announced by the Magi, as a threat to his power and authority.

Further, throughout His public ministry, the Gospels portray Jesus as a migrant: a teacher and healer, traveling through Judaea and Samaria to share His message of love, welcome and salvation for all people.

Having no place of His own, he relied upon the hospitality of others to meet His basic needs and those of His disciples.

Indeed, Jesus established the compassion and care we show to strangers as the standard by which we should be judged: "For I was hungry and you gave me food. I was thirsty and you gave me drink; a stranger and you welcomed me" (Matthew 25:35).

Immigration

So, it is appropriate that, in celebrating the Feast of the Epiphany, we reflect upon the way in which we as a Church and as a society respond to the plight of contemporary immigrants in our midst.

I have been very distressed by the growing anti-immigrant sentiment gripping our nation of immigrants. Unfortunately, many of us have forgotten that our forbearers -- our parents, grandparents or great-grandparents -- came to this land of promise and opportunity, seeking to make a better life for themselves and their children.

Now that we have made our own the American dream, but unmindful of our roots, many of us support policies that would limit similar opportunities for new immigrants.

Gifts to U.S.

Yes, there must be an orderly legal process. But to look upon immigrants -- whether documented or undocumented -- as a threat or a burden is both wrong-headed and short-sighted.

New immigrants are gifts to be welcomed and cherished. We need their talents and abilities to revitalize our energy, to enhance our lives and to raise our spirits.

I was heartened by the rallies on behalf of immigrants that were conducted in major population centers throughout the U.S. last spring. The rallies reminded people of the enormous presence of immigrants in our country, and of the indispensable contributions they make to our economy, culture and social well-being.

Reform needed

I was deeply disappointed by the failure of the recent Congress to enact just, fair and compassionate immigration reform legislation; and I was even more disheartened by the vote to erect a wall along our border with Mexico.

The proposed wall is an affront to our history and its ideals as enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and as symbolized in the Statue of Liberty, which graces Ellis Island in the New York Harbor.

Inside the pedestal on which the Statue of Liberty stands, the famous poem by Emma Lazarus is immortalized: "Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free."

Church's role

The bishops of the U.S. have been conducting a Campaign for Immigration Reform, which advocates for a clear and fair path to legalized status for those already in the United States, but who do not have a visa or green card, and a rational and flexible policy for accepting immigrants, especially from the southern part of our hemisphere.

The Church does not support illegal migration. Instead, it favors comprehensive reform, including anti-poverty measures to allow would-be immigrants to remain in their countries of birth, expanded avenues of legal immigration to the United States, and a way for undocumented persons to "earn" legal status for their labor, good character and the payment of a fine.

The Church teaches that those fleeing persecution and inhuman poverty have a right to migrate, and that we who are one in Christ have a responsibility to welcome newcomers as our "brothers and sisters."

Diocesan response

In the nation's last era of great migration -- from roughly 1890 to 1920 -- the Church responded to the needs of its newest members by establishing or expanding all of its defining institutions, including parishes, schools, charities, hospitals, and fraternal and sororal groups.

Facing similar challenges today, we must be equally responsive. I am proud of the pastoral and social ministry our Diocese has exercised on behalf of the growing Hispanic-speaking community throughout our 14 counties, as well as through our apostolates to the Korean, Vietnamese, African and Filipino communities.

Our Diocese also offers legal and social services to immigrants locally through Catholic Charities, and is linked nationally to the Catholic Legal Immigration Network, which serves more than 400,000 newcomers each year in such areas as family reunification, employment training, education and public policy advocacy.

As we are reminded on the Feast of the Epiphany of the solidarity we have, through Christ, with all the members of the human family, I hope that we will pray for the continued conversion of mind, heart and spirit that will be needed to ensure that the new immigrants of the 21st century are not treated as strangers among us.

(A number of parish communities in our Diocese have been of great assistance in resettling families. Just last month, St. Madeleine Sophie parish in Guilderland and Sacred Heart Church in Troy were cited in the local press for the enormous contributions their parishioners have made to the newly arrived.)

(1/4/07) [[In-content Ad]]