It isn’t often that your average Catholic digs in to Leviticus (one of those Old Testament books that is near the front of your Bible and rather dense reading). I find that when I go into the text, it is full of archaic details that seem so useless to today’s society; after all, many passages focus on the idol worship and sacrifices of long dead civilizations and religions. Yet, the text remains and remains a part of our canon of scripture. There must be something there for us…
Tucked into the section on legal holiness are a few short verses, “When an alien resides with you in your land, do not molest him. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; have the same love for him as for yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the Lord, am your God.” Leviticus 19.33-34 stands out to me, today, as we celebrate our Independence, as we remember our ancestors who came from faraway lands with dreams and hopes or perhaps in desperation or slavery.
Our forefathers and mothers sought education and opportunity, hope and freedom. They fled famine and drought, poverty and persecution, war and genocide. They were imperfect people coming to a new land, seeking the opportunity to create something good, strong, and beautiful.
During this time of fireworks and picnics and bar-be-ques, may we remember the strength in our imperfections and those brave souls who battled so many daunting odds to create this country. May we remember that we walk in their footsteps, we the hopeful children of brave immigrants and refugees. May we remember their fear and anxieties. May we honor their fortitude and vision.
May we also remember that today war and terror, famine and drought, persecution and genocide still drive people from their homes; perhaps even more so than those centuries past. May we remember that we are a nation of immigrants, migrants, and refugees. May we remember the words of Leviticus and love those aliens in our land for we were once aliens.
- How did your family journey to the United States? Do you know your family’s story? Perhaps take some time this week to find out more about your own history?
- What is your family’s faith history? What traditions do you hold to as a family?
- Take some time in prayer to share with God your hopes and dreams, fears and anxieties.
- How can you better identify with those who are strangers, aliens in our homeland, our city? How can you reach out to them? (Ideas will be coming your way on Saturday, so if nothing else, consider how you could create time and space in your life to offer welcome and safe harbor for others.)
Jennifer Delvaux
Director of Faith Formation
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