Living Lent: Immigration

3 MIN READ

People who live and work in the United States without documentation are among the most vulnerable people in our country. They are more likely to live in poverty and to struggle to put food on the table. As a group, immigrants have a poverty rate that is double that of the general population. Because immigration is an international issue at its core, any approach to reforming our immigration process must uncover and address the root causes. 

Prayer for Reflection:

Lord God,

You call us to journey with you through the wilderness this Lenten season. 

Our wilderness is a scary place, filled with distractions from the work of Kingdom building. But, we have freely and readily accepted this journey; guide our hearts, minds, and feet.

On this journey, we now turn our attention to our brothers and sisters who are immigrants. 

We remember the story of the baby Jesus. When you sent your son to earth, he immediately became an immigrant, chased by violence.

Many of our sisters and brothers are chased from their homes and the ones they love by violence, hunger, and lack of opportunity.  For them, this is trip is not a choice.

Be with the baby who will never know her birth place, except through the fears of her older siblings.

Be with the young man who must travel many dangerous miles to find the slimmest hope of feeding his loved ones.

Be with the young woman who must cross dangerous waters to secure safety for her livelihood.

Be with the grandparents who cannot move on and must say goodbye, certain they will not see their grandchildren grow up.

Be with the young parents who put themselves in danger of sexual violence to give their children opportunity.

Be with the law enforcement officers and court systems who look for spaces of compassion in laws meant to exclude.

Be with and move the hearts of our elected leaders who have the power to make positive change to allow people to stay in the places they are from.

Be with each of us, O Lord.

As we see our immigrant sisters and brothers, show us Jesus the immigrant in them—not only the fear and pain, but also the hope and promise their lives hold.

Make these 40 days a Living Lent in which we come to know you deeper.

Questions for Reflection:

How are you supporting immigrant communities on the move?

How can we become a more welcoming and respectful country to those on the move? 

Scripture for Reflection:

March 18: Daniel 9:4b-10 and Leviticus 25:35

March 19: 2 Samuel 7:4-5a, 12-14a and Zechariah 7:9-10

March 20: Jeremiah 18:18-20 and Mark 10:13-16

March 21: Jeremiah 17:5-10 and John 14:18

March 22: Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a and Genesis 1:17

March 23: Micah 7:14-15, 18-20 and Exodus 23:9

March 24: Exodus 3:1-8a, 13-15 and Psalms 146:9

March 25: Isaiah 7:10-14; 8:10 and Leviticus 19:34

March 26: Daniel 3:25, 34-43 and Matthew 25:35

March 27: Leviticus 24:22 and Hebrews 13:1

March 28: Jeremiah 7:23-28 and Exodus 20:20

Additional resources about this theme:

Background: Immigration is a hunger issue

Reflection: The Bible and Immigration Reform  and Immigration, Hunger, and Opportunity

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