Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent

Readings of the Day

Upon reading the Psalm today, “O Lord, my God, in you I take refuge,” I thought of the millions of people around the world looking for refuge.  Many of our offices open the doors to refugees daily.  We walk with displaced families, we see their children playing in our hallways, we listen to their needs as they have waited years for a new home.  How many of them have prayed, “Do me justice, O Lord, because I am just?”

Since the war in Ukraine began, I’ve watched so many Americans praise Hungary, Poland, and Romania for welcoming in Ukrainians. We have donated money, countries have offered temporary visas, and we have watched and prayed while fathers sent their children across the border with strangers, unable to cross themselves.  Yet when it happens at the southern border of the United States, many Americans have very different reactions.

At our offices, shelters, and international foster homes, we play with children and listen to the needs of families from Central America who also have waited years for a new home.  Yet these families are not praised with television interviews.  Sometimes they are stalked by cameras.

In the Gospel reading today, Jesus is not accepted because of where he came from. He is not believed because he came from Galilee.  Jesus’ words and parables were true, yet his accent caused the crowd to be divided.

I write this reflection not to divide groups of refugees, nor to sound bitter about our current work or attitudes.  I write this reflection because we need to stand in the half of the crowd that will believe Jesus.  We need to recognize His words as truth.  What would this Gospel passage have looked like if there were more supporters in the crowd?  How are you being called to confirm the truth of our clients’ stories?  We are called to open our hearts and advocate.  We are called to create, and sometimes be, the places of refuge.

Devyn Buschow is the Parish Relations Liaison at Catholic Charities Dallas. To describe why she is Catholic, in one word she always responds, “Solidarity.”

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