When there was first talk of building this fence to help control immigration, I thought it was just that - talk. How can you possibly build a big enough wall, not to mention police it, along such a long stretch of mostly desert territory? But build it they did. I once walked through a long patch of sand just to get near it. And I really, really wanted to touch it, in spite of all the signs warning me not to. In the end, it was the border agent parked in a truck right next to the fence a little further down that prevented me from trying.
When I was there, no one was trying to climb it. No one was peeking through it, longing to taste the freedom and economic opportunity that we take for granted daily.In the newspaper photo, however, hands were stretched through the closely spaced boards, palms up in anticipation of receiving Holy Communion from a contingent of Catholic bishops positioned on the American side.
Having lived only 20 miles north of the border for 38 years, I am well aware of the various strongly held opinions regarding immigration. One quote highlighted in the article states: This is not just a political or economic problem. This is a moral problem. To which I say amen!
But, perhaps not in exactly the same sense as the cardinal who spoke these words. Honestly, I am not sure what the best solution is to our complex border issues. However, this I know: we all, every single one of us, definitely have a moral problem. As one of my favorite authors, Madeleine L'Engle, wrote in The Irrational Season:
We have much to be judged on when He comes, slums and battlefields and insane asylums, but these are the symptoms of our illness, and the result of our failures in love. In the evening of life we shall be judged on love, and not one of us is going to come off very well, and were it not for my absolute faith in the loving forgiveness of my Lord I could not call on Him to come... Amen. Even so, come Lord Jesus."Good Friday approaches. The picture of hands reaching through a formidable barrier to accept tangible reminders of His body, His blood, shed for sinners, is powerful. And I am reminded of these words from the book of Isaiah.
Behold, the LORD's hand is not so short that it cannot save; nor is His ear so dull that it cannot hear. But your iniquities have made a separation between you and your God, and your sins have hidden His face from you so that He does not hear...
Therefore justice is far from us, and righteousness does not overtake us; we hope for light, but behold, darkness, for brightness, but we walk in gloom. We grope along the wall like blind men, we grope like those who have not eyes; we stumble at midday as in the twilight, among those who are vigorous we are like dead men...
"A Redeemer will come to Zion, and to those who turn from transgression in Jacob," declares the LORD... Arise, shine; for your light has come, and the glory of the LORD has risen upon you.*
I would like to be counted among those who, when our King returns and I say...
but...when did I see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You something to drink? When did I see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? When did I see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?
and He says...
to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me...
...I will actually have done these things, at least some of these things. Intentionally. Because of Jesus' great love for me, flowing through me.
How very grateful I am, that
when the Great Day comes,
and I know,
and He knows,
how many times
I failed to love Him
with all my heart
and soul
and mind
and strength,
how many times I walked by or
didn't seek out those who
I could have helped,
should have helped,
God so loved the world
that He gave His only begotten Son
that whoever believes in Him
should not perish
but have eternal life. +
Even so, come Lord Jesus.
* Isaiah 59:1-2; 9-10; 20; 60:1+ John 3:16
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