Border crossing

It is wonderful to see the trucks with food and supplies flowing back into Gaza through various border crossings. It will be a huge logistical process to ensure those who need food and aid receive it and one can only hope that the peace plan holds in order for that to happen. It will take years one would think for the re-build where so much devastation has taken place.

I speak of the border crossing because Jesus often crossed, not so much political borders, but cultural ones. Here again in the Gospel today about the 10 lepers from Luke 17:11-19, he acknowledges a Samaritan and leper doubly despised and feared who returned after being healed to give praise to God. Jesus recognizes goodness, dignity and integrity where it is due no matter who the person is, 'It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.'

Pope Leo's 1st significant papal document which was released a couple of days ago is called, 'Delixi te ( I have loved you) speaks of crossing borders too when it comes to displaced migrants.

Concern for the poor, Leo explains, includes support for migrants, which he says is supported by scripture and includes “refugee reception centres and border missions” and is defined by efforts to “welcome, promote, protect and integrate” new arrivals to a country.

“Where the world sees threats, she (the church) sees children; where walls are built, she builds bridges,” Leo explains.

“She (the church) knows that her proclamation of the Gospel is credible only when it is translated into gestures of closeness and welcome. And she knows that in every rejected migrant, it is Christ himself who knocks at the door of the community.”

May we hear and respond to Jesus knocking at the door of our hearts to be bridge builders in order for our prejudicial barriers, whatever they may be, to be seen for what they are and pushed aside.

You may like to listen to 'Hands across the World' track 10 from the album 'A Place at the Table'

Blessings on your week