We are on a journey. We came to earth and shall one day depart, as many have done. The journey will only last for a few decades and we are no more. That’s how the Lord designed it, and it is not against his will. He ordained it.
However, it is shocking that in many nations of the world today, fellow migrates on earth segregate against other migrates and ask them to go back to their original country. In some cases, many are being let down, maltreated, and criticized. Others receive verbal abuse, hate speech, unjust treatment, racism etc. These actions are not good and not in accordance with the will of God, nor human advancement and development.
The Call of Abram: The Father of Migrants
In the first reading from the book of Genesis, God called Abram: ‘go from your country and your kindred and your father’s house to the land that I will show you’ (Gen: 12: 1). Abram answered the call and departed even when he didn’t know where he was going. He trusted the Lord in faith and journeyed on until he arrived at Canaan where the Lord appeared to him and said: ‘to your offspring I will give this land’ (Gen 12:7); and from there, he moved to the hill country on the east of Bethel and pitched his tent (Gen 12:8). Abram was seventy-five years old when he departed his hometown to a new life in Canaan.
Blessings of Migration and Its Richness
Abram was blessed when he migrated. We should never lose sight of that. The Lord assured him that he would make him a great nation and make his name great and that he would be a blessing. He assured him that he would bless those who bless him and curse those who curse him.
We know too well that the blessing is not just for Abram and his people, but for all families of the earth. It is a universal blessing that still applies everyone today. Nations that inhabit migrates have not fallen short of being a great nation which the migrates also contribute to. Therefore, to reject them has its consequences now or later because unity we stand and divided we fall.
Irrespective of his age and those that accompanied him, Abram lived in the midst of the Canaanites in peace and harmony with everyone. He was a great farmer and contributed immensely to agricultural and food production. He was never a burden to the people. Rather, he advanced with his skills the economy of his new environment just as many migrants do today in various sectors of life especially in healthcare, Information technology, security, communication, construction, the banking sector, and many more. They also pay their taxes and use their various talents in improving the welfare of the society where they have found themselves. So, migration is not something evil. It benefits both the migrants and the host communities and should be strengthened. The few that do not live according to the law should be allowed to face the law. It is wrong to criminalize any group of people and generalize crime for them. Crime has no ‘locus standi’. Anyone can commit crime irrespective of colour, race, gender or faith.
Criticism and Judgement
In the gospel today, Jesus set the standard of peaceful coherence in a society. He recognizes that we all have our shortcomings and advised his disciples not to judge one another. He addressed his disciples saying: ‘judge not that you will not judged. For with the judgement, you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you’ (Mt.7:1-2). He wants us not to criticize anyone either directly or indirectly, at his back or before him. He wants us to concentrate on ourselves and lead the way so that others will emulate us. It would be wrong for us to dwell in criticizing others and correcting them while our life and behaviour are not at all a good example for others to emulate. That’s the reason Jesus said: ‘why do you see the speck that is in your brother’s eye, but do not notice the log that is in your own eye? (Mt: 7:4). That is hypocrisy! The advice of Christ is for all, and it is the way forward in preaching the gospel in our world today.
Conclusion
The gospel is in the living. What is good for the goose is good for the gander as we are equal before the Lord who does not segregate. It is therefore our collective responsibility to respect each other and live in harmony irrespective of colour, race, gender or faith. God loves everyone and we shall be with him at the end of time where there would be no segregation before him. We must practice it now and live in accordance with his will as we are all migrants that would return to him.
Peace be with you.
