Symbols: photographs of migrants, if possible, a photograph of the flight into Egypt, sandals
Let us pray:
Gracious God, in your goodness you have called us to be evangelizers of the poor, thus following in the footsteps of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ and those of Saint Vincent de Paul. Yes, you have called us to be diligent and bold as we go out to provide for the needs of our suffering sisters and brothers. With the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, enable us to proclaim the Good News and to give witness to the Kingdom wherever we may serve. In that way no one living on the peripheries throughout the world will be deprived of the joyful proclamation of the mystery of salvation.
As we contemplate your Son, who lived among us, may we move from the table of the Word and the table of the Eucharist to the table of poor and there, may we share with others the Bread of Life. May we clothe ourselves in such a manner than we are able to respond effectively to the challenges of the present-day world. We pray in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen
Scripture
A reading from the gospel according to Saint Luke (Luke 19:1-10)
Jesus came to Jericho and intended to pass through the town. Now a man there named Zacchaeus, who was a chief tax collector and also a wealthy man, was seeking to see who Jesus was; but he could not see him because of the crowd, for he was short in stature. So he ran ahead and climbed a sycamore tree in order to see Jesus, who was about to pass that way. When he reached the place, Jesus looked up and said to him, “Zacchaeus, come down quickly, for today I must stay at your house.” And he came down quickly and received him with joy. When they all saw this, they began to grumble, saying, “He has gone to stay at the house of a sinner.” But Zacchaeus stood there and said to the Lord, “Behold, half of my possessions, Lord, I shall give to the poor, and if I have extorted anything from anyone I shall repay it four times over.” And Jesus said to him, “Today salvation has come to this house because this man too is a descendant of Abraham. For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save what was lost.” The word of God.
Let us listen to the words of Vincent de Paul
God is the one who calls us and who, from all eternity, has destined us to be Missioners, since He did not bring us to birth either one hundred years earlier or later but precisely at the time of the institution of this Company. Consequently, we must neither seek nor expect rest, satisfaction, and blessings anywhere else but in the [Congregation of the] Mission, since that is the only place God wants and desires us to be — presuming, of course, that our vocation is genuine and not founded on self-interest, or to free ourselves from the inconveniences of life, or from any other motive of human respect (CCD:XI:98).
Reflection:
The situation of so many migrants us both sad and unjust. For many different reasons men and women have had to leave their homeland and many times their family as they seek for a new opportunity in a foreign land. We know that people place themselves in dangerous situations in order to leave their homeland and begin their “exodus” … and many die before reaching their destination.
Vincentian spirituality must be translated into service and a commitment on behalf of those who suffer. Vincent reminds us that we must love God with the strength of our arms and the sweat of our brows (CCD:XI:32). Like Zacchaeus we are called to climb back down the tree, to leave our comfort zone, and to care for our sisters and brothers that is, to receive them with joy and love. Immigrants reflect the very same Jesus Christ that Zacchaeus welcomed into his home and therefore in the fact of these immigrants we are able to see the face of God. Jesus said to Zacchaeus: today salvation has come to this house. Let us recall that God is the father of all humankind and makes no distinction back on race, language, religious beliefs … we are all sisters and brothers. May we, like Vincent, extend our arms in welcome to those who come to our front door seeking refuge and a new opportunity.
Questions:
[1] Do I see the face of Christ reflected in every migrant.
[2] What can I do to help those persons who have left their homeland and are now seeking a better opportunity in a new land?
[3] Do I remember in my prayers so many brothers and sisters who are immigrants?
Closing Prayer and Blessing:
Let us Pray:
Loving God, set our hearts on fire with the desire to serve you! You have called us to evangelize our neighbor and to work on behalf of their salvation in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach us by your example and grant us all the virtues proper to true evangelizers. Fill us with zeal so that we might set the world on fire. In your mercy grant us these graces, you who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
