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When an alien resides with you in your land, do not mistreat such a one. You shall treat the alien who resides with you no differently than the natives born among you; you shall love the alien as yourself; for you too were once aliens in the land of Egypt. I, the LORD, am your God.
Leviticus 19:33-34
Loving Jesus, journey with them.
As you journeyed from town to town teaching, healing and sharing Good News,
Journey with those who travel from town to town in search of home, health and welcome.
May we receive them with the same open door we would receive you.
Loving Jesus, journey with them.
As you journeyed with your parents to Egypt, fleeing Herod for your life,
Journey with those who flee for their lives from violence, terror, persecution and starvation.
May we welcome and give them the same sheltering care we would give you.
Loving Jesus, journey with them.
As you journeyed in the womb of the Blessed Mother to be born in a stable in Bethlehem,
Journey with all of those who travel in need of medical care, those who are pregnant, those who are wounded in body and spirit and those who are diminished in spirit and soul.
May we care for them with the same tenderness with which we would care for you.
Loving Jesus, open our eyes to see your face in the immigrants who come to us for care. Open our arms to offer the welcome you would give yourself. Soften our hearts that instead of seeing "undocumented," "alien" or "illegal," that we instead encounter the other as brother and sister, mother and father, son and daughter.
Loving Jesus, journey with them.
Amen.