Deuteronomy 10:17-21 Christian Standard Bible
17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him food and clothing. 19 You are also to love the resident alien, since you were resident aliens in the land of Egypt. 20 You are to fear the Lord your God and worship him. Remain faithful[a] to him and take oaths in his name. 21 He is your praise and he is your God, who has done for you these great and awe-inspiring works your eyes have seen.
Word of God for the Children of God
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Mother Frances Xavier Cabrini (later canonized as Saint) landed on the shores of America, she began her mission to serve Italian immigrants in New York.
Her perspective was not one of privilege, but of someone who was familiar with the struggles and stereotypes placed on Italians at that time.
As a woman and a foreigner, she knew all too well the prejudices against people like her.
But her work did not stop with those from her native land–her ministry also encompassed any in need of help, from women caught in bad situations to the orphan and the poor. Showing remarkable resilience; Orphanages, hospitals, and schools that she helped build around the world were open to all in need.
Because she lived among the people and been one of them, by her strength of resolve, she openly challenged and confronted the established prejudices and biases to make enormous (miraculous) differences advocating for those under her care. She consistently modeled the love of Christ for those needing it most.
The Israelites also knew how it felt to be strangers in an unknown land.
For over four hundred years, they lived in Egypt as foreigners and, for most of the time, heavily distressed, mistreated, oppressed slaves (Exodus 12:40).
They knew firsthand what it was like to experience mistreatment at the hands of others, and, thus, should not want others to endure the same suffering.
God specifically encouraged them to always remember their past as a people living in a foreign land, so that they could show care to others, just as He had shown compassionate care to them.
This included loving foreigners living in their land, reflecting the Lord’s love for them. Since God had treated them fairly and justly, and shown them love by providing food and clothing, the Israelites were expected to do the same.
They were the best people for the job because of their past.
Directly challenged by corrupt temple authorities, Jesus affirmed the greatest commandments were love the Lord, and love one’s neighbor (Mark 12:30-31).
A person’s neighbor included not only those who lived nearby, but also those who were quite different in regard to ethnicity, nationality, and location, as the parable of the Good Samaritan demonstrates quite clearly (Luke 10:25-37).
Those who made the costly decision to love their neighbor as themselves were modeling the radical impartial love of God. And they were, by extension, loving Christ since whatever is done for the poor, hungry, and stranger is done for Him (Matthew 25:34-40).
We might not be like Mother Cabrini, traveling the world to establish care for those who are overlooked, oppressed and underserved.
But we can, like her and other followers of Jesus, enter into those dark places around us to bring light and to extend a hand of welcome to the stranger.
We can seek to be a friend to the “foreigner” and raise our voices to defend the cause of the needy and oppressed. There are always opportunities all around us–in our communities, homes, and workplaces–if we are just willing to look.
God, the Defender ….
Deuteronomy 10:17-18 Christian Standard Bible
17 For the Lord your God is the God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, mighty, and awe-inspiring God, showing no partiality and taking no bribe. 18 He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the resident alien, giving him food and clothing.
Many people are blessed with a relational safety net—a means of protection when they face a sudden tragedy or unexpected loss.
Parents or guardians and other family members are often seen in this way.
When we know we have access to that kind of security, everyday life can seem easier and less stressful.
But some people do not have those types of relationships.
What’s more, there may be several reasons why a person might face sudden unfortunate circumstances.
We can imagine a person who, after the death of a spouse or partner, is truly experiencing loneliness or the fear of having an increasingly isolated life.
Or perhaps we can imagine the trauma of a teenage child who loses a parent—and their life is suddenly changed forever. Maybe you know of someone with a difficult story like that—or maybe something like that has happened to you.
Wherever you are and whoever you are, God has mercy on you.
And no matter what you’re going through, God sees you.
God is there to defend you, to protect you, to clothe you in righteousness, and warm your iced soul, nourish you with the bread of life, which is Christ Jesus.
Matthew 11:28-30 Christian Standard Bible
28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, because I am lowly and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Amen
Praying ….
Psalm 15
A Description of the Godly
A psalm of David.
1 Lord, who can dwell in your tent?
Who can live on your holy mountain?
2 The one who lives blamelessly, practices righteousness,
and acknowledges the truth in his heart—
3 who does not slander with his tongue,
who does not harm his friend
or discredit his neighbor,
4 who despises the one rejected by the Lord[a]
but honors those who fear the Lord,
who keeps his word whatever the cost,
5 who does not lend his silver at interest
or take a bribe against the innocent—
the one who does these things will never be shaken.
Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost;
as it was in the beginning,
is now, and ever shall be,
world without end. Amen, amen.
Loving God, Living God, Loving Hope, Living Hope, Loving Living Life His Way! "Many things are possible for the person who has hope. Even more is possible for the person who has faith. And still more is possible for the person who knows how to love. But everything is possible for the person who practices all three virtues." - Brother Lawrence (1605-1691), Practicing the Presence of God (1692). 