Editor’s Note: An English translation of the following can be found below.
A nuestros vecinos inmigrantes, en el nombre y el espíritu de Jesús, “Lo siento.” Lamento profundamente las acciones del gobierno de los Estados Unidos que han causado tanto miedo y dolor para muchos de nuestros amigos inmigrantes.
Todos sabemos que los inmigrantes peligrosos, al igual que los ciudadanos peligrosos, necesitan ser aprehendidos y detenidos. Nadie está en desacuerdo con eso. Sin embargo, la deportación masiva de inmigrantes indocumentados no criminales es un pecado contra millones de nuestros vecinos inmigrantes, y un pecado contra la Ley de Amor, que Jesús dijo que importa más que cualquier otra cosa. (Mateo 7:12 y 22:34-40.)
El peso acumulativo de las Escrituras es claro en cuanto al lugar especial que los refugiados e inmigrantes ocupan en el corazón de Dios. Éxodo 12:49 dice, “Habrá una sola ley para el ciudadano y el inmigrante.” Éxodo 22:21 dice, “No oprimirás al inmigrante”. Levítico 19:34 dice, “Amarás al inmigrante como a ti mismo”. Levítico 25:23 dice, “Porque toda la tierra en el mundo pertenece a Dios, a los ojos de Dios, todos somos inmigrantes”.
Luego, en el Nuevo Testamento, leemos, en Mateo 2:13-23, de los inmigrantes María y José, cruzando fronteras para buscar la seguridad de su hijo, Jesús. La Sagrada Familia–refugiados que buscan refugio de la violencia política.
Es en el nombre de ese mismo Jesús, el Jesús que una vez fue, el mismo, el hijo de padres solicitantes de asilo, hacemos un llamado al gobierno de los Estados Unidos para que se arrepienta de su campaña de miedo contra las personas inmigrantes. Y, es en ese mismo santo nombre que perdimos perdón a Dios, y a nuestros vecinos inmigrantes, por nuestro pecado nacional, xenófobo y anti-inmigrante. Amen.
“ In The Name and Spirit of Jesus Christ”
To our immigrant neighbors, in the name and spirit of Jesus Christ, “I am sorry.” I am deeply sorry for the actions of the United States government, which have caused so much fear and pain for so many of our immigrant friends.
We all know that immigrants who are dangerous, just like citizens who are dangerous, need to be apprehended and detained. No one disagrees about that.
However, the mass deportation of non-criminal undocumented immigrants is a sin against millions of our immigrant neighbors and a sin against the law of love, which Jesus said matters more than anything else (Matthew 7:12; 22:34-40). The cumulative weight of scripture is clear about the special place that refugees and immigrants hold in the heart of God.
Exodus 12:49 says, “There shall be one law for the citizen and the immigrant.” Exodus 22:21 says, “You shall not oppress the immigrant.” Leviticus 19:34 says, “You shall love the immigrant as yourself.” Leviticus 25:23 says, “Because all the land in the world belongs to God, in the eyes of God, we are all immigrants.”
Then, in the New Testament, we read in Matthew 2:13-23 of Mary and Joseph crossing borders to seek the safety of their child, Jesus. The Holy Family–refugees seeking sanctuary from political violence.
It is in the name of that same Jesus, the Jesus who was once himself the child of asylum-seeking parents, that we call upon the United States government to repent of its campaign of fear against immigrant persons. And it is in that same holy name of Jesus that we ask forgiveness from God and our immigrant neighbors for our xenophobic, anti-immigrant, national sin.
Amen.
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After 45 years of pastoral life, during which he served churches in Georgia, North Carolina,Washington DC, and Jackson,Mississippi, Poole retired in 2022. He is the author of eight books, including The Path to Depth (Nurturing Faith Books, 2022), as well as numerous published articles and the lyrics to three hymns.
