In the Spirit of the Christmas season I urge each of us to consider how our lives reflect the teachings of Jesus, especially to “love your neighbor as yourself”.
For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’ Then the righteous will answer him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?’ And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.’ Matthew 25:36-40
As literally millions of people will be added to the existing numbers of climate and war refugees, and essential resources such as water, food and even clean air become increasingly more difficult to find, we will all be sorely tested to find ways to be our brother’s keeper.
“Pope Francis has likened the journey of Mary and Joseph to Bethlehem to the migrations of millions of people today who are forced to leave homelands for a better life, or just for survival, and he expressed hope that no one will feel ‘there is no room for them on this Earth’”. The Guardian 12/14/2017
Quakers, social justice and revolution 