Prayer Library Prayer

As We Care for the Immigrant

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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 New,
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, feeling 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 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 immigrant who comes to us for care. Open our arms to offer the welcome you would give yourself. Soften our hearts that instead of the  "undocumented," "alien" or "illegal," but we encounter the other as brother and sister, mother father, son and daughter.  

Loving Jesus, journey with them.
Amen.