Neighbors knock before they come in

This Sunday's Gospel lesson from Luke 10:25-37 contains the parable of the good Samaritan which will probably provide a good launching point for progressive preachers to slam our current illegal border crossing crisis.

"Just then a lawyer stood up to test Jesus. ‘Teacher,’ he said, ‘what must I do to inherit eternal life?’ He said to him, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ He answered, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your strength, and with all your mind; and your neighbor as yourself.’ And he said to him, ‘You have given the right answer; do this, and you will live.’"

"But wanting to justify himself, he asked Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ Jesus replied, ‘A man was going down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell into the hands of robbers, who stripped him, beat him, and went away, leaving him half dead. Now by chance a priest was going down that road; and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. So likewise a Levite, when he came to the place and saw him, passed by on the other side. But a Samaritan while travelling came near him; and when he saw him, he was moved with pity. He went to him and bandaged his wounds, having poured oil and wine on them. Then he put him on his own animal, brought him to an inn, and took care of him. The next day he took out two denarii, gave them to the innkeeper, and said, “Take care of him; and when I come back, I will repay you whatever more you spend.” Which of these three, do you think, was a neighbour to the man who fell into the hands of the robbers?’ He said, ‘The one who showed him mercy.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Go and do likewise.’"

A few weeks ago pewster spouse and I were dining with a group of died in the wool Episcopalians and the conversation strayed into forbidden territory... politics. The border crisis was brought up and they were all in favor of an open border policy because we are supposed to welcome our neighbor. I asked a simple question, "Do you lock your doors at night?" The silence at the table was stunning.

 How do we show love to our neighbors who want to live in the U.S.? By having an adequately funded and manned immigration center like the old Ellis Island where people wanting in can register, backgrounds can be checked, drug and disease testing, and men, women, and children can be processed in a speedy manner. That would require an act of Congress, and there is little chance of that happening.

Anyone caught crossing illegally will be brought to the center and put at the end of the line.