Epiphany
January 21, 2016

Scripture Reading: I Corinthians 12:12-31a

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot were to say, ‘Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body’, that would not make it any less a part of the body…. If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. –I Corinthians 12:14-15, 26

It takes all kinds to get work done. It has always been amazing to me how someone who knows very little about a problem can make an outsider’s observation about the problem and provide the insight necessary to solve it. For example, having supervised a few legal immigrants to the United States, I have observed that many of the current rules for immigration are totally unworkable really rendering the whole process a waste, in my humble opinion. I have wondered what would happen, if we used our sterling digital skills to speed the process and make it more accurate. I also wonder why immigrants coming here to work must have a sponsoring employer and a job before they can be processed. Why don’t we just have a system where potential immigrants looking for work submit the necessary paperwork, be fully vetted, and then given a limited time to enter the country and find work? Of course, I am an outsider looking in. From my vantage point, it seems there is a powerful force who likes the system just as it is where people who are in desperate need of work are willing to come here and work for less than would be required if they worked legally. This results in getting them here sort of legally and then opening the door for them to stay past their visa deadline putting the onus on the immigrant.

Many of these immigrants are our brothers and sisters within the Body of Christ. Others might be drawn to the love of Christ or at least less put off by Christians, if they experienced the love of Christ. Immigrants are suffering and we need to suffer with them until we can all honor one another and rejoice together.

Prayer: God of All, make us one in the Spirit, one in the Body of Christ so we can better actualize your love throughout the earth. Amen.

All scriptures are quoted from the New Revised Standard Version Bible: Anglicized 
Edition, copyright 1989, 1995, Division of Christian Education of the National Council 
of Churches of Christ in the United States of American. Used by permission. All rights 
reserved.