POPE Francis recently addressed the issue of refugees. He noted that the only way for resolution is through solidarity where everyone pitches in because “all together we are a powerful force of support for those who have lost their homeland, family, work and dignity.”
In his address the Pope continued his series of reflections on the works of mercy, focusing on welcoming the stranger and clothing the naked. He said that clothing the naked is about caring for those whose dignity has been stripped from them and helping restore and protect that dignity.
So in addition to providing clothing to those in need, be on the lookout for and ready to help victims of human trafficking and those, including children, whose bodies are being bought and sold like some kind of commodity: the Pope said.
Not having a home, a job or fair wages and being discriminated against because of race or faith are all forms of nakedness that “as Christians we are called to be on alert for, vigilant and ready to act.”
While voluntary or forced migration has been part of human history, the call to welcome the stranger is even more necessary than ever given that so many people today are on the move because of economic crises, armed conflict and climate change.
There have been many great “expressions of solidarity” over the centuries, even though there have been social tensions.
I believe that many of our young people, in a kind of predisposition to faith, feel the desire and need to commit their time and efforts to helping the needy and disadvantaged. But do we offer them the opportunities?
Many of our parish efforts and groups are still very ‘adult’ focused. Maybe we need to think more about this social justice avenue for enlisting the energies of our people.