2018.12.23 Reflection following our “No-Rehearse Pageant” based on
the story of Jesus’ birth as told in the book Refuge by Anne
Booth.
Where is the good news?
According to
Matthew: “Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a
dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and
remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to
destroy him.” 14 Then Joseph[h] got up, took the child and his mother by night,
and went to Egypt, 15 and remained there until the
death of Herod.”
Where is the good news?
Over 2,000 immigrant
children were separated from their parents this year and held in US detention
centers.
Where is the good news?
Currently
there are over 15,000 immigrant children in our detention centers, most crossed
our border as unaccompanied minors.
Where is the good news?
50% increase
in deportations from our country in the year 2018. (from Washington Post:
“Ronald D. Vitiello, interim head of ICE, said last month at his Senate
confirmation hearing that deportations increased nearly 50 percent during
fiscal year 2018.”)
Where is the good news?
On Dec. 20
the Trump Administration issued directives that asylum seekers on our southern
border must remain in Mexico for the duration of their court proceedings.
Where is the good news?
There are
more than 5,000 people waiting for their asylum claims to be heard in Tijuana alone.
Where is the good news?
This month 7
year old Jakelin Caal Maquin died in the
custody of our government after traveling 2,000 miles with her father.
Where is the good news?
Pregnant
women are travelling from Central America, walking thousands of miles, don’t
even have a donkey to carry them
Where is the good news?
Parts of our
government is shut down over funding billions of dollars to build a wall.
Where is the good news?
According to
Luke, Mary, a pregnant, a poor woman waiting to give birth, says,
“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, … 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, … 52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
Where is the good news?
On Dec. 10th,
over 30 religious leaders got arrested on the border, attempting to pray with
migrants on the other side.
Where is the good news?
After ICE
raided a meatpacking plant in Morristown last spring, teachers rose up to care
for and protect their students whose parents had suddenly disappeared. A whole community rallied around those
families.
Where is the good news?
Today over 50 houses of worship across the
country are harboring immigrants, protecting them from arrest and deportation. Hundreds more have said they are willing to
do the same.
Where is the good news?
One of those
immigrants, Rosa, recently took sanctuary with Cedar Lane UU Church outside of
Washington, DC. She has three children
who are US citizens: 11, 9 and 6. They
can’t stay with her, but at least she sees them every week.
Where is the good news?
Three times
a day, every day, a team of helpers meets the bus from Dallas as it arrives in
Knoxville. Providing translation help,
diapers, food, medicine, warm hats, toys – for families released from
detention, travelling in a strange land, just trying to get to familiar faces.
[ These donations will go directly to that effort.]
Where is the good news?
Every week
on Wednesday morning, church members stand quietly outside the non-descript ICE
office with a sign that simply reads “Love Your Neighbors.” It is the day and time people come to
“check-in” with ICE. They must wait
outside no matter the weather. The line
is long. There is no bathroom. We get in trouble for passing out warm coffee
and donuts.
Where is the good news?
Well, we are
the good news.
Or, we can
be. We can be part of the good news,
alongside our neighbors.
Jesus said,
‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did not do for one of the least of these,
you did not do for me.’
Good news is
born again and again, over and over, in and through human beings.
Not just one
time 2,000 years ago. But here, today,
as we allow ourselves to be the bearers of good news.
This week,
during this time of family and friends, this time of celebration and gifts, how
will we be bearers of good news? What angels will we let ourselves hear?
How will we
focus on the star in the sky calling us onward?
How will we
labor to bring forth hope?
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