Archbishop: On Easter, we feel the fears of the undocumented in our community
The ongoing war of attrition in Ukraine and the violence of the Israeli-Hamas conflict continue to cause great anxiety, as do situations closer to home.
I often remind people that here in South Florida, we are surrounded by 'islands' of pain: Haiti, Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua.
Almost everyone in South Florida has a personal connection with someone in one or more of those countries.
We perceive the concern and uncertainty of so many of our brothers and sisters, our neighbors, who today live in fear and anguish because of their immigration status.
In the face of threats of 'mass deportations,' this community so close to the immigrant experience cannot not feel the anxiety — the fear of the undocumented or irregular migrant.
'Fearful and anxious' certainly described those detained at ICE's Krome Avenue Detention Center in Southwest Miami-Dade, where I celebrated two Easter Masses on Good Friday.
And despite all this — despite so many reasons for discouragement — today, Easter, the resurrected Lord invites us not to be afraid and to trust more strongly than ever in the power of love.
He invites us not to remain sunk in despair, nor to allow ourselves to be overcome by fear or discouragement. that we see around us and in our community.
Easter signifies that life conquers death, truth conquers error and love conquers hatred. On this day, Christ has risen, and with him, our hope has been resurrected.
'We are Easter people and 'Alleluia' is our song,' preached St. Augustine of Hippo during the uncertain times in which he lived. He added, 'Let us sing here and now in this life, even though we are oppressed by various worries, so that we may sing it one day in the world to come, when we are set free from all anxiety.'
That is true for the undocumented among us.
Yes, 'Alleluia' is our song — but even with eyes raised to heaven, we cannot remain indifferent to present challenges and sufferings here on Earth and around us.
For millions of Catholics, Easter is our return every year to our own baptism — our own 'pass over' or Pascha into new life in Christ. But in the gift of Easter lie the demands of Easter: 'If you were raised with Christ, seek what is above,' said Saint Paul.
Faith in Jesus' passion, death and his resurrection gives us the inner strength to exercise our baptismal commitment: to live, in different ways, lives of service and significance.
May he help us build communities where unity, justice and solidarity reign, where no one feels alone in their suffering, and the human dignity of everyone — even the most vulnerable — is respected and protected regardless of social, economic or immigration status.
Thomas Wenski is the Archbishop of Miami.
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