“Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke? Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe them, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?”. Isaiah 58: 6-7
Lent is a season of fasting and penitence. But, as the prophet Isaiah reminds us, fasting and penitence is less about what we are willing to “give-up” as an expression of our personal piety, and more about realigning ourselves and our lives with God’s purpose, mercy, justice and love as reflected in the life, teaching, death and resurrection of Jesus.
Lent is about growing more deeply and practicing more sincerely the gospel life of Baptism.
On Ash Wednesday, ICE agents in Soldotna arrested and deported a woman and her three children, the youngest of her children is 5 years old and attends Kindergarten.
While these cases are often complex, those of us who seek to practice and witness to the life and way of Jesus, and who would look for our society to reflect the higher moral principles of mercy, love of neighbor, and gospel justice, must be prepared and willing to hold ourselves and our leaders accountable to our Lenten fast taken in justice, mercy, and Godly love.
I also encourage all of us to be renewed in hope and faith. Remember that God has poured into our lives an abundance of strength and love in our communities–“our own flesh and blood.” Nourish your relationships and strengthen the bonds of your community. Together we are stronger, and in our shared faith, prayers, service and love for one another in Christ, we can do all things and have nothing to fear.
An Open Letter to the People of Alaska and to Our Elected Leaders
Interested in Advocacy Resources for More Information about Immigration?
Contact Episcopal Migration Ministries
www.episcopalmigrationministries.org
EMM offers a variety of know your rights and family preparedness information available. Additionally, the EMM team can also connect directly with local parishes to provide family preparedness or other information and support so please feel free to share our contact them.