Brothers and sisters:

Remember that you were at that time without Christ, being aliens from the commonwealth of Israel, and strangers to the covenants of promise, having no hope and without God in the world. But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. 

For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. 

So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.

New Revised Standard Version, copyright 1989, by the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. USCCB approved.

It’s difficult for me to read today’s first reading, with its talk of the “dividing wall,” “strangers,” “citizens,” and “the far off [who] have been brought near” without considering the reality of immigration in today’s world. Our political context seems deeply, unrelentingly, even violently divided over how to respond to the sojourners who find themselves in a new land, or traveling toward one. That kind of division was known to Paul as he wrote to the Ephesians. In his day the division was between Jews and Gentiles, the circumcised and uncircumcised. Perhaps division is part of the human condition, but God calls us to something greater. Paul invites the Ephesians to peace, reconciliation, and unity among the members of the household of God. How can we show dignity to, and seek unity with, our brothers and sisters with whom we differ, whether they be Democrats or Republicans, immigrants or citizens, Somali or Latino?

—Brian Martindale, SJ, is a Jesuit scholastic of the Midwest Province serving as a campus minister and math teacher at Cristo Rey Jesuit High School – Twin Cities.

Good Lord and Heavenly Father,

You love each one of your children regardless of the lands they come from.  

We thank you for helping us to recognize each other as members of the same human family and as your beloved people.

We thank you because you enlighten us, encourage us, and feed us with your Word.

We pray for those that suffer due to hunger, injustice, climate change, and poverty—so that together we may find solutions to change their lives.  

We pray for our countries, so that we may find viable paths for international collaboration and authentic human development.

We pray for our Church, so that we may learn to be all brothers and sisters. Thus, we ask for a humble heart that is willing to welcome, protect, promote, and integrate those who knock at our doors.

We pray this in the name of our Lord, Jesus Christ, who is present in our brothers and sisters, who lives and reigns forever and ever.

Amen.

—Prayer for Migrants, written by Luis Donaldo González, published on usccb.org.