Homily on the Memorial of Maximilian Kolbe (On Immigration and Human Dignity)

One of the biggest issues that we face, among many, is the issue of immigration.  It seems that the topic of immigration has become a heated topic and there are many who speak of immigrants in sometimes hateful ways. 

This past summer, I lead a group of teens from my parish in Bastrop on a mission trip to McAllen Texas.  There we were given the opportunity to work with Catholic Charities who has made it their mission to provide assistance for immigrant families who have run away from dangerous situations in their countries of origin.  The people who come there are people who struggled, spent every cent they had to flee in order to protect their children and their own lives.  But, they came and instead of sneaking into the country, they turned themselves into the authorities since they would have a better chance of getting an opportunity to stay in the US.  As we met with them, we heard their heart wrenching stories.  At the end of our time there, the teens were moved with compassion for them, because they came to the realization that the people we served were like each of us.

They were absolutely correct, Bishop Seitz of El Paso, writes in his letter on immigration, “Every Human Being bears within him or her the image of God, which

confers upon us a dignity higher than any passport or immigration status.”

So what does this mean for us here at St. Mary’s Seminary and for all.

The first reading from Deuteronomy gives us a clear message….

For the LORD, your God, is the God of gods,
the LORD of lords, the great God, mighty and awesome,
who has no favorites, accepts no bribes;
who executes justice for the orphan and the widow,
and befriends the alien, feeding and clothing him.
So you too must befriend the alien,
for you were once aliens yourselves in the land of Egypt.

We are called to recognize the dignity of every person, regardless of our political affiliations or our own personal opinions on the issues at hand.  As seminarians, priests, religious, as Catholic’s, we are called to serve the poor, to help those in need.  In doing so we see beyond the life situation of the person and instead see Christ within them.

St. Maximilian Kolbe was one who did this well.  He recognized the dignity of every person to the point that he freely gave up his life for a fellow prisoner in Aushwitz.  He, a Catholic Priest, following the footsteps of Christ and knowing that he would be killed in place of the man, lovingly took his place and was starved.  While he was in prison, he prayed and gave hope to those around him and when the guard came to finish his life on earth Fr. Kolbe lifted his arm and received the poison of the needle. He, like Christ, sacrificed his self for the life of another.

Brothers and Sisters, as Catholics, we are challenged to see Christ in all those around us, to lay down our lives for them, to give of ourselves, even if it causes us anguish and pain.  The issue of immigration is a perhaps a political situation, but we are not in the arena of politics, we are in the arena of Godly love.  We are invited then to pray for the immigrants and those that in act laws, pray for their countries of origin and give to those that are in need, remembering that the Church has a “preferential option for the poor”.  Let our focus be on Christ in them, remembering always, that the Lord says, “What so ever you do for the least of my brethren, you do unto me.”