Daily we hear stories of people going to their Immigration appointment for an asylum request, or permanent status, or a routine check-in . . .  Only to be arrested by ICE, detained and scheduled for deportation. A  citizen Veteran drives to work one day, has his windows smashed in, is pulled out of his car, beaten and detained by ICE for three days, for no reason other than his Latino heritage. Story after story reveal dehumanizing conditions in ICE Detention centers  from lack of water, privacy, food, heat or clean clothes.

The administration’s crack down on illegal immigration, has long since  ceased to follow laws. Instead it has trampled on civil rights and ignored justice.

I came across a phrase the other day that helped me make sense of what I’m seeing. The writer used the term “Sin that deadens the heart.” It seems to me that only hearts that have been deaden to compassion, love, mercy and kindness, can tolerate the dehumanization and vilification  of an entire immigrant community.

I know there are  people  celebrating mass  arrests of immigrants, who have come here seeking asylum.   I also know that many  claim to be faithful Christians. And if one were to ask, I am certain that each one would say they are people who love God and love their neighbor.

When a heart is deadened by sin, it no longer sees the wrong being done. Instead one is blinded to the human tragedy unfolding. It allows a person to ignore the cries of children whose parents are arrested and taken away. One can pretend to care, but claim this is the only way to follow the law. One can tell themselves they are loving God and neighbor, yet refuse to see the evil they are supporting and perpetrating.

Jesus cautioned us, “Not everyone who says to me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father in heaven.” Matthew 7:21

And what is God’s will?

In the book of  Isaiah God says,
”Wash yourselves; make yourselves clean;
remove your evil deeds
from before my eyes;
cease to do evil;
learn to do good;
seek justice;
rescue the oppressed;
defend the orphan;
plead for the widow.” Isaiah 1:16-17

We can worship God, and still not do God’s will. We can claim to be faithful Christians, but if we do not act in love for one another, we are not.

The apostle Paul  powerfully stated this in his words, “Though I speak in the tongues of mortals and of angels, but do not have love, I am a noisy gong or a clanging cymbal.” I Corinthians 13:1

If we are to be people of faith, our love must extend beyond our circle of friends and family. It must include the people that Jesus so loved, and gave his life for.