You are the Godwho bearsthe brunt of thequestion, “Why didn’t you stay where you belong?" Youfeel the red-faced embarrassment when we hear, “Keep your distance, you foreigner, with your different-colored skin and your strange-sounding speech, with your culture, food, religion, and clothing that are inferior to my own."
You are the Godwho sits along side ofus who work in sweatshops, with our bloodshot eyes and aching fingerssquinting underthe soul-less glare of a florescent light.
You are the Godwho rises early in the morning with usas we go to harvest fresh vegetables and fruits picked with fingersstained by the pesticides and fungicides that penetrate our skin.
You are the Godwho stands withus inthe chill ofthe morning in the parkinglot at Home Depot, with anxious stomachs hoping that we too would be picked to work just for that one day.
Loving God, as we stand before you today, help us to remember that when we speak of immigrantsand refugees, we speak of Christ.
Hear our prayers for necessary, just, and comprehensive immigration reform. Make us strongin the work for immigrant justiceand remind us that our work is no easier than the everyday work of our immigrant sisters and brothers.