Isaiah 58:9
Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here I am.
If you remove the yoke from among you, the pointing of the finger, the speaking of evil

Reflections this week are by Michelina Nicotera-Taxiera

This week we have explored God’s promises in Isaiah 58:9. God says that when the world cries for help, God needs us to answer the call. But we must first remove the things that get in the way – like indifference, lack of understanding and hurtful speech. We learned that God expects us to be God’s hands and feet and mouthpiece for those who are suffering. We do this by stepping away from our biases and understanding the migrant experience. We do this by standing up to political rhetoric that demonizes migrant people. We do this by walking alongside them on their journeys and discovering the ways we can truly help.

Here I am, Lord
Is it I, Lord?
I have heard You calling in the night
I will go, Lord
If You lead me
I will hold Your people in my heart.

– Daniel Schulte

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Michelina Nicotera-Taxiera is an illustrator living in Tucson, AZ. She works as a volunteer with an asylum advocacy group called Save Asylum and also at a migrant welcome center, Casa Alitas. Last year she created the Way of Asylum which is a devotional Stations of the Cross. In these stations Jesus’ suffering is embodied in the people seeking asylum in our country. https://www.thewayofasylum.com/

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