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Hello St. John’s Family,
I suspect you’ve heard about the massive search for a submersible watercraft that went missing while transporting 5 people to explore the site of the Titanic wreckage. The updates sound like a blockbuster action movie script: with the oxygen supply running low and time running short, urgent attempts to locate and rescue the lost submersible press forward with heroic resolve. Worried yet hopeful family and friends are joined by millions around the world as they watch for updates and pray for a miracle. To which I add my prayers – I pray these lives are saved.
I also know this wasn’t the only urgent situation transpiring on the seas in recent days. One week ago, a poorly maintained fishing boat overloaded with hundreds of migrants sank in the Mediterranean Sea. There are 78 confirmed deaths, with hundreds still missing. Conflicting reports on what occurred are emerging; however, Greece’s Coast Guard apparently had contact with the vessel prior to its sinking and was aware of the dire situation at hand.
No resource is being spared for the 5 precious lives on board the Titan submersible. However, virtually no resources were extended to the hundreds of precious lives seeking to flee difficult circumstances and in obvious distress in the Mediterranean Sea. To which we must ask: why?
I’ve thought a lot about that question. My initial reflections gravitated toward how we see and relate to those in distress. When we see accomplished, successful - let’s name it - wealthy people in danger, I sense we are quickly able to relate to them. We don’t have the resources they have, yet we can relate to the desire to explore and accomplish bold endeavors like the father-son pair on the Titan. Often, I sense we aspire to be like those people.
The status of a migrant, though, is not something we aspire to. We don’t like – we even abhor – the situations poor, struggling, and displaced people face. We recognize there were many parent-child connections on that overloaded fishing boat but cannot begin to relate to their experience. Truth be told, while we want their plight to improve, we cannot possibly see ourselves as migrants.
Although that’s difficult and perhaps embarrassing to admit, honest reflection points to its truth. Still, that reality isn’t what’s most troubling, or is our greatest shortcoming. Our greatest shortcoming is that when we see migrants or refugees, we struggle to see Jesus.
In Matthew 25:31-45, Christ shares how our actions will ultimately be evaluated, stating that when we aid the hungry, the naked, the sick, the stranger, or the prisoner, we’re aiding Him. We’ve heard Christ’s words “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” I sense we want to take Christ’s words to heart and aid those facing difficult situations, yet the magnitude of need and sacrifice required overwhelm us.
It's true that we cannot help every person struggling. We can, though, see every person as worthy. We can see every person as worthy of effort, worthy of sanctuary, worthy of prayer. We can see them as precious, bearing in a real way the image of God. I sense if all who proclaim to follow Jesus intentionally focused on seeing all people as worthy, the resources and advocacy for migrants and refugees would improve significantly. I pray that will be the ultimate outcome of the tragedy on the Mediterranean Sea.
This Sunday in worship we’ll consider how the word “good” gets applied very loosely today. In Mark 10:17-27, Jesus’ interaction with a man who questions him will show us how high the target of “good” is – while reminding us that good is by no means impossible! I hope you’ll join us in worship on Sunday-
Grace and Peace,
Pastor Brad
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