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St. Mary's Reflection:

"I was a Stranger and You Welcomed Me"
 
I recently attended David Crosson’s Adult Forum about NEAT Migration Ministries and the ways our church can support migrants who are facing fear and uncertainty as they try to comply with the law. During the forum, I learned that some of our parishioners participate in vigils at the immigration center downtown, standing alongside legal migrants who have been called to report there.

As I listened, I found myself asking many questions. What could I possibly do to help? Many of those arriving may not speak English. Their problems are complicated and frightening. I wondered whether bringing food would help, or whether there was some practical way to ease their burden. I also wondered what our parishioners actually do at these vigils — and how simply standing there could make a difference.

Then one parishioner who had taken part in a prior vigil said something very simple: just being there seemed to make the immigrants feel better.

That stayed with me.

It reminded me that Christian witness is not always about having the right words, solving every problem, or knowing exactly what to do. Sometimes it is about accompaniment — the act of being present with another person in a difficult moment. In a world that often measures our value by what we can accomplish, the Gospel invites us into something different: presence, compassion, and love made visible.

Welcoming the stranger does not always require a grand gesture. It can begin with just standing nearby. Offering a smile. Saying a prayer. Holding someone in our hearts. Letting another person know, without many words, that they are not alone and that they do matter.

I left the Adult Forum thinking about those who come to the immigration center anxious and unsure about what the future may hold. I also thought about the gift our St. Mary’s parishioners offer by being there — a sign of comfort, hope, and solidarity.

To me, that presence reflects the heart of Christ: the One who draws near to those who are afraid, burdened, or in need of welcome. And it reminded me that sometimes the most faithful thing we can do is simply show up, with love of course.

Barbara Bernard,
Vestry Member
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