“O God of the exiles and stranger, find the homeless parts of me;
It is the middle of Advent as I write this. I am reading about 43.7 million refugees in the world today. Over 43 million! The UN organization to help refugees has a motto: “ONE refugee without hope is one too many!” Due to wars, famine, poverty, and political strife – they have been exiled. They are displaced in unfamiliar territory with strange food (if they can find some), often surrounded by a different language and at a loss for what is familiar and comforting. Advent was a season for exiles, a time of waiting and yearning for the light that dispels the darkness. Jesus’ birth was that hope for the world that broke through and brought comfort. But soon after his birth, Jesus and his parents show their solidarity with exiles, they become exiled and were forced to flee to Egypt to save their own lives. How many of us have had to leave our homes due to threat of murder? It is quite amazing that Jesus demonstrates his solidarity with refugees, the homeless, the victimized, the persecuted while still an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes. What a strong call to each of us to also be in solidarity with those who are suffering in exile. (For additional refugee information see: http://www.unhcr.org/4dfa11499.html)
Exile can also be a spiritual or psychological separation from our true selves as God intended us to be. Many people are exiled from their bodies due to eating disorders, or childhood abuse. Families are in exile from one another due to damaged relationships and a lack of forgiveness. Those without a job feel exiled from the working community, and those without a church feel exiled from a worshipping community.
Isaiah 40-55 is referred to as the Book of Consolation or the Second Isaiah. It portrays our God as one who loves the people tenderly and who longs to save them. Second Isaiah describes a God who consoles with hope and healing. This consoling message can address our inner homelessness where we have given into the values of greed, consumerism, ego-centeredness and apathy. Our souls know that we are out of place in a materialistic power-centered world.
How can we remain faithful when our spirits are in exile? We realize that wherever God is, we are home. I pray this Christmas/Epiphany season for us all to be aware that God is with us, within us, around us and works through us to bring love and comfort to others. We know that we are not meant to conform by the ways of this world, but to be transformed by the light of love demonstrated in Jesus Christ. We trust that even though we may periodically experience loneliness and lose patience with ourselves and others, we can get back on the path of humble service as God’s instruments of peace. Then we will be back in alignment with God’s intention for our lives and be able to feel God’s blessings through reaching out to others in exile.
Joyce Rupp beautifully says, “Let us hold the consolations of God close to the exiled places of our hearts. God offers us light, consolation and comfort for our inner homelessness. Emmanuel, God-with-us, shows us the way to the land of peace, to our true selves.”
[1] Joyce Rupp, May I Have This Dance?, (Ave Maria Press, Indiana, 1992), 155.
Website for flight painting: http://uploads5.wikipaintings.org/images/vittore-carpaccio/the-flight-into-egypt-1500.jpg
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