If today you hear his voice harden not your hearts!

If Today you hear his voice harden not your hearts!

“Oh, that today you would hear his voice; Harden not your hearts as at the rebellion. (Heb 3: 15).

I’m afraid that these words have passed the hearts of mankind as we watch the manner of attrition towards our neighbors.  And make no mistake about who our neighbor is.  The parable of the Good Samaritan (Lk 10: 29 - 37) applauds the respect that a foreigner in Jerusalem became a victor in a time of ignoring another person, who similarly was his enemy.  Because the Jews rejected the Samaritans due to inner-marriage of some with pagans and therefore were enemies of God.  (Jn 4: 4 ff).  “For the Son of Man has come to seek and save what was lost.”  (Lk 19: 10).

Why, the best of us have forgotten who our neighbor is when we turn our eyes away from the mandate from God to look after those that are his children regardless of their association with the divine Trinity?

For over 250 years the United States has been a savior for other nations in allowing immigrants from everywhere to enter our borders.  However, now with the border crisis erupting safety and the displacement of too many young children we are in a crisis filled situation that threatens our immediate safety and protection from persons with an evil intent.  Of course with the soon to take effect administration under Donald Trump all of this should end.  My reason for writing this is the dictates of our Lord has lost most of its promises of who my neighbor is.  

Somewhere in time man has misunderstood the meaning of Christ’s words to his disciples about preaching his words to all the world.  It is one thing to send emissaries to announce the Good News and the meaning of our redemption, but without bringing the news of God’s love for everyone the message had lost its impact.  Missionaries from many years of evangelizing discovered that for unbelievers or people who could not grasp the gospel’s intent would listen once they had food and water, secure housing, and people who could relate to their basic needs. 

This is the prime reason that God sent his Son to assume humanity so we could relate to his message of salvation.  Who is my neighbor?  Jesus knew that unless we would see this emissary who claimed to be God must adhere to our suffering before we would believe him.  Once that occurred he has won our faith without any obstacles. 

We must never forget that in all of this political unrest the presence of God is still the one priority that helps direct our human efforts.  “Though present in his Church, Christ’s reign is nevertheless yet to be fulfilled “with power and “glory” by the king’s return to earth.  This reign is still under attack by the evil powers, even though they have been defeated definitively by Christ’s Passover.  Until everything is subject to him, “until there be realized new heavens and a new earth in which justice dwells, the pilgrim Church, in her sacraments and institutions, which belong to this present age, carries the mark of this world which will pass, and she herself takes her place among the creatures which groan and travail yet and await the revelation of the sons of God.”  That is why Christians pray, above all in the Eucharist, to hasten Christ’s return by saying to him: Marana tha! “Our Lord, come.”  (CCC 671).

So, those who wish to enter our shores must have an honest understanding they are welcome.  But, they also must be willing to make a sacrifice of what we know as humility.  The warmth of the nation that accepts them must treat them as friends and perhaps with the two semblances of mutual love may eventually work for who is my neighbor? 

My maternal grandparents  came from Italy entering our shores legally and became citizens of our nation.  Understanding that a nation must feel sovereign and enact laws that are for everyone's protection become paramount to a well-operation of freedoms for all.  So, it has become a crisis for those who were induced to sneak in by evil intending money cartels to lead these unsuspecting migrants to a evenual deportation for the safety of our citizens, either born here or those who are Naturalized.  

As the outgoing administration prepares to leave, officially, on January 20, 2025, they must take with them the terrible scenario of discounting the United States Constitution which has been our guide since June 21, 1788.  It was Created September 17, 1787, Presented for approval September 28, 1787, Ratified June 21, 1788 (9 of the 13 states), and became effective March 4, 1789.

Ralph B. Hathaway