Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church
Hot Springs Village, Arkansas
He was an isolationist.  This is a statement that I can't imagine any person of enlightened Christian faith saying about Jesus Christ.  His ministry reached far and wide and when he was tempted by his disciples and others to stay in one place, he said that they must move on to preach the Word to others.  Jesus taught against an isolationist mentality among his disciples when he told parables such as The Good Samaritan and when he encountered the Samaritan woman at the well.  Jesus was all about building bridges of understanding, love, acceptance, mercy and peace among all people and bringing people together, rather than keep them apart.

Our Pope, Francis, has echoed Jesus throughout his papacy in words and by his example of humility and love for all, especially the vulnerable and the poor.  He has spoken against any and all who would propose to build walls between peoples and has urged all followers of Jesus Christ to have a welcoming disposition to people of good will.  Our bishop, Anthony Taylor, has also echoed Pope Francis and Catholic Social Teaching in statements, and teachings he has promulgated as bishop of Arkansas on the issue of immigration.  In his pastoral letter on the human rights of immigrants, he makes it clear that the Church does NOT promote illegal immigration.  Rather, the Church promotes all efforts to remove the causes of illegal immigration.  It promotes and supports all efforts to revise our immigration process and procedures so as to be just and fair for people who want to immigrate to our country.

As Catholics, we are called to live daily by the principles, ways and teachings of Jesus Christ and lead others to do so in all areas of public and private life.

I must say, I found it troubling when a parishioner shared with me an e-mail that is being promulgated and passed on that protrays Jesus saying something that he certainly did not say.  I would hope and pray that ayone who receives such an e-mail would reply back to the sender that it is blasphemous to use any depiction of Jesus to say, NOT what Jesus said, but another person or persons beliefs or opinion.  Let us all strive to truly hear and take to heart all that Jesus said and did and have an openness toward others that reflects the mind and heart of Jesus at all times.