Today’s migrants are like the Hebrews of the Exodus. It is with this analogy that Pope Francis develops his message for the 110th World Migrant and Refugee Day which will be celebrated on September 29. God is on the move with his people, the Holy Father recalls, and each encounter with a migrant is also an encounter with Christ.
Xavier Sartre – Vatican City
“It is possible to see in the migrants of our time, as in those of all times, a living image of the people of God on the march towards the eternal homeland”: Pope Francis draws on the conclusions of the summary report of the first session of the last synod to draw a parallel between the itinerant nature of the Church as the people of God on the move in history and that of migrants. He thus compares more precisely the journey “of hope” migrants with the Exodus of the Hebrews.
“Like the people of Israel in the time of Moses, migrants often flee situations of oppression and abuse, insecurity and discrimination, and lack of prospects for development”, writes François. So, “migrants encounter many obstacles on their way” like the people of Moses. “They are tested by thirst and hunger; they are exhausted by sorrows and illnesses; they are tempted by despair”.
God walks with his people
Despite these challenges, “the reality of the exodus” is that “God precedes and accompanies the progress of his people and all his children, in all times and in all places”recalls the Pope. “The presence of God in the midst of the people is a certainty of the history of salvation”. As proof, the ark of the covenant was kept in a tent during the Exodus, and “during the reign of David, God refused to be locked up in a temple to continue to live in a tent and thus be able to walk with his people”.
This presence cannot be denied today since “many migrants experience God as traveling companion, guide and anchor of salvation”seeking in Him “a consolation in times of distress”, meeting thanks to Him “good Samaritans on the way”. This is evidenced by the Bibles, prayer books and rosaries that these men and women carry “across deserts, rivers, seas and borders”.
Meeting God through migrants
But “God walks not only with his people, but also in his people” adds the Holy Father in his message. “He identifies with the men and women who walk through history – in particular with the last, the poor, the marginalized – as if he were prolonging the mystery of the Incarnation” he specifies. Hence the fact that the meeting with the migrant is also “an encounter with Christ”, “an opportunity for salvation”. “In this senseexplains Françoisthe poor save us because they allow us to encounter the face of the Lord”.
The Pope finally calls for us to feel that we are walking with migrants and refugees, to do it together “synod” and to entrust them to the intercession of Mary, “sign of sure hope and consolation on the path of the faithful people of God”.
