A Compassionate Welcome
A Meditation by Rev. Cameron Trimble
“You shall also love the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt.” (Deuteronomy 10:19)
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In our culture today, we are bombarded by messages of fear, especially around immigration. Some voices, like those in the incoming US administration, call for walls, bans, portraying immigrants as threats to our safety, our jobs, and our way of life. But as people of faith, we are called to resist such narratives and to remember a deeper truth rooted in the heart of our Judaeo-Christian tradition: We are all strangers, once welcomed by God’s grace.
The Bible is unequivocal in its command to welcome the stranger. From the ancient Israelites, who were reminded that they had once been foreigners in Egypt, to Jesus’ call to love our neighbor as ourselves, Scripture speaks clearly to the sacred duty of hospitality. To welcome the stranger is not an optional act of charity; it is a fundamental expression of our faith. It is a recognition that we are all created in the image of God, deserving of dignity, respect, compassion and belonging.
Rabbi Jonathan Sacks teaches, “The Hebrew Bible in one verse commands, ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself,’ but in no less than 36 places commands us to ‘love the stranger.’”
And yet, at this moment, many political leaders try to convince us otherwise. They attempt to cast immigrants as “others”—as threats to our security, rather than as fellow human beings seeking safety, opportunity, and hope. These voices thrive on fear, and fear blinds us to the shared humanity that unites us. When fear governs our hearts, we lose sight of the Gospel’s call to love.
But Jesus was clear in his teachings: “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” (Matthew 25:35). In welcoming the stranger, we welcome Christ himself. When we open our doors to the refugee, when we extend kindness to the immigrant, when we resist the urge to cast judgment on those seeking asylum, we are living out the radical hospitality of God’s kingdom. We are embodying the love that knows no borders, no nationality, no exclusion.
As people of faith, we must ask ourselves: Are we allowing fear to dictate our response to immigration, or are we being guided by the compassion that our faith demands? Are we choosing to build walls or to build bridges of understanding and care?
It is not easy to resist the powerful narrative of fear, but this is the work of discipleship. It is the work of trusting that Love is stronger than the fearmongering of political rhetoric. It is the work of remembering that the Kingdom of God is not built on exclusion, but on the radical inclusion of all people, regardless of where they come from.
As we engage in conversations with friends and neighbors, may we do so with hearts open to the stranger, with hands ready to welcome, and with a fierce commitment to the justice and love that our faith demands.
We are in this together,
Cameron
Reflection Questions
Where do I see fear influencing my views or actions toward immigrants or strangers in my community? How might I replace fear with compassion and understanding?
How can I actively embody the call to “love the stranger” in my daily life? What tangible actions can I take to welcome and support immigrants and refugees?
Prayer for the Day
A Prayer for Compassionate Welcome
God of Grace and Mercy,
You welcomed us when we were strangers, offering us love and shelter.
Help us to extend that same welcome to those who seek safety, hope, and belonging.
Open our hearts to the stranger, so we may see them as You see them—
With compassion, with respect, and with love.
May we resist the voices of fear and division,
And instead be voices of welcome, justice, and peace.
Guide us in building bridges rather than walls,
So that Your love may be known to all who cross our paths.
Amen.
Spiritual Practice
People Just Like Me
Today, spend five minutes in quiet reflection, focusing on your shared humanity with those who seek refuge and belonging. Begin by sitting quietly, inviting a sense of peace and openness. Imagine the journey of an immigrant or refugee—leaving behind the familiar, facing fear of the unknown, and holding onto hope for a better life. Allow yourself to connect with the courage and vulnerability this journey requires.
Next, reflect on a time when you may have felt like a stranger or out of place. Perhaps you moved to a new city, joined a new community, or faced a season of loneliness. As you recall those feelings, allow yourself to sense the shared human experience of fear, hope, and longing for connection, knowing these are emotions we all carry.
End each reflection with a prayer: God, help me to love others as I wish to be loved. Help me see the stranger as my neighbor, with compassion and understanding.
Let this practice guide your interactions, opening your heart to others with empathy and reminding you of our common humanity.