Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

October 29, 2023

October 29, 2023

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October 29, 2023

Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Marielena

Marielena

Hincapié

Hincapié

My name is Maria Elena Hincapié. I’m an immigrant from Colombia who came to the United States when I was 3 years old after my father was recruited to work in a textile factory in Rhode Island in the 1970s. Over the last 3 decades, I’ve had the privilege of becoming a lawyer to fight for justice and equality for all, including today’s immigrants so that they have the same opportunities to thrive that my parents, 9 brother and sisters, and I have had. It’s an honor to be with you to reflect on a fundamental teaching of our faith—one that resonates profoundly in the context of our world.

In today’s gospel from Matthew, a scholar of the law tries to test Jesus (as lawyers are prone to do) by asking which commandment is the greatest.  Jesus replied: 1) "You shall love the Lord, your God”, and 2)  "Love thy neighbor as yourself.".

That’s it. In Jesus’ own words:  “The whole law and the prophets depend on these two commandments”.

Globally, we are experiencing a record number of people migrating due to climate change, wars, xenophobia, the rise of authoritarianism, gender-based violence, as well as those who choose to migrate for love, joy, and to pursue their dreams. The United States is a land of Indigenous peoples built by Native Americans, descendants of slavery, and the dreams, hopes, and aspirations of those of us who came from different lands. Most of us have known what it's like to be a newcomer, a new neighbor, and we have built this country together.

We must honor this legacy by cherishing and valuing every individual, irrespective of where they come from, how much money they have, the color of their skin or the language they speak. In doing so, we reflect the very love that Christ showers upon us as children of God.

I’m currently working on a book that tells the United States’ immigration history through the eyes of one family: my own. In my research, it’s become clear that the push and pull factors that led my family to migrate from Colombia are the same for those who came from different countries throughout the last centuries. Similarly, today’s migrants -- whether they are coming from Afghanistan or Ukraine, Haiti or Venezuela -- share the same dreams, fears, and hopes for themselves and their loved ones.

In times of war or trauma, there is an inherent urge to contract, restrict, to close the door behind us, reacting to present-day conditions and politics.  When what is needed is to be guided by the spiritual and moral compass of these two commandments to build communities where we all have the Freedom to Thrive so that today’s children and future generations can live in a more just and equitable society.  

Imagine if we organized our lives and society with these two commandments as our compass.

Rather than building walls and laws that separate families, we could create legal bridges and pathways for people to be reunited with their loved ones in a safe and orderly way, to be able to find freedom and safety. Instead of anti-immigrant laws like the ones in Florida that are criminalizing immigrants and anyone who would lend them a hand, we could create laws that recognize the resilient workers who are trying to rebuild cities after climate disasters which will only increase over time. These workers -- many of whom are migrants -- are actually trying to help their neighbors rebuild their homes, and we could help this resilience workorce by providing them with the legal right to work and live with dignity. Imagine if we also helped our neighboring countries so that people would have the Freedom to Stay and Thrive in their home countries and not be forced to migrate. This has to be part of our paradigm shift on how we take a global and hemishperic approach to the natural phenomenon of migration.  

Let us advocate for just and compassionate immigration policies at the federal, state and local levels that respect the dignity of every human being. Our roles as educators, scholars, advocates, and followers of Christ call us to engage in thoughtful dialogue and actively work towards a society that upholds the rights and well-being of all, especially the most vulnerable.

We must strive to understand the experiences and struggles of our immigrant brothers and sisters. We should take the time to listen to their stories, to comprehend the journey they have undertaken, often fraught with adversity and uncertainty. Let us empathize with their challenges, for only by understanding can we truly love as Christ has loved us. It is only through love and light -- and not fear and hatred -- that we all move closer to abiding by these two great commandments.

In our pursuit of love and compassion, we must also recognize that love extends beyond actions. It involves a transformation of our hearts, a deepening of our understanding, and a commitment to stand up for what is right and just. We are called to be a voice for those who are afraid of speaking up or who have been silenced, and to empower them in finding their voice and telling their stories.

May the Holy Spirit guide us in this journey of love and understanding, and may we, as a community of faith, manifest the love of Christ in our actions, for it is in loving our neighbor as ourselves that we truly reflect the essence of our Christian faith.

Amen.

Mi nombre es María Elena Hincapié. Soy una inmigrante de Colombia que llegó a los Estados Unidos cuando tenía 3 años después de que mi papá fue reclutado a trabajar en una fábrica textilera en Rhode Island en los años 1970. Durante las últimas 3 décadas, he tenido el privilegio de luchar como abogada por la justicia e igualdad de todos, incluyendo a las y los inmigrantes de hoy, para que tengan las mismas oportunidades de prosperar que mis padres, 9 hermanos y yo hemos tenido. Es un honor estar con ustedes para reflexionar sobre una enseñanza fundamental de nuestra fe, una que resuena profundamente en el contexto de nuestro mundo.

En el evangelio de hoy de Mateo, un estudioso de la ley intenta poner a prueba a Jesús (como tienden a hacer los abogados) preguntándole cuál es el mandamiento más importante. Jesús respondió: 1) “Amarás al Señor, tu Dios”, y 2) “Amarás a tu prójimo como a ti mismo”.

Eso es todo. En las propias palabras de Jesús: “Toda la ley y los profetas dependen de estos dos mandamientos”.

A nivel mundial, estamos experimentando un número récord de personas que migran debido al cambio climático, las guerras, la xenofobia, el aumento del autoritarismo, la violencia de género, así como aquellos que eligen migrar por amor, alegría y para perseguir sus sueños. Estados Unidos es una tierra de pueblos indígenas construida por nativos americanos, descendientes de la esclavitud y los sueños, esperanzas y aspiraciones de personas que llegamos de diferentes tierras. La mayoría de nosotras sabemos lo que es ser una recién llegada, una nueva vecina, y hemos construido este país juntos.

Debemos honrar este legado apreciando y valorando a cada individuo, independientemente de dónde haya nacido, cuánto dinero tenga, el color de su piel o el idioma que hable. Al hacerlo, reflejamos el mismo amor que Cristo derrama sobre nosotros como hijos de Dios.

Actualmente estoy trabajando en un libro que cuenta la historia de la inmigración en Estados Unidos a través de los ojos de una familia: la mía. En mi investigación, ha quedado clara que los factores de expulsión y atracción que llevaron a mi familia a emigrar de Colombia son los mismos para quienes vinieron de diferentes países a lo largo de los últimos siglos. De igual manera, los migrantes de hoy –ya sea que vengan de Afganistán o Ucrania, Haití o Venezuela– comparten los mismos sueños, temores y esperanzas para ellos y sus seres queridos.

En tiempos de guerra o trauma, existe una necesidad inherente de contraernos, restringir, cerrar la puerta detrás de nosotros, reaccionando a las condiciones y políticas actuales. Cuando lo que se necesita es dejarse guiar por la brújula espiritual y moral de estos dos mandamientos para construir comunidades donde todos tengamos la libertad de prosperar para que las niñas y niños de hoy y las generaciones futuras puedan vivir en una sociedad más justa y equitativa.

Imagínese si organizáramos nuestra vida y nuestra sociedad con estos dos mandamientos como brújula.

En lugar de construir muros y leyes que separen a las familias, podríamos crear puentes y vías legales para que las personas se reúnan con sus seres queridos de manera segura y ordenada, para que puedan encontrar libertad y seguridad. En lugar de leyes antiinmigrantes como las de Florida que criminalizan a los inmigrantes y a cualquiera que les eche una mano, podríamos crear leyes que reconozcan a los trabajadores resilientes que están tratando de reconstruir ciudades después de desastres climáticos que solo aumentarán con el tiempo. Estos trabajadores, muchos de los cuales son migrantes, en realidad están tratando de ayudar a sus vecinos a reconstruir sus hogares, y podríamos ayudar a esta fuerza laboral resiliencia brindándoles el derecho legal a trabajar y vivir con dignidad. Imagínese si también ayudáramos a nuestros países vecinos para que las personas tuvieran la libertad de quedarse y prosperar en sus países de origen y no verse obligadas a migrar. Esto tiene que ser parte de nuestro cambio de paradigma sobre cómo adoptar un enfoque global y hemisférico ante el fenómeno natural de la migración.

Aboguemos por políticas de inmigración justas y compasivas a nivel federal, estatal y local que respeten la dignidad de cada ser humano. Nuestros roles como educadores, eruditos, defensores y seguidores de Cristo nos llaman a entablar un diálogo reflexivo y trabajar activamente por una sociedad que defienda los derechos y el bienestar de todas y todos, especialmente las más vulnerables.

Debemos esforzarnos por comprender las experiencias y luchas de nuestros hermanos y hermanas inmigrantes. Deberíamos tomarnos el tiempo para escuchar sus historias, para comprender el camino que han emprendido, muchas veces plagado de adversidades e incertidumbres. Empaticemos con sus desafíos, porque sólo comprendiendo podemos amar verdaderamente como Cristo nos ha amado. Es sólo a través del amor y la luz –y no del miedo y el odio– que todos nos acercamos más al cumplimiento de estos dos grandes mandamientos.

En nuestra búsqueda del amor y la compasión, también debemos reconocer que el amor se extiende más allá de las acciones. Implica una transformación de nuestros corazones, una profundización de nuestra comprensión y un compromiso de defender lo que es correcto y justo. Estamos llamados a ser una voz para aquellos que tienen miedo de hablar o que han sido silenciados, y a empoderarlos para que encuentren su voz y cuenten sus historias.

Que el Espíritu Santo nos guíe en este camino de amor y comprensión, y que nosotras, como comunidad de fe, manifiestemos el amor de Cristo en nuestras acciones, porque es amando al prójimo como a nosotras mismos que verdaderamente reflejamos la esencia de nuestra fe.

Amén.

First Reading

Ex 22:20-26

PSALM

Ps 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51

Second Reading

1 Thes 1:5c-10

GOSPEL

Mt 22:34-40
Read texts at usccb.org

Marielena Hincapié

Marielena Hincapié

Marielena Hincapié is a Distinguished Immigration Fellow and Visiting Scholar at Cornell University’s Immigration Law and Policy Program.

Most recently, Marielena served as the executive director of the Los Angeles-based National Immigration Law Center (NILC) and the NILC Immigrant Justice Fund (IJF) until November 2022. Marielena began her tenure at NILC in 2000 as a staff attorney leading the organization’s labor and employment program. During that time, she successfully litigated law reform and impact-litigation cases dealing with the intersection of immigration laws and employment/labor laws. She then served as NILC’s director of programs from 2004 to 2008, after which she became executive director.

Marielena is a nationally respected leader, legal and political strategist in the social justice movement, and a leading voice in the national conversation on immigration. She played a key role in supporting youth leaders in the creation and successful implementation of Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) and cofounded the Protecting Immigrant Families (PIF) coalition to address the chilling effect the public charge rule had on children and families needing health, nutrition, housing and other safety net programs.

Before joining NILC, Marielena worked for the Legal Aid Society of San Francisco’s Employment Law Center, and previously served on the American Bar Association’s Commission on Immigration, and the boards of Jobs with Justice, the Center for Law & Social Policy, and as founding Board President of the Indivisible Project. She currently serves as a member of the Board of Trustees for The David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

Marielena immigrated as a child from Medellín, Colombia, to Central Falls, Rhode Island and grew up as the youngest in a family of 10 children. She earned her juris doctor degree from Northeastern University School of Law.

MORE INFO/ CONNECT

Catholic Women Preach Year C Virtual Book Launch

October 17 at 7pm ET: Join Catholic Women Preach, FutureChurch, contributors to the Year C book, and co-editors Elizabeth Donnelly and Russ Petrus as we celebrate the release of the third and final volume of this ground-breaking, award winning series.

"Catholic Women Preach is one of the more inspiring collection of homilies available today. Based on the deep spirituality and insights of the various women authors, the homilies are solidly based on the scriptures and offer refreshing and engaging insights for homilists and listeners. The feminine perspective has long been absent in the preached word, and its inclusion in this work offers a long overdue and pastorally necessary resource for the liturgical life of the Church." - Catholic Media Association

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