daca: a case of mercy against empire
It is clearer, now more than ever, that Christianity in America has made Empire its god.
Again [Jesus] entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. And he said to the man who had the withered hand, “Come here.” And he said to them, “Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?” But they were silent. And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, “Stretch out your hand.” He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Hero′di-ans against him, how to destroy him.
Mark 3:1-6 (RSVCE)
DACA provided temporary relief for hundreds of thousands of undocumented immigrants who were brought as children into the US. It had stringent requirements for work, education, and criminal record. The death sentence of DACA is just another example of pharisaical interpretation. Mercy and grace are blasphemy in the name of “law and order.” And those that have tried to ignore the thinly veiled white supremacy are finding out that they too are targets. Whose land is this anyway? The broken theology that somehow Euro-American colonists and immigrants are the lost tribes of Israel is both delusion and hubris.
The Church has recognized and proclaimed the need to welcome young people: ‘Whoever welcomes one of these children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me’ (Mark 9:37). Today, our nation has done the opposite of how Scripture calls us to respond.
In the midst of literal storms, a spiritual battle is at hand for the heart of this nation. And it grieves me that there are people who say they follow Jesus be complicit with empire, seeking order above justice, being lawful above kindness, and preferring comfort above mercy. Matthew 25 has strong words of rebuke for those who refuse mercy.
Lord, have mercy on us.