2nd Sunday of Advent
The Prophet Isaiah, in today’s reading, gives us a very vivid image of what the consequences of listening and acting on God’s invitation may look like in the natural order.
I write these words shortly after celebrating the feast of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, patron of migrants and immigrants, and having in hand the most recent document of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) on immigration, issued on November 12, 2025. Of great significance was not only the document itself but also the fact that 216 votes overwhelmingly approved it, with five votes against and three abstentions. This short proclamation on immigration received overwhelming approval from the bishops, who rarely find much to agree on, and urges us to pay attention to this document very seriously.
The opening prayer for the feast of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini reminds us that God, our Father, called Mother Cabrini to serve immigrants in America and to show great concern for the stranger, the sick, and all who are in need. This is the basic message coming from the Bishops of the United States to all Catholic Christians in this nation. The timing of these two events cannot be ignored. Is God talking to us? Is God urging us to pay attention?
Here are a few lines from the Bishops’ document:
- We are saddened by the debate and the vilification of immigrants.
- We lament that some immigrants in the United States have arbitrarily lost their legal status.
- We are troubled by threats against the sanctity of houses of worship and the special nature of hospitals and schools.
- Human dignity and national security are not in conflict.
- Both are possible if people of goodwill work together.
- The Prophets remind us that the priority of the Lord is for those who are most vulnerable, the widow, the orphan, the poor, and the stranger.
Let Us Pray:
Lord Jesus, you call us to welcome one another as you have welcomed us. We ask you to send your Spirit into our hearts, enabling us to listen to the Church and the Scriptures and to act with compassion. Let us not be afraid!
