You were Strangers in the Land of Egypt

On this day, 25 years ago, I took an oath and became a citizen of the United States of America. I am an immigrant. I love my country, and perhaps more, I love the ideals that my country has always claimed to stand for, even if she has often fallen short.

Twice in the previous three generations, my family have been refugees, first from Tsarist Russia, and then from communist East Germany.

It is no exaggeration to say that we have a family history of being strangers in a foreign land.

As I reflect on this day, I am reminded of how the Lord views strangers, and how He commands us to treat the strangers among us.

You shall not wrong a stranger or oppress him, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. (Exodus 22:21)

The stranger who sojourns with you shall be to you as the native among you, and you shall love him as yourself; for you were strangers in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God. (Leviticus 19:34)

For the Lord your God is God of gods and Lord of lords, the great, the mighty, and the terrible God, who is not partial and takes no bribe. He executes justice for the fatherless and the widow, and loves the sojourner, giving him food and clothing. Love the sojourner therefore; for you were sojourners in the land of Egypt. (Deuteronomy 10:17-19)

You shall not pervert the justice due to the sojourner or to the fatherless, or take a widow’s garment in pledge; but you shall remember that you were a slave in Egypt and the Lord your God redeemed you from there; therefore I command you to do this. (Deuteronomy 24:17-18)

‘Cursed be he who perverts the justice due to the sojourner, the fatherless, and the widow.’ And all the people shall say, ‘Amen.’ (Deuteronomy 27:19)

The Lord watches over the sojourners,
    He upholds the widow and the fatherless;
    but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin. (Psalm 146:9)

I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me (Matthew 25:35)

Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. (Hebrews 13:2)

And then there are the words of Saint Benedict: “Let all guests who arrive be received as Christ” (Holy Rule, LIII:1).

But I think you get the idea.