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SOMETHING TO THINK AND PRAY ABOUT THIS WEEK
Giving Sanctuary
The debate about refugees who are illegally trafficked, as to whether they deserve or are entitled to any resources, is one that dominates discussions and can lead to suspicious and censorious comments that exploit divisions between people and promote fear and hatred. This is where populism and extremism thrive.
The story about the Good Samaritan leaves us with questions about who we are, where we put ourselves in the story, and it leaves us with an uneasy sense that we could be any or all of the characters in the story. We are people who find easy and at times religious excuses for not doing what is required of us. We are people who are left helpless at the side of the road by a violent and meaningless world. We are people who, like the despised Samaritan, can offer to a stranger a service of compassion, friendship and hospitality.
We are invited to be surprising strangers of welcome to one another! This implies that we will receive unexpected hospitality from surprising strangers, who are our neighbours.
Giving sanctuary was a service that hallmarked the Church. It needs to be revived. No one should feel excluded from our Church. Giving sanctuary is a faithful witness of the message and mission of the Church. Giving sanctuary is the synodal way of being faithful, hopeful and loving. This means rendering ourselves vulnerable to others whom we don’t understand and probably don’t like and may even find scandalous or threatening.
John Cullen, The Sacred Heart Messenger, July 2023
We remember at this time...
This week, we join people around the world in celebrating Global Dignity Day, a reminder that every single person has value. We are also encouraged to reflect on our own self-worth and recognise the dignity in others, no matter where they come from or what their story is. It’s a chance to pause and ask ourselves: Am I treating others with kindness? Am I listening with empathy? Am I showing respect, even when I don’t agree?
Let’s remember that dignity is about how we treat each other—with kindness, understanding, tolerance, and compassion.
“So God created humans in his image, in the image of God he created them” Genesis 1:27
Sacred Space – Daily Prayer for 25 Years
Sacred Space began in 1999 and has offered new content every day since then. You can learn more about Sacred Space on our About page, or if you are a regular, you can share your Sacred Space Story on our Feedback page. For our 25th anniversary, we are featuring stories from people for whom Sacred Space has played a special part in their lives. Please consider sharing your Sacred Space Story.
Sacred Space Feedback