Given at the annual International Mass, at Westminster Cathedral on 26th September 2021, the World Day of Migrants and Refugees.
Welcome again to your Cathedral for our International Mass, a long-standing feature of our diocese, interrupted last year by the pandemic. It is hoped that as we return, we do so stronger in our resolve and determination to share and to celebrate our unity and our faith.
‘John said to Jesus, “Master we saw a man who is not one of us”’, the opening words of the Gospel today. Words which reveal that John, even though he is the Beloved Disciple, had still some progress to make in understanding the mind of Jesus for whom there was no them and us.
Assembled here for our Mass to enjoy the variety of gifts God has given, we pray that the Holy Spirit of God will continue to deepen our sense of belonging to each other, that we will not be tempted to say ‘he/she is not one of us’. Our eyes and ears will see and hear how God has enriched each nation; may our hearts also be touched and moved, taken beyond sight and sound to accept each member of the family of God.
Both Moses and Jesus in the readings rejoiced when they heard God’s Spirit was at work. All they could see was goodness being displayed and proclaimed. For them there were no borders, no groups, but an overflowing of God’s grace in to the world. Moses knew he was not the only source of goodness in the world but others could do his work as well.
In the provisions made for the many different nationalities which make up the Church in Westminster, through events such as this, it is hoped that each ethnic group and chaplaincy knows of its own value and importance. In his writings, Pope Francis mentions the principle ‘the whole is greater than the parts’. Then he continues by explaining that it is the sum of the whole which is greater than the parts. Each part, each community, each people is unique and important in itself but it is when all the parts are brought together and converge that the true beauty of each part is revealed. Keeping their own identity, they manifest the richness and goodness of the whole. So it is with the One Church with its vast variety of culture and gifts. May the Church of Westminster be a witness to the truth that, together, we best bring God’s grace, which is needed, into the world which we share together.
Today, as well our own local celebration, is the World Day for Migrants and Refugees, the 107th in fact. The movement and displacement of people is not something new. We can think of that cup of cold water of which Jesus speaks about in the Gospel, how many migrants and refugees would welcome one today. The cup of cold water represents a welcoming attitude, compassion and concern for those who have nothing but a desire to seek a better life. Some remove themselves because of poverty and climate change, some are forcibly removed by persecution, violence and war.
In this country there are migrants and refugees; we rejoice that there are many who are prepared to speak for them, advocate their cause. Welcoming the stranger is close to our hearts and seen as essential in great faiths of the world. We can’t forget that Jesus said to his disciples as they went travelling, whoever welcomes you, welcomes me.
The media have great responsibility because one can so easily reach such a huge number of people today and influence them. And so, it is easy also to manipulate, to present a false picture or play on people’s fears. Jesus mentions a dreadful punishment in the Gospel for those who place an obstacle in the path of someone who wants to do good, having a millstone put round their neck and thrown into the sea. It is not to be taken literally of course, but indicates how seriously Christ views purposely causing disunity or fostering antagonism.
In his message for World Day of Migrants and Refugees, Pope Francis speaks of opportunities we have after the pandemic to build a future of justice and peace, ensuring no one is left out. Among the opportunities we have is to present the truth and reality, because we too have the power to communicate, including through social media. The reality is the pain and suffering and deprivation of many thousands of migrants and refugees, some internally displaced within their own countries, others in camps, others in the open in countries far from their own. St Paul said to one of his communities, always have your answer ready when you’re asked for the reason for your hope. We have hope because we know the grace of God is everywhere as one of our saints said. The grace of God is operating in the lives of many, it can move us to reject that attitude of which we heard in the Gospel, ‘they are not one of us’, and instead to welcome and to advocate the cause of migrants and refugees. And we can also have our answer ready when we are questioned as to why so many leave their homeland. Again and again, research shows there are three reasons: war, poverty and climate change.
Those who leave their homeland and settle elsewhere do not arrive empty-handed, they bring their gifts and contribute to their new society. It is worth reading the letter which the prophet Jeremiah wrote to the Hebrews who were exiled in Babylon. He wrote to them saying, settle down, build houses, plant gardens, get married, have children, pray for the prosperity of the country, for on its welfare depends your own.
We know that that is precisely what so many migrant communities have done, including in this country, contributing vastly to its progress and development. We welcome them.
Here, at this Mass, we see the contribution of so many communities to this diocese. We pray that we will strive to live and work together, supporting each other, giving witness to unity and displaying the wonderful talents God has given to his people. Collectively, may all us of in the words of Pope Francis have, ‘a heart open to the world’. That is, be willing to make room for others, including migrants and refugees who hope to find a home among us.