Lenten Devotion April 9

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April 9 Exodus 22:21 Justice for All  "You shall not wrong or oppress a resident alien, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt" When reading this passage, one can view it in several different ways. The most obvious method is simply taking it at literal face value. The passage then takes on a political connotation, one that is very closely related to current American issues. With the exception of a very small group of people all Americans come from a family of people who were once aliens in this land. Now, the question of what to do with our resident aliens has become an issue of great political importance. Though there are many legal and financial issues that go into the debate, this passage is an excellent reminder to treat all people fairly. By remembering the struggles in all of our pasts, we will hopefully be more considerate of the trials of our brothers. But this passage can be viewed on a much smaller scale as well. Every man has struggled through times where they felt they were the outsider. Be it a new job, a new town, or a new country, experiences of trying to fit in to a new group can be very stressful. This verse tells us to be mindful of the suffering of others. All men face similar times of uncertainty and persecution. Those who have already undergone such suffering must be even more mindful of the difficulties of others. In the same sense that the Bible tells us to do unto others as we would have done unto ourselves, it here reminds us not to oppress outsiders, for we would not want to be oppressed based on religion, nationality, or anything else. I found this passage very meaningful because it is both straightforward and powerful. By simply following the mandate in this verse, we can all take great strides toward a more harmonious world. Emily DeMarco

First Presbyterian Church | 883 Highway 34 | Matawan | NJ | 07747