Station 4

Artist: Ava Caliri '24

In this station, Jesus meets his mother. While Jesus is suffering from injustice, and walking to his violent death, he is separated from his mother. And his mother is separated from her child. But this isn’t the first time Jesus and his family experience violence and injustice. Jesus, Mary, and Joseph had to flee a violent regime when he was a child and they were taken in as refugees in a foreign land. The idea of opening our arms to the vulnerable and helping the less fortunate are the core teachings Jesus offered to his disciples. As we read in Matthew 25:35, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me.” All land is a gift from God, but our modern laws continue to deny people access to lands that will protect them. We have seen our policies divide families, just as Jesus and his mother were separated. We are supposed to be one nation under God. We say that we are the land of the free and home of the brave. How are calling human beings who aren't from the United States illegal, separating families at the border, and placing children in cages acts of freedom and bravery? Real acts of freedom and bravery would be to grant everyone equal rights and opportunity and welcoming the refugee, just as the child Jesus and his family were welcomed and protected.

Written by: Matt Cavoli '23