Day 103 of 1461

✝️ Verse

Matthew 25:35-36 (NIV):
“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat,
I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink,
I was a stranger and you invited me in,
I needed clothes and you clothed me,
I was sick and you looked after me,
I was in prison and you came to visit me.”

💬 Significance

This teaching from Jesus reminds us that how we treat the vulnerable is how we treat Him. When we look into the faces of those who have fled violence, poverty, and political oppression—people who trusted us with their hopes—we are looking into the face of Christ Himself.

Today, over 600,000 Venezuelan refugees, many of whom have already begun building lives in the U.S. under legal protection, now face the terrifying reality of being sent back into a country still ruled by a regime that once forced them to flee. These are families. Workers. Students. Children. Neighbors.

Compassion is not just a feeling—it is a sacred responsibility. If we claim to follow Christ, we are called to love the stranger, to shelter the weary, and to protect the oppressed. It is not enough to say we are sorry for their suffering; we must stand with them and speak out. We must urge those in power to act with mercy, justice, and humanity. Our faith demands it.

🕊️ Affirmation

Today I open my heart to the suffering of others.
I will not turn away from those in need.
I will speak, act, and pray with compassion and courage,
knowing Christ is present in every stranger I welcome.