Spoiler Alert: LOVE wins.
My 17-year-old son and I went to see Cabrini because he's writing a paper on a related topic. Wow! What a powerful story. My parents immigrated from Italy in 1965, so they rode the ground-breaking coattails of the many precious immigrants from so many faraway lands who literally built America from the ground up.
I confess I didn't know how bad Italian Catholics had it here and was shocked and pained by what I witnessed. Bring your tissues because the tears will flow!
I didn't know Mother Francis Cabrini's heroic efforts to serve and uplift the outcasts. Cabrini was a remarkable example of Christian charity and love and an amazing trailblazer for women's empowerment, boldly persistent, even with the Pope and elitist Mayor of New York. She also demonstrated what one person can do with God on their side, aptly quoting Philippians 4:13!
Cabrini is also a visually beautiful movie with evocative Italian vistas and arresting images of period Manhattan and its dark underbelly.
I left wondering how God dealt with and will deal with those who oppress and exploit immigrants and the vulnerable of all kinds without ever repenting.
Some streams of Christianity overlook that throughout the Bible, God was consistently most vocally outraged at greed and the oppression of the poor and vulnerable...along with idolatry and sexual immorality. He appointed prophets to warn He would crush the guilty if they didn't repent. In Christ, even the most vile among us are spared God's wrath...if they repent! Hurray, God!
I think it's a grave mistake to think The Cross covers such abuses, it's actually a terrible offense to Christ, who lovingly preferred the poor and outcast. Read the Sermon on the Mount for starters.
Here's a tiny sampling of what God has to say on immigrants:
"‘Cursed is anyone who withholds justice from the foreigner, the fatherless or the widow.’ Then all the people shall say, ‘Amen!’" Deuteronomy 27:19
"The Lord watches over the strangers; he upholds the orphan and the widow, but the way of the wicked he brings to ruin." Psalm 146:9
"The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the Lord your God." Leviticus 19:34
"He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: ‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.’ Luke 4:18-19
Whoa and woe!
PRAYER: Thank you for the precious, brave immigrants who made nations great, enduring all manner of abuse. You promise the faithful oppressed will be vindicated and rewarded for eternity, while their oppressors face Your horrifying wrath...if they don't repent. Please have mercy on those who have harmed your defenseless children and reveal Your heart to them. Grant us courage to stand for Your justice. Father, thank you for offering forgiveness and healing even for the most wretched of us through the atoning sacrifice of Your Son Jesus. May we all stand in Your equalizing love light with humble gratitude. In Christ's name, I ask it. ✨💖⚔️🕊
P.S. You can get or donate free tickets at angel.com/cabrini/tickets.
Thanks bunches! Love, Isabella