ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Dear Brothers and Sisters,

Dear Friends in our Lord Jesus Church,

In this beautiful parable of the Prodigal Son, Our Lord tells us that the younger son "went off to a distant country." What thought-providing words to hear as we gather to celebrate this Mass where we come together from many different countries to this distant land! We have come here from so many places, and for so many reasons. Some have come as part of their job or to study; many more have come fleeing poverty or terrible violence, including religious persecution, which has torn apart so much of our world.

In the first reading of our Liturgy today, the Israelites celebrated the Passover just at the moment that they came into their new home. They were finally at the end of the long and difficult journey after the Lord freed them from slavery in Egypt. In the Passover meal they celebrated this liberation and recognized the love the Lord had shown them. Although they had traveled for many years, and for an even longer time had been away from a land they could truly call their home, they recognized in that meal that the Lord was still present. No matter where they went, the Lord would be there to guide them and keep them safe.

Today, we come to this church to share in the new Passover, the supper of the Lord. Like the Israelites, we celebrate this meal in a foreign land that has become our home. It is the meal that recalls our liberation from sin, and brings us into communion with God and with each other - and with all the saints, and all those who share this Eucharist throughout the world, including members of our families and our friends in our native lands. It is here, at this altar, that we are at home, no matter where we are, because this is our Father's table. This is the feast to which the Father welcomed his son, and to which he welcomes us. It is here that we come - many races, languages and nations - to share in our heavenly inheritance. It is here that we find our true citizenship.

In the Gospel reading, the prodigal son decided to leave his family home. He was first able to live well off the inheritance he demanded early from his father. But he also felt the pain of being far from home. He had expected a life without difficulties, but quickly was brought back to a realization of having to face harsh struggles. The Gospel tells us that he even squandered his possessions and lived in dissipation. Like the prodigal son, we too can experience both the good and the bad in our new home.

As newer immigrants, you find yourselves confronted with both of these realities. You experience the benefits of coming to this country, the most prosperous in the world. You have many blessings of material comforts and security which may not have been available in your homelands. It can, at times, seem to be just what you were looking for.

But as newer immigrants, you also experience difficulty and pain. It is not easy to be far from familiar lands; far less is it easy to be far from family and friends. You come to a place of an unfamiliar culture and language. Some of you have learned English as a fourth or even a fifth language! So much is new and unfamiliar - foods, customs, clothing, expectations. At times, when discouragement comes, it may seem that it was not worth it.

Most difficult of all, you come to a new country where your experience of the Church is different. The churches look different; the music is not familiar; the language does not touch your hearts. Important celebrations or devotions in your homelands may not be the same as those celebrated in your new country. It is also difficult for the Church in your new country to know how best to serve you. At times, there may be a lack of awareness of the special needs and even the depth of differences between cultures. Even when great efforts are made to welcome newcomers, however, it is still challenging to create a true sense of being at home and comfortable. Sometimes this creates frustration, both on the part of newcomers and on the hosts. But this meeting of cultures can also be a great opportunity for the promotion of peace and reconciliation.

Pope John Paul II recently wrote for the World Day of Migrants and Refugees: "When 'diversities' converge and are integrated they start a' friendly coexistence of differences'. Values are rediscovered that are common to every culture, which unite rather than divide and have put down roots in the same human soil. This encourages the development of a fruitful dialogue in order to prepare a path to reciprocal acceptance, realistic and respectful of the particularities of each one." Even in the midst of the challenges we all face to be welcomed and to be welcoming, we must always seek to have hearts more open and understanding, and to work together on the road to our heavenly home.

The younger son in the Gospel reading today, who had gone to a far-off land, realized in the end that his father's love had never ceased. As he returned home, his father was already there to embrace him. He did not need to seek out his father; instead, it was his father who was already on the road, looking for his son, showing that his love did not cease even while his son was gone.

We must remember that we are guaranteed the love of our heavenly Father no matter where we are. You may have come to a distant land, but you can never be distant from God's love. He is still with you, guiding and protecting you, even in the midst of many difficulties.

Today, we come together in gratitude to celebrate who we are - to celebrate our cultures and our heritages, but above all to celebrate that we are children of our heavenly Father. That is our true heritage, the source of our joy. Together, in many languages and in many traditions, we praise the one God whose love never ceases, no matter where we are. Here, in our Father's house, we are welcomed as His sons and daughters, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ and of one another. No matter where we come from, we are truly at home when we come together as the Church. God, our Father, greets us with outstretched arms, always eager to welcome us, always offering us his loving mercy. Amen.