The Unforgiving Servant and the Refugee Leading ICE
Jesus tells the parable in Matthew of a man who had a massive debt that was forgiven by his creditor. Instead of being grateful for that debt being paid and extending that generosity to those around him, he went to a man that owed a fraction of the debt and demanded that he pay back that small amount and threw him in prison until he paid. Jesus then poses the question, “And should not you have had mercy on your fellow servant, as I had mercy on you?”
This parable is often told in the context of personal relationships and the importance of being forgiving after we have been forgiven so much through Jesus. However, it also applies to the way we view policies. Thus comes the story of Tony Pham a refugee from Vietnam who has now been tapped by Trump to be the interim ICE director. Knowing Trump’s priorities, he was not put in this position because he has a plan of making the agency more humane and just.
It is amazing how someone who was brought in as a refugee could turn around and create a career out of deporting immigrants and working within the most anti-immigrant administration in recent history. The reality though is that this is more common when would like to think, and unfortunately there are far too many who are more than happy to slam the door for those behind them or perhaps drag them away from their families.
Of course, this extends more broadly to all of us. How can people who have been given so much, particularly Christians who believe they have been forgiven so much, be so cruel and uncaring for those who are merely seeking refuge and asylum in our nation. There is nothing for us to even “forgive” like in the case of the unforgiving servant. We should have to let go of our privilege for one second and have care for our fellow human beings.
