Our Vulnerability - The Rev. Philip DeVaul

Rev. Phil argues that scripture repeatedly highlights the vulnerability of the immigrant experience and urges listeners to digest it, relate to it, and see themselves in it. He says many people already feel vulnerable due to economic instability, environmental volatility, and a vicious political climate, yet society is being convinced to fear immigrants as threats, which he calls a convenient lie. He emphasizes Jesus’ command to love neighbor—including those of different nationalities, cultures, religions, and races—and to seek the humanity in one another because every person bears God’s image. He presents Jesus as embodying divine vulnerability—born into poverty, becoming a refugee, living itinerantly, and suffering torture and public execution—and condemns exploiting immigrants through detention, incarceration, violence, and deportation. He frames the church’s trip to the border as a pilgrimage to connect to immigrants as family and be spiritually transformed.

 

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