The Statue of Liberty, long a symbol of the United States, has an inscription that reads in part, “Give us your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free. The wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tost to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.” Often, immigrants coming by boat to the United States were first greeted by this symbol of freedom. Growing up, this spirit embodied my idea of what America was and who its people wanted to be.

Those words epitomize what Jesus taught and modeled for His followers as well. Jesus spent most of His time on earth caring for the poor, tired, sick, and lost people of His time. His command to us was to go and do likewise.

America no longer seems to take this inscription, or Jesus’s commands, to heart. As a nation, we have agreed to build walls instead of monuments to freedom. We have applauded ICE raids and hasty, careless deportations. We have laughed off lies and voted for those who will prioritize financial gain, status, and power at the expense of the most vulnerable in their districts. We did this. We will have a lot to answer for.

“When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate them one from another, just as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.” (Matthew‬ ‭25‬:‭31‬-‭32,‬ ‭CSB)

When reading this verse, I used to think of Jesus as dividing individual people into sheep or goat. That may be what happens, and I do believe we will be held to account personally.

But the verse does say “nations” will be gathered and separated. As a nation, the United States used to feel like a sheep — doing our best, not without a lot of struggle, to care for each human. But now it seems very much goat-like — willing to ignore the needs of the thirsty, hungry, naked, and imprisoned. If you keep reading Matthew 25 after this verse, it does not turn out well for the goats.

Dear God, thank you for the United States and the idea of its formation. Freedom. But as a nation, we have lost our way in our wealth. Show me what part I can play in caring for the needy and vulnerable in my community and around the world. Forgive any hopelessness or apathy I allow. Teach me how to boldly stand up for the things my country used to stand up for.