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Inspiring the Archdiocese of Baltimore

This is an example of a new ID card developed in 2021 by Catholic Charities in the Diocese of Fort Wayne-South Bend, Ind. Agency officials said they hoped the card would provide immigrants, the homeless and others in need a way to access city services. (CNS photo/Nicole Kurut, Catholic Charities courtesy Today's Catholic)

Documenting Jesus


By
Special to the Catholic Review Filed Under: Amen, Commentary

When Christians celebrate the birth of Christ, it is not based on documentation of the actual day he was born. No date of Jesus’ birth is mentioned in the Gospels or any historical data.

There were, however, eyewitness accounts and extraordinary events – God the Father speaking from heaven, for example, declaring, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased” (Matthew 3:17) – bolstering belief in Jesus as truly the Son of God. Such are recorded in the Gospels and Acts of the Apostles.

Today, however, who a person is has to be proven on paper or in authenticated video testimonies. That is because some people mean well but could be mistaken. Some outright lie. Consider criminal operations that make huge profits by issuing fake IDs.

Why does having proof that does not rely simply on what someone says about himself or another matter?

Having legitimately recorded proof – birth certificates, adoption papers, drivers’ licenses, work IDs, marriage licenses and the like – is all about establishing truth not based on wishful thinking.

Truth matters so much because it never stands alone. It always goes hand in hand with entitlement and responsibility.

The truth of who you are could entitle you to inherit estates and other possessions.

The truth of who you are can make you responsible for caring for elderly or disabled parents, children and other relatives. It could take a tremendous hit on your physical strength and finances. Even then, there is something about the truth of who one is that allows some form of God’s help to enter the picture.

I cannot help but think of undocumented immigrants in this country who are terrified of being rounded up and deported, separated from family, homes and means of self-sufficiency.

Yet the truth of who they are is undeniable. It must be faced.

For some, truth may seem like a curse. They flee it, not seeing the blessing possible with every birth permitted by God regardless of where it occurs or the family into which a child is born.

Consider Charles Mutua Mulli. He was born in Kenya to an impoverished family, the eldest of 10 children of an abusive father. At age 6, he awoke one morning alone, abandoned by his parents and siblings.

For 12 years he was a street beggar. Finally weary of that, he walked 43 miles to Nairobi. There, through years of hard labor and faith, he became a business tycoon, philanthropist, environmentalist and founder of a Christian charitable organization.

“Mully,” the inspiring documentary on his life released in 2017 (spelled differently from Mulli’s name), tells how Mulli returned to the streets and over time rescued and educated some 12,000 orphans. His first rescues were brought into his home amid the protests of his own eight children, whom he eventually won over.

Here in the United States, the threat of facing mass deportation due to the absence of proper documentation does not have to be faced alone. The National Immigrant Justice Center, for example, is one of many organizations in place nationwide to help along with parishes, friends and elected officials. It offers in detail on its website a plan of action to prepare for the scrutiny of one’s status.

In a nutshell: Seek legal counsel. Create a safety plan. Keep documents in a safe place. Avoid immigration fraud. Stay alert for digital scams that promise quick relief.

Armed with the truth of who each of us is will be our ultimate passport back to our creator. He journeys with us and declares himself “the way and the truth” and the life.

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