As we respectfully keep the World Refugee Day, it is important not only to find ways and means to materially help them but also to respect and promote the dignity of their life. It may be relatively easier to share the surplus of money and wealth that we have with the less fortunate refugees. However, it is very challenging to respect and uphold them as equal to us. This needs an attitudinal change. Thus, as JMJs it is indeed worth turning to the Maxims of our Founder. In maxim number XII on the Holy Poverty, Fr. Wolff poses the following question that each of us needs to reflect to change our attitude towards the less fortunate and marginalized people of our society.

 “Zijt gij niet beschaamd, dien armen Jesus aan het kruis te zien, en nog alles naar uwen zin te willen heb ben?” (In Dutch) (Overwegingen en grondregels ter beoefening der volmaaktheid opgedragen aan het gezelschap van Jesus Maria Joseph door den E.P. Mathias Wolff SJ).

Translation: Are you not ashamed to see that ‘poor Jesus on the cross’, and still want to have everything according to your own taste? (Considerations and Maxims for the practice of perfection dedicated to the company of Jesus Maria Joseph by Rev. Fr. Mathias Wolff SJ. Pg. 37-40).

 Through this introspection and reflection, Fr. Wolff requires and invites each of us to see Jesus in the people we serve, and today, especially the refugees and migrants. Seeing Jesus in them, we can then respect and promote the dignity of their life and treat them and everyone else as equals to us. There prevail peace, equality, unity, and human dignity.