Welcoming & Embracing the Stranger: Lenten Reflections with the Artwork of James Tissot

March 27, 2026 - Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent

Something of a paradox exists in the world today. It seems we are quick to recognize in ourselves the moments when we are struggling or misunderstood, and those moments can be distressing. In retrospect, we can all point to a situation where, if someone had seen or heard us, the story would have been completely different. We see ourselves in Christ when the crowd charges Him, whom they didn’t bother to understand. We echo the words of the psalmist and identify with Jeremiah, who ignorant persecutors surround. But perhaps this Lent, we need to look at how we can identify with the crowds.  

Right before where the reading picked up, Jesus said to the crowd: “I and the Father are one.” This scandalized the crowd, who then refused to hear Him say any more and picked up stones.

When we encounter our neighbors, especially those we differ with, we, like the crowd, are quick to grab stones or join the crowd against them instead of understanding the person before us. Who could be a more distinct human from us than Jesus? The gap between His perfection and our imperfections is infinitely vast; yet He did not detach from Lazarus, even though Lazarus was a sinner and condemnable like all of us.

The neighbor we are tempted to crowd up on and stone is the very person we are called to see as our “Lazarus.” Christ wept bitterly for His friend Lazarus out of a special kind of love. If we detach from our neighbor because of our differences, we are missing the true meaning of the Christian faith: Calvary love. 

When we encounter our neighbor, we must look upon them with a Calvary love that recognizes their struggles but also their strengths; sees their hurt yet gazes at their heart. True hospitality, then, is not to think of ourselves as separate from our neighbor or to be the judge of their hearts, but to love them as if they were our Lazarus. As this Lenten journey comes to an end, think of when we have joined the crowds of our neighbor, and, this Easter, lend them an ear and share with them an instance of hospitality which always brings hope. Perhaps, in truly loving our neighbor, we will find that it is Christ who is in that which they share. 

O God, who in this season give your Church the grace to imitate devoutly the Blessed Virgin Mary in contemplating the Passion of Christ, grant, we pray, through her intercession, that we may cling more firmly each day to your Only Begotten Son and come at last to the fullness of his grace. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. (Roman Missal)

Domenic DeStefano, Immaculate Conception College Seminary at St. Andrew’s Hall, Class of 2026, Diocese of Camden

Do you know someone who may be interested in receiving our daily reflection emails? Invite them to sign up by visiting our subscription page.