You Welcomed Me

I just finished watching the Super Bowl, including the halftime show. Before Bad Bunny had been announced as being the performer for the halftime show, I hadn't heard of him. When the second half of the game ended, I thought I'd watch him perform because he's a popular performer, yet I wasn't familiar with him. I figured I'd watch him so I could catch up with culture. 

When I was watching him perform and sing in Spanish, I was thinking about how his performance, completely in Spanish, reflects the reality that Hispanics heavily contribute to culture in the US. Since Hispanics, and all those who speak Spanish, are so widespread in US culture, it reflects the current culture of the US for him to perform in the halftime show. 

Aside from whatever opinions one may have--or not have--about him (I know almost nothing about him), to welcome a Hispanic, a Spanish speaker--or not--speaks volumes about each of us. In whether we welcome such a one performing during the halftime show at the Super Bowl, we make a statement about whether or not we approve of the current state of the culture in our country. Do we approve of Hispanics, of Spanish speakers being so visible, and influential, and powerful, in our culture? 

Insofar as we welcome them, as we are not like them, as they are from another country, as they are from another culture, we welcome the stranger. Jesus said, "I was a stranger, and you welcomed me."* We receive many invitations to welcome the stranger, whether they be those who come to the US from other countries, or when someone with another culture is presented to us. Every one of us must decide how we will respond to them. 

* Matthew 25:35 

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