From the Friars: Cold as Ice

The recent surge of arrests by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has an old 70’s song running through my head. “Cold as Ice” was a big hit for the band called, ironically, Foreigner. The harsh methods sometimes employed by federal agents, and the Homeland Security Video saying “you’re next” and “leave now”, are hard to see as any thing but cold, if not cruel. It is a good thing to put dangerous criminals behind bars and maintain border security, but the reality is the target of these deportations is not just criminals.

The old song actually has a prophetic message for all of us during this difficult time. “You’re as cold as ice – You’re willing to sacrifice our love…You’re digging for gold… You want paradise – But someday you’ll pay the price, I know.” It’s about the rejection of genuine love for the pursuit of material pleasure.

In Dante’s Inferno, Satan is frozen in a lake of ice in the ninth circle of Hell. The cold hard water is here again symbolic of an absence of warmth and love. The devil is seen perpetually flapping his bat-like wings which causes the freezing wind that keeps the lake frozen. It shows how rejection of God’s Love paradoxically brings its own self-inflicted punishment.

I spoke recently with friend who has been trying for years trying to obtain legal status. His wife and kids are U.S. citizens. He told me about people he knows that were arrested by ICE but had no criminal record. A drug cartel controls the area where he is from in his home country. His brother living there was recently beaten because he refused to kill someone. He had to move away immediately or be killed himself. This is mild compared to the many demonically cold atrocities committed by the cartels.

We cannot serve two masters. Rejecting the giving of self required by charity is the ever-present danger for individuals and societies. Immigrants, and their descendants, can fall into the trap of the American nightmare of material success apart from God. True greatness is only found in living the great commandment of love of God and neighbor.

May we all be obedient to this highest of laws.

Amen.
Fr. Peter