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Good morning.

Today the United Nations has decided that we should remember the people it’s easier to forget. It’s World Refugee Day.

Believe it or not, yesterday was World Sauntering Day and tomorrow is International Surfing Day. And I wonder how many people will be affected by any of them? Will those who now live in camps around the edges of Syria realise it’s their day? Or those who’ve fled the violence in Mali or South Sudan?

But one thing is certain, whether they know it’s their day or not, if we forget them, there’s nothing they can do about it. These are people with no power and only as much influence as the world’s conscience will allow them.

They weren’t at the G8 table, and they won’t be making speeches in any Parliament. And almost no-one will notice that they’re not there. They are indeed the easiest people to forget – outside the brief moments when stars or celebrities jet into their world and then jet out again. Which is better than nothing, for sure.

But that’s not the same thing as saying that nobody cares.

Because, lots of people do – and not just on one day a year. Some give money to international aid agencies and charities. Some devote their lives to supporting refugees – practically in their camps, or politically in the world’s corridors of power.

And some take the enormous risk of praying for refugees – because when we pray, God alone knows what might happen.

Lord,

give your people that most excellent gift of charity,

that they may follow your Son’s command to love their neighbour,

even the refugee whom they neither know nor see,

on this day, and always.

Amen