(Click Here for Readings)
While they were all
amazed at his every deed, Jesus said to his
disciples, “Pay attention to
what I am telling you. The Son of Man is
to be handed over to men.” But they did not
understand this saying; its meaning was
hidden from them so that they should
not understand it, and they were
afraid to ask him about this saying.
Shortly after I became Catholic in 1998, I joined the Society of Saint Vincent de Paul. For three years, I volunteered as secretary for our parish group, helped with clothing donations and made occasional home visits. I remember one visit in particular. A Latina needed emergency rent money. Her husband had suddenly left her, forcing her to support her four small children alone. She lived in a cramped apartment infested with cockroaches. My heart swelled with pity for her. Her eyes conveyed a desperate plea for help as she shared her story in broken English. We provided her with rental assistance and gave her groceries from our church food pantry.
My brief time as a Vincentian was a spiritually rewarding experience. I loved my fellow volunteers as well as the needy people we served. We interacted with the poorest of the poor but also others literally begging for free handouts. We relied on prayer and common sense to discern between people truly in need and others abusing the church's charity. We often received alerts about scams hitting area churches which helped us in our work.
Saint Vincent de Paul was an outstanding role model as a servant of the poor. He eloquently wrote:
"You will find out that Charity is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the kettle of soup and the full basket. But you will keep your gentleness and your smile. It is not enough to give soup and bread. This the rich can do. You are the servant of the poor, always smiling and good-humored. They are your masters, terribly sensitive and exacting master you will see. And the uglier and the dirtier they will be, the more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is only for your love alone that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them."
My brief time as a Vincentian was a spiritually rewarding experience. I loved my fellow volunteers as well as the needy people we served. We interacted with the poorest of the poor but also others literally begging for free handouts. We relied on prayer and common sense to discern between people truly in need and others abusing the church's charity. We often received alerts about scams hitting area churches which helped us in our work.
Saint Vincent de Paul was an outstanding role model as a servant of the poor. He eloquently wrote:
"You will find out that Charity is a heavy burden to carry, heavier than the kettle of soup and the full basket. But you will keep your gentleness and your smile. It is not enough to give soup and bread. This the rich can do. You are the servant of the poor, always smiling and good-humored. They are your masters, terribly sensitive and exacting master you will see. And the uglier and the dirtier they will be, the more unjust and insulting, the more love you must give them. It is only for your love alone that the poor will forgive you the bread you give to them."
Pay attention! Pay attention to the people around you. Looks can be deceiving. The dirty, smelly man sitting next to you on the bus may have a heart of gold. A woman holding a sign on a street corner may be in genuine need, not intending to use money for drugs. A young man sleeping in a cardboard box under a bridge may be a war veteran, unable to get work due to mental illness. All of the poor and homeless deserve our love and compassion. They do not deserve to be cast aside, left in squalor. If Saint Vincent de Paul lived today, he'd help people in need without question or pre-conceived judgment.
Some of richest are poor in spirit whereas some of the poorest are rich in spirit. It's amazing how one is humbled by a lack of material possessions. It's refreshing how much we see Christ in the poor among us.
Why do so many desire to be rich, wealthy, and prosperous? All of the money in the world; all the prestige in the world; all of the prized possessions in the world won't matter in heaven so why care about them on earth? Maybe we should change our perspective. Stop going "gaga" over the wealthy and start paying more attention to the poor. We can learn so much from their strength and resolve; their determination and resourcefulness; and their willingness to make the best out of difficult situations.
Saint Vincent de Paul had the right idea when he wrote, "Go to the poor: you will find God." God is truly present in the poor but so many people refuse to see it. A lot has to do with fear; fear that poverty will strike them, too. Could I become poor and homeless one day just like this man or woman on the street?
Please support Saint Vincent de Paul at your local parish by donating can goods, clothing, furniture, household wear, or even monetary funds. It's deeply needed and very much appreciated! If you can't donate, please pray for the poor and homeless as well as the continued success of this beautiful service to the needy!
-J.
Some of richest are poor in spirit whereas some of the poorest are rich in spirit. It's amazing how one is humbled by a lack of material possessions. It's refreshing how much we see Christ in the poor among us.
Why do so many desire to be rich, wealthy, and prosperous? All of the money in the world; all the prestige in the world; all of the prized possessions in the world won't matter in heaven so why care about them on earth? Maybe we should change our perspective. Stop going "gaga" over the wealthy and start paying more attention to the poor. We can learn so much from their strength and resolve; their determination and resourcefulness; and their willingness to make the best out of difficult situations.
Saint Vincent de Paul had the right idea when he wrote, "Go to the poor: you will find God." God is truly present in the poor but so many people refuse to see it. A lot has to do with fear; fear that poverty will strike them, too. Could I become poor and homeless one day just like this man or woman on the street?
Please support Saint Vincent de Paul at your local parish by donating can goods, clothing, furniture, household wear, or even monetary funds. It's deeply needed and very much appreciated! If you can't donate, please pray for the poor and homeless as well as the continued success of this beautiful service to the needy!
"Who will excuse us before God for the loss of such a great number
of people, who could be saved by the slight assistance we could give
them?" - Saint Vincent de Paul
Saint Vincent de Paul, Pray for Us!
-J.
No comments:
Post a Comment