SHELTER THE HOMELESS WHATEVER YOU DO TO THE LEAST OF THESE YOU DO TO ME
JESUS MARY AND JOSEPH FLIGHT INTO EYGPT
COMMENTARY ON THE HOMELESS IN OUR CITIES AND TOWNS
During recent Mid-West Polar freeze, I particularly thought of this corporal work of mercy* and the many many deaths that were a result. Many unnecessary, because of the homeless, the ignored, the despised, the least of our brethren. “Whatever you do to the least of my brethren you do to me,” Jesus said in Last Judgment discourse.
My daughter who works in the city in health care often passes the homeless beggar but never without asking if she can help them get to shelter, gives them some money, or provide them with a warm meal. She advocates for them at hospitals and emergency shelters and has a friend who is an uber driver who will look into the homeless on the doorstep to see if there is anything the homeless need and offer a ride to nearest shelter. She added “I remember hearing to always greet our homeless brothers and sisters with the biggest warmest smile you have… they may have a heavy heart and they don’t need your sad face!”
She shared some pictures of the local homeless. I asked her what the homeless needed in the way of supplies and she replied, “new socks, gently used blankets, comforters, coats, hats, gloves will always be in high repeat demand— once these items become wet and soiled— our homeless have no way to dry them.. clean, dry supplies always needed.” She added, there is a severe shortage of shelters, some only open emergency beds in extreme temperatures but only during the day when temperatures may not have dropped below their arbitrary 20 degrees. I will include a few more quotes my daughter shared with me.
“The homeless sleep atop the steam grate for some warmth. They either did not get into an emergency shelter, or had no way to get to one. Many homeless depend on private citizens who volunteer and provide street outreach ministries and pick up homeless men and women and take them to shelters. Shelters, themselves, do not provide transportation.”
“Many of the homeless choose not to go to shelters for fear of their safety and the loss of their few belongings. They are not allowed to bring any belongings into the shelters, risking that their only early possessions will be stolen if left on the streets, shelters are only open for the hours of sleep— they must leave in the AM and they risk losing their spot on the vent/ steam grate in the AM for the day ahead of them.”
For many of us, the line between our homes and being homeless is a thin one that can disappear with the death of a spouse, the loss of a job or an illness. This corporal work of mercy forces us to open our eyes to the misery of those who, for a variety of reasons, have no place they can call home.
Faith without works is dead! “What good is it, my brothers, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? …If a brother or sister has nothing to wear and has no food for the day, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, keep warm, and eat well,” but you do not give them the necessities of the body, what good is it? …faith, if it does not have works is dead.” JAMES 2:14-16
What are some works we can do? What support, supplies or donations can we offer them? For the many children in homeless shelters, do I have toys I can donate? …a book or game could be a great gift. Could I call a shelter and offer to cook, read to children or share a hobby or skill with the guests? What are the gifts each of us have that we can share?
Other ideas…volunteering in a soup kitchen; Contributing to a shelter for unwed mothers: welcoming the immigrant in your neighborhood; speaking kindly to that homeless man or woman who you pass and offering a sandwich or buying them a meal. “Whatever you do to the least of these brethren , you do to me!”
As St. Francis prayed in his Peace Prayer, “It is in giving that we receive.” In giving we will always get back more than we give. God’s promise. We will learn more about the blessings we have through no fault of own but pure gifts from God. A powerful life changing experience can be had in loving and serving your neighbor.
LUKE 16:19-31
Homelessness is invasive and may be found at our doorstep. Let us not ignore it and walk over like the rich man, Dives, in the parable who ignored Lazarus the begger. We often show more empathy for stray dogs or cats than human beings. Pro-Life is more than anti-abortion! Let’s give the same fervor to those already born!
COMMENTARY ON IMMIGRATION
While I am at it I thought I would say a few things about immigration. The 4th Corporal Work of Mercy is “Shelter the Homeless,” but some older listings, have it, “Harbor the Harbor-less.”
Down through history, there have always been a certain number of people who were homeless; for those who were sailing to escape poverty and oppression often did not have a port of entry; they were “harbor-less.” Yes, some are without shelter, but others are without a homeland.
*CCC 2447 The works of mercy are charitable actions by which we come to the aid of our neighbor in his spiritual and bodily necessities. Instructing, advising, consoling, comforting are spiritual works of mercy, as are forgiving and bearing wrongs patiently. The corporal works of mercy consist especially in feeding the hungry, sheltering the homeless, clothing the naked, visiting the sick and imprisoned, and burying the dead. Among all these, giving alms to the poor is one of the chief witnesses to fraternal charity: it is also a work of justice pleasing to God:
Immigration is a hot button issue in our country today. Where are you on welcoming the refugee? Have you truly looked deeply into the facts or just moved by emotional rhetoric and bumper sticker of “America First”
Today, here in America, there are some people who seem to be against all immigration. But the truth is almost all of us are the descendants of immigrants! We, as people of faith, need to treat the immigrants with respect and according to their human dignity, as we would want to be treated ourselves. There are millions of children and families who are on the move, fleeing from war, illness, hunger and impossible living conditions, searching for peace and safety.
Our Savior, Jesus Christ, was born homeless (Mt.8:20)! He who created the world became a homeless person depending on the kindness of strangers. Jesus, Mary and Joseph were themselves refugees fleeing into Egypt to avoid the infanticide of Herod.
“The Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head” (Mt 8:20). Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God, was born in a borrowed manger; had no fixed address once he began his public ministry; and was buried in another man’s tomb. It is quite an irony: He, who made the universe, became a homeless person.
The Trump administration’s “zero tolerance” policy for undocumented immigrants calls for the separation of parents and children while their cases for political asylum are adjudicated, a process that can take months – or years.
BORDER DETENTION CENTER
US CATHOLIC BISHOPS CONFERENCE
“Our government has the discretion in our laws to ensure that young children are not separated from their parents and exposed to irreparable harm and trauma….While protecting our borders is important, we can and must do better as a government, and as a society, to find other ways to ensure that safety. Separating babies from their mothers is not the answer and is immoral.”
This corporal work of mercy forces us to open our eyes to the misery of those who, for a variety of reasons, have no place they can call home. As with the other works of mercy, sheltering the homeless requires discernment and the stewardship of our resources.
Yet when in doubt, it is better to err on the side of charity. The patron of parish priests, St. John Vianney, was told that a beggar to whom he gave frequent assistance was in fact not poor at all; the Saint answered, “You never lose when you give to God.”
This work of mercy also invites to ask ourselves how hospitable we are in our own home. Do we make of our home a place where guests feel welcome and cherished?
Paul’s Letter to the Hebrews urges us, “Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares” (Heb 13:2). Jesus comes to us in disguises. Remember his last judgment discourse in Matthew 23, “Whatever you do to one of these least of my brethren, you do to me.”
I will close with a poem attributed to Mother Teresa that hangs in my daughter’s living room.
DO IT ANYWAY
People are often unreasonable, irrational, and self-centered.
Forgive them anyway.
If you are kind, people may accuse you of selfish, ulterior motives.
Be kind anyway.
If you are successful, you will win some unfaithful friends and some genuine enemies.
Succeed anyway.
If you are honest and sincere people may deceive you.
Be honest and sincere anyway.
What you spend years creating, others could destroy overnight.
Create anyway.
If you find serenity and happiness, some may be jealous.
Be happy anyway.
The good you do today, will often be forgotten.
Do good anyway.
Give the best you have, and it will never be enough.
Give your best anyway.
In the final analysis, it is between you and God.
It was never between you and them anyway.
