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Monday, November 30, 2009

1000s of Words in Pictures

The day after Thanksgiving was not "Black Friday" for the homeless living under bridges and in the alleyways of downtown Los Angeles. It was another day of Thanksgiving while stocking up on food, water, jackets, blankets, Gospels of John, rosaries and other supplies. Servants of the Father of Mercy "Missioners" made it out bright and early eager to serve Jesus in the poor. From artist impostors and gang graffiti to the hungry and satisfied, you'll see it all!










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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America’s Christmas StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $50 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $100. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Saturday, November 28, 2009

Why We Don't Judge the Poor, Homeless, Addict or Loser . . .

And yet it often happens that some who have been hardened, habitual sinners arrive at perfection of this work sooner than those who have never sinned grievously. God is truly wonderful in lavishing His grace on anyone He chooses; the world stands bewildered before love like this . . .

Some who are now despised and held in contempt (and who are even perhaps inveterate sinners) shall on that day reign in splendor with His saints. And perhaps some of those who have never sinned grievously and who to all appearances are pious people, venerated as “gods” by other men, shall find themselves in misery among the damned.

My point is that in this life no man may judge another as good or evil simply on the evidence of his deeds. The deeds themselves are another matter. These we may judge as good or evil, but not the person.

Excerpted from The Cloud of Unknowing – a Christian literary work written in fourteenth century Middle English by an unknown mystic.
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Thursday, November 26, 2009

"Picture This" Poll Passes

Recently a poll closed that surveyed attitudes about what many find as an awkward moment when encountering the poor. What do you do when a homeless person begs you for money? For the past six months, bloggers and readers were asked the following question in this regard . . . Picture this: You encounter a ragged, under nourished homeless person begging on a street corner. The person is asking for a $1.00. How would you respond? Here are the results:

* 57% thought they would go ahead and give the person the $1.00
* 0% said they would not give the $1.00 because they will in turn just go out and buy alcohol or drugs.
* 28% felt that they would take personal time, go to a market and come back with food/water.
* 14% were unsettled in their opinion saying, “I don't know what I would do. I'm always confused in these situations.”

Please scroll down to near the bottom of this main page and vote in all the polls. Your opinion counts!
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What will you do with your Homeless in America?

COMMENT – Daily insights, prayers, thanksgiving & praise.
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Wednesday, November 25, 2009

Happy Thanksgiving Holiday Wishes

Thank you! God bless everyone for their help this Thanksgiving holiday weekend. Because of the many donors that helped out, about 8-10 homeless in Ventura will be able to go to a restaurant lunch tomorrow afternoon. On Friday morning - because of the many donors/clothing sponsors and "Missioners," the Servants of the Father of Mercy StreetReach is equipped to provide generous amounts of food, water, clothing, blankets and spiritual supplies to about 120 homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways of downtown Los Angeles. Thanks be to God for His making this weekend a success and thank you again to everyone for their help!

Happy Holiday wishes from all of our homeless family, misfits and losers to all of yours!

Monday, November 23, 2009

Thanksgiving Day Appeal

Yesterday, while passing out warm clothing, blankets, food and water to homeless men and women on the streets of Ventura, it was not a surprise to discover these poor souls have no plans and no ability to celebrate Thanksgiving Day the way many of us do. They have little family, little love and little food. We all agreed to meet at the "Vons Plaza" at around 12 noon on Thursday and take as many as possible to a local restaurant for a Thanksgiving Day lunch.

If everyone that reads this sponsors 1-2 homeless for $10-$20 this kind blessing can take place just as planned. If God has given you the extra blessings, generous donors are always appreciated!

Please easily donate today on line with a credit or debit card so PayPal can transfer the funds by Thursday to our main SFM account at Chase Bank - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Do you prefer to donate by mail? Send to:
Servants of the Father of Mercy
Thanksgiving Lunch
P.O. Box 42001
Los Angeles, CA 90042

God bless you and thank you for all your compassion and mercy for the Homeless In America we serve. Please forward today's blog to all your friends and family, they may wish to help. If there is any extra money, it will support a Christmas Day lunch for the homeless in Los Angeles.

Thank You & Happy Thanksgiving Blessings!
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Saturday, November 21, 2009

Teens Messaging the Homeless



Teenagers may be known for their many text messages, IM's and emails, but some teens have been handwriting messages to the homeless! Last Monday, the teens at youth night, Our Lady of Guadalupe Church in Santa Paula, CA under the direction of Jackie, a mom from Saint Mary Magdalen's in Camarillo put a lot of thought and time into making 100 handmade Thanksgiving greeting cards for the homeless in So Cal. The cards will be included in sack lunches that a team will distribute at Homeless In America's StreetReach on Friday, the day after Thanksgiving. "Some of the messages and greetings were quite touching," Jackie said as she perused the cards and got the stack ready for distribution. "It was great to see their generous hearts and kind thoughts come out so clearly in the writing of the cards!" she said.
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Friday, November 20, 2009

Falling Prey to the Ancient Whisper

The basis of all evil in the world has come from our lust for power. In the first murder of recorded history, Cain kills Abel because he chooses to have power over him. The entire world’s system depends on domination and control in order to have power over others. It is the basis of all wars and at the same time it is the basis of all division among friends, marriages and families.

We see this disordered play for power at the time of Christ. The world did not know Him because His power did not fit the domination mold. He showed that power could be obtained by the opposite behaviors of the world’s system. Jesus amassed a large following of thousands of people not through aggression and hostility, but through His love, kindness, humility and compassion. The world did not know power could be obtained in this way and so they did not recognize Him as the Messiah.

Nothing has changed since the beginning of recorded history. Domination and power in politics, the church and our own families sets up subtle snares. Whenever we imagine that we are in control of a life – our own or someone else’s – we have fallen prey to the ancient whisper in the Garden: “You shall be like gods.” Our own mortality however is the enduring reminder that we become like God not by our own power, but by the power of the cross.

Welcome to the Kingdom of God where power corrupts and where charity, compassion and humility give power. “Whoever exalts himself will be humbled and whoever humbles himself will be exalted” Matthew 23:12.
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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America’s Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is always a need for water sponsors, $10 - food sponsors, $20 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $30 and operation/upkeep $100. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1,000s of homeless men, women and children we serve. Share love, kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Thursday, November 19, 2009

Love is Greater than Faith

"And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love." 1 Corinthians 13:13

Faith is very important, however even Scripture says that love is greater than our faith! Do we really believe that? Do we live that way?

Do we live our lives making love more important than our faith? Do we routinely show mercy to others, do we go out of our way to give charity to co-workers, do we take extra time to serve the poor in our homes and neighborhood and do we love the least by giving them food, water, clothing and shelter?

"For in Christ Jesus . . . The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love." Galatians 5:6
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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America’s Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is always a need for water sponsors, $10 - food sponsors, $20 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $30 and operation/upkeep $100. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1,000s of homeless men, women and children we serve. Share love, kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Sunday, November 15, 2009

How God Uses Poverty, Injustice and Extreme Evil

Lord Jesus, in your poverty, You were so cruelly treated at the crucifixion that every drop of your blood and every drop of water in your body was poured out on the earth. The lacerations, the crown of the thorns, the nails in your hands and feet and piercing of your side left no doubt in anyone’s mind that You were dead. The very marrow of your bones withered up and You expired. Your torturers blatantly exalted evil to its highest degree, to the point that your death was obvious to everyone. It was clear and final. And yet, God your Father used the cruel evaporation of your body and obvious death to erase all doubts surrounding your resurrection. Poured out and spent on Calvary, and witnessed by all, no one could say that at the resurrection, or for that matter ages to come, “He somehow survived his torturers” or “He was nurtured back to life by crafty disciples.”

Isn’t it just like You O God to take extreme evil and because You are God, you can create an extreme good from it? You O Lord foreknew the coming resurrection and those torturers' game of extreme torment and death played right into your hands. Through their culture of inexplicable death, You used their actions to erase all doubt surrounding the soon coming resurrection. And You not only used their evil to erase all doubts then, but for all ages to come and even now.
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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America’s Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $125 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $300. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of homeless we serve. Donate kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Saturday, November 14, 2009

How Should We Think About the Poor?

On March 26, 1991, Bishop Kenneth E. Untener of Saginaw, Michigan, issued a “decree” that from that day forward, until July 1, 1991, all meetings held under Church auspices, at the parish or diocesan level, no matter what their purpose, must begin with the agenda item - "How shall what we are doing here affect or involve the poor?" The following are his reflections (briefly digested here at Homeless In America) as he looks back on the decree. The decree on the poor was in effect for 97 days.
by
Bishop Kenneth E. Untener

Never in my life had I talked about and listened to so much about the poor. On some days I had four or five meetings, and each began with "the poor".

I learned a lot, not only about the poor, but also about us, and how we think about (or don't think about) the poor. Believe me, I am no expert on the poor. But I learned eight things in particular during those 97 days.

1) We tend to forget the "poor" poor.

A typical scenario goes like this . . . The chairperson begins the meeting by saying something like, "Well, the bishop has asked that we begin each meeting with a discussion about how this affects or involves the poor. So we're going to spend a few minutes doing that. I'll throw it open for anyone who would like to say something."

Silence.

Then someone says, "Well, people can be poor in a lot of different ways. There are some people, for example, who don't have friends, and they are poor."

I interrupt. "I agree with you. But this decree has to do with the 'poor' poor. They are the ones who get left out, because they're usually not part of what we did yesterday or today. The 'poor' poor are the ones who rarely if ever are first on an agenda. So let's talk about them."

Mental note: Always start with the "poor" poor.

2) The poor are often "invisible."

The poor around us (as opposed to the ghetto, or some distant country) are often invisible. They aren't in our same "networks."

They aren't at the same gatherings.
They don't belong to councils or committees.
They don't always go to church (and if they do, they try hard not to look poor).
They don't bump into us at the mall or the supermarket.
Take tuition assistance at schools. We offer help for those who cannot pay full tuition—or cannot pay any tuition. But the poor often do not come forward. Why? It is announced in the parish bulletin. But the poor don't get the parish bulletin. [They are out of touch because they are so very poor.]

Mental note: It takes initiative and creativity to reach the poor.

3) The biggest problem is the "undeserving poor."

Place a child before us with a hungry face and ragged clothes and we jump at the chance to help. Poor children don’t make it hard to help the poor. Poor adults who have had bad luck don’t make it hard to help the poor.

The “undeserving poor” are the ones who make it hard to help the poor. They are the ones who seem to take advantage of the system, or other people. [But] help them anyway. If you start to distinguish between the deserving and the undeserving poor, you are finished—at least as far as the gospel is concerned. Who is really to decide if they are undeserving?

Mental note: If you're going to err, err on the side of generosity.

4) If you try to help the poor, you will sometimes get taken.

Every parish minister can tell stories of people who have come with a sad tale. You check it out very carefully, give them money—and later find out that they did the same thing at three or four neighboring parishes. Helping the poor has its risks. You will sometimes get taken.

Mental note: Learn to write off your losses.

5) Helping the poor is not always a pleasant experience.

It's no picnic helping the poor. There is often no feeling of fulfillment. It's work—like a lot of virtue is work—like taking care of an elderly parent is work.

The "poor" poor are not always so noble, and they are the hardest to deal with—which is probably why we don't.

Mental note: When you help the poor, you always receive more than you give—but it may not seem that way at the time.

6) Food baskets at Thanksgiving, toys at Christmas are good as far as they go—but they don't go very far.

People easily talk about direct help to the poor on special occasions—clothes, food, money. Those fine things shouldn't be taken lightly. But that is the easy part. The hard part is trying to do something about the poor's state in life.

The discussion always slowed when we tried to focus on this. Where do you begin? What do you do?

It's hard when you deal with the causes. How can we give them basic skills to manage their lives? What about health insurance? How do we help them find work? How do we help them find work that pays a living wage? Why are single parents, usually women, abandoned so easily by a spouse?

Mental note: Direct assistance is good. Tackling the causes is better.

7) Sometimes the poor are overwhelmed into inaction.

People who deal with the poor can tell a hundred stories about how they waste money and opportunities. You bring food to their home—and notice a large-screen TV. Whenever you visit, they are watching TV.

Why? Let’s try to put ourselves in their shoes.

It is a hopeless mess, [a big cluttered garage that you have wanted to clean for months or even years!] but today is the day you are going to tackle it. Getting started is the problem, because with a mess like that, there is no logical place to begin. [Like you] the poor can't get enough together even to get started—a down payment, transportation, protection from an abusive husband, an education.

Their life is like that all the time. It is too big a mess even to know where to begin. So they try to forget it by enjoying some "luxuries," having a beer, watching TV, etc.

Mental note: Don't judge their "laziness" too quickly.

8) The poor also help the poor.

People who work with the poor can tell a hundred stories about the “generous poor.” A family takes in a neighbor’s child without a second thought, because the child needs to be taken in somewhere. A person who has next to nothing gives money to someone who has nothing at all, simply saying, “Well, they need it more than I do.” A poor family in a small house takes in another family because they had their heat turned off in the dead of winter. Food is shared even though there isn’t enough to begin with.

Mental note: God loves a cheerful giver, which is one of the reasons why God loves the poor.
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http://www.homelessinamerica.blogspot.com/

Friday, November 13, 2009

This is our Prayer - "Have Mercy on Your People, Lord!"

For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me. Matthew 25:35


R Have mercy on your people, Lord!

+ For all the times we serve ourselves instead of serving You: R

+ May we learn to love You in the sick, the suffering and sorrowful: R

+ For all the times we remain comfortable and complacent while complaining and making our lives more complex: R

+ May we come to know You in the poor, the uneducated and the unloved: R

+ For all the times when we seek after things that bring no life, but drowsiness and death: R

+ May we love You in the unwanted, the widow, the migrant and the refugee: R

+ For all the times we have genuine need, may we find You in our community of faith: R
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Wednesday, November 11, 2009

The Lowly are Pardoned but the Mighty are put to the Test

Wisdom!
Hear, therefore, kings, and understand; learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse! Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude and lord it over throngs of peoples! Because authority was given you by the LORD and sovereignty by the Most High, who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels! Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly, and did not keep the law, nor walk according to the will of God, Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you, because judgment is stern for the exalted - for the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test. For the Lord of all shows no partiality, nor does he fear greatness, because he himself made the great as well as the small, and he provides for all alike; but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends. To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin? For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy, and those learned in them will have ready a response. Desire therefore my words; long for them and you shall be instructed. Wisdom 6:1-11
Psalm 82
R Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth!

Defend the lowly and the fatherless;
Render justice to the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the lowly and the poor;
From the hand of the wicked deliver them. R

I said: “You are like gods,"
All of you sons of the Most High;
Yet like men you shall die,
And fall like any prince. R
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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America’s Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $125 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $300. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Tuesday, November 10, 2009

Social Justice or Social "Injustice"?

In her book, Failing America’s Faithful, Kathleen Kennedy Townsend (daughter of Senator Robert Kennedy) builds a strong case that historically in America, both the Catholic and Protestant church have long traditions of social justice, charity and serving the poor. Throughout the 1800s - 1900s, the Catholic Church took up the responsibility of social justice with the establishment of 100s of hospitals, orphanages, the work of Mother Cabrini, Dorothy Day and more. In the 1960s, the Protestant Church with the backing of many Catholics took on the issue of civil rights and the poverty of minorities in America. They stood strong with Martin Luther King Jr. (a Southern Baptist) who found support with the likes of the Pope Paul VI and the President of the United States, John F. Kennedy (Catholic).

But have the past 25 years of trends in religion dethroned social justice to yield to social "injustice"? Have new trends taken the focus off charity and clouded the Gospel with judgment, self-righteousness and power leaving the modern-day church goer “fat, dumb and happy?”

Kathleen Kennedy (photo with Rev. Matt Malone) writes . . . “Not unlike those of the Catholic Church, the leaders of Protestant congregations have come to disregard the New Testament’s teachings on charity and justice and instead have focused their outrage on issues of sex and private conduct. Of course, these issues are not new to Protestant churches, especially Evangelical congregations. But the narrowness of the Protestant community, the moral myopia, is a break from our history and a betrayal of the proud Protestant tradition of progressivism.” (Failing America’s Faithful, Warner Books, New York, 2007, Pg. 92-93)

What do you think? Scroll down and vote in a new poll. Ponder the following question: "In your opinion, have Christians strayed from Christ’s Gospel of charity and placed too much focus on others’ personal sins resulting in abuse of power, control and self-righteousness in many political and religious sectors?"
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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America’s Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $125 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $300. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Monday, November 9, 2009

Canticle of Powerful Poverty

Wealth has always given people a false sense of power. Jesus however taught us what true power is all about. It is when we leave our “wealth” behind and personally enter the world of the poor that one becomes rich. "For you know the gracious act of Our Lord Jesus Christ, that for your sake He became poor although He was rich, so that by His poverty you might become rich." 2 Corinthians 8:9

Canticle of Powerful Poverty

[Jesus] Who, though he was in the form of God,
did not count equality with God
a thing to be grasped at,

But rather emptied himself,
taking the form of a slave,
being born in the likeness of men.

And being found in human form,
he humbled himself by becoming obedient,
to the point of death, even death on a cross.

Therefore God has highly exalted him
and bestowed on him the name
that is above every name.

So that at the name of Jesus
every knee should bow, in heaven
and on earth and under the earth,
and every tongue confess that
Jesus Christ is LORD,
to the glory of God the Father.

Philippians 2:6-11
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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America’s Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $125 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $300. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Saturday, November 7, 2009

Did You Get Reality or the Sugar-coated Version?

The Apostle Paul says we are living in a “crooked and depraved generation … among who you shine like stars.” (cf. Philippians 2:15) Thomas Merton writes something similar in the introduction to his book, The Wisdom of the Desert . . . “Society was regarded [by St. Anthony and the Desert Fathers] as a shipwreck from which each single individual man or woman had to swim for his life . . . These were men [the Desert Fathers] who believed that to let oneself drift along, passively accepting the tenets and values of what they knew as society, was purely and simply a disaster.” (See Wednesday, November 4, 2009)

With all that said, here at Homeless In America, a new poll is launched today. What do you think? Did your parents, teachers & religious leaders prepare you for the “shipwrecked” human condition rampant in the world today? Or, do you think their message was sugar-coated. It left you to figure out the truth of our human brokenness on your own?

Please scroll down to the near the bottom of this main page and vote in this and all the Homeless In America polls. Thank you for your participation.
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Please take a moment to support Homeless In America’s Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $125 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $300. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Thursday, November 5, 2009

Saint Faustina, Eye-Witness to Hell

We’ve all heard stories or met people that after witnessing a tragedy or worse yet being caught up in one like an automobile crash or sports accident, they received first-hand knowledge that altered their future behavior. For instance, they made a decision to drive safer, sell off the motorcycle or wear a helmet when playing sports. Unfortunately, it often takes a tragedy to wake up human behavior and inspire change.

A few days ago, a Homeless In America poll closed. Following a similar trend of thought as above, the following question was posed: “Like Saint Faustina, if you knew for certain the specifics of a place with eternal homelessness, "hell" - would you live your life differently than you are now?”

73% said “yes.” Apparently staying true to human behavior, the majority felt as though they would become more motivated to live life better, differently and more in accord with God’s will. 27% said “no.” They may feel as though they already are making great strides in heeding the warning signs along the pathway of life and are motivated to follow God’s ways without any further “eyewitness” motivations.
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Don't forget to scroll down and vote in the polls . . . Email your family & friends to Subscribe!

Wednesday, November 4, 2009

We're All Shipwrecked!

Thomas Merton writes in the introduction to his book, The Wisdom of the Desert . . . “Society was regarded [by St. Anthony and the Desert Fathers] as a shipwreck from which each single individual man or woman had to swim for his life . . . These were men [the Desert Fathers] who believed that to let oneself drift along, passively accepting the tenets and values of what they knew as society, was purely and simply a disaster.”

Henri Nouwen writes in his book, The Way of the Heart . . . “This observation leads us straight to the core of the problem [why we don’t love as we should]. Our society is not a community radiant with the Love of Christ, but a dangerous network of domination and manipulation in which we can easily get tangled and lose our soul.”

To care for the poor and to love each other as Christ loves us apparently goes against the very fabric of all our human organizations and structures. Domination and manipulation is the rule as Henri Nouwen so astutely points out. However, the Desert Fathers encourage us to bail out of the boat, to swim on our own and embrace a new paradigm - the merciful, forgiving, patient and compassionate love of Christ. When we do this, we will transcend the world's system and as Paul puts it, "we are above the law." Love is both above the law and the fulfillment of the law. (cf. Romans 13:8-10)
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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America's Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $125 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $300. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Don't forget to scroll down and vote in the polls!

Tuesday, November 3, 2009

Sweetness of Holy Charity

By Fr. Francois-Louis de Blois

All men, without any exception whatever, he must sincerely love as himself; that is, he must love them spiritually and in right order, desiring for them the grace of God and everlasting happiness. And that he may find it easier truly to love others, he should look upon every man as himself, because capable of divine union. He should look upon all as brothers and sisters, called to the same happiness as himself. He should consider in them, not the lowliness of their external persons, but the nobility and beauty of their invisible souls, made after the image of God.

He should sympathize with all who are in necessity, trial or misfortune. He should be ready to benefit, help and console all, without exception, but particularly those who are oppressed to him and persecute him. He must treat the imperfections of others with kind and merciful forbearance, healing and correcting any little bitterness he may feel in his heart with the sweetness of holy charity. But on the other hand, sins which he ought to correct and reprove he should not feign not to see, but the correction and reproof should be mingled with mildness and fitting gentleness. Sin must be hated in man, but not the man on account of the sin: for God made the man, but man, not God did the sin … Therefore, must the servant of God embrace everyone with kindliness of charity. He should grieve over the faults of others, and rejoice at their virtues, giving thanks to God; and this he cannot but do if he looks upon everyone, as himself.

Fr. Francois-Louis de Blois was the abbot of the Benedictine Abbey in Liessies, France and he died there in 1566.
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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless In America's Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $125 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $300. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Halloween Day Homeless StreetReach in Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words . . .




God bless everyone that donated to Halloween StreetReach online!

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Please plan today to take a moment and donate online to Servants of the Father of Mercy Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $125 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $300. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless

Sunday, November 1, 2009

Does God Want us to be Concerned About the Poor?

Deut. 26:5-9. The Egyptians treated us harshly and afflicted us, and imposed hard labor on us. Then we cried to the LORD, the God of our fathers, and the LORD heard our voice and saw our affliction and our toil and our oppression; and the LORD brought us out of Egypt with a mighty hand and an outstretched arm and with great terror and with signs and wonders; and He has brought us to... this land flowing with milk and honey.

Luke 4:16-21. And He came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up; and as was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath, and stood up to read... "The Spirit of the LORD is upon Me, because He appointed Me to preach the gospel to the poor. He has sent Me to proclaim release to the captives, and recovery of sight to the blind, to set free those who are downtrodden, to proclaim the favorable year of the LORD... Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

Ps. 140:12. I know that the LORD will maintain the cause of the afflicted, and justice for the poor.

Is. 25:4. For You have been a defense for the helpless, a defense for the needy in his distress.

Ps. 10:14. The unfortunate commits himself to You; You have been the helper of the orphan... O LORD, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will strengthen their heart, You will incline Your ear to vindicate the orphan and the oppressed.

Is 41:17. The afflicted and needy are seeking water, but there is none, and their tongue is parched with thirst. I, the LORD, will answer them Myself, as the God of Israel I will not forsake them.

Luke 6:20-21. Blessed are you who are poor, for yours in the kingdom of God. Blessed are you who hunger now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who weep now, for you shall laugh.

James 2:5. Did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?

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Please take a moment to donate online to Homeless in America's Thanksgiving StreetReach for homeless living under the bridges and in alleyways. There is a need for water sponsors, $20 - food sponsors, $125 and monthly sponsors are needed for van insurance $50 and operation/upkeep $300. God bless you for your compassion and help for the 1000s of Homeless we serve. Kindness and compassion in increments of $10 at - http://www.servantsofthefather.org/donation_homeless