Self-Righteousness

Henri Nouwen once said, “The difference between rich and poor is not that the rich sin is more than the poor’s sin, but that the rich find it easier to call sin a virtue.” He was probably referring to the sin of self-righteousness, you know the sin that Jesus struggled against in the Synagogues and the Temple and the evil that ultimately crucified him.

A few days ago a significant poll closed here at Homeless In America. For the past nine months, the question was asked of bloggers and readers, “In your opinion, which sin is more readily identifiable and easily repented for, lust or self-righteousness?”

It appears as though the lustfully poor, the broken and the morally bankrupt seem to have an intuitive clarity that lust is sin. However, the wealthy and the powerful, in the opinion of the readers may have an absence of right moral judgment about themselves and their sin. The vast majority, 95% felt that the offense of lust is most easily identified by sinners. Only a miniscule group; 5% felt that the sin of self-righteousness is most easily identified and repented for.

Thank you for participating in the poll. Please scroll down to the bottom of this main page and vote in all the polls. Your opinion counts!
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Oppressors and Liberators

Oppressors

Again I looked and saw all the oppression that was taking place under the sun: I saw the tears of the oppressed — and they have no comforter; power was on the side of their oppressors — and they have no comforter. Ecclesiastes 4:1

Liberators

Through all your days, my son, keep the Lord in mind, and suppress every desire to sin or to break his commandments. Perform good works all the days of your life, and do not tread the paths of wrongdoing. For if you are steadfast in your service, your good works will bring success, not only to you, but also to all those who live uprightly. Give alms from your possessions. Do not turn your face away from any of the poor, and God's face will not be turned away from you. Son, give alms in proportion to what you own. If you have great wealth, give alms out of your abundance; if you have but little, distribute even some of that. But do not hesitate to give alms; you will be storing up a goodly treasure for yourself against the day of adversity. Almsgiving frees one from death, and keeps one from going into the dark abode. Alms are a worthy offering in the sight of the Most High for all who give them . . . Give to the hungry some of your bread, and to the naked some of your clothing. Whatever you have left over, give away as alms; and do not begrudge the alms you give. Tobit 4:5-11, 16
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May Her Love Be Ours

The life of Mother Teresa can be summed up in these words describing her relationship with Jesus: “To me - Jesus is my God. Jesus is my Spouse. Jesus is my Life. Jesus is my only Love. Jesus is my All in all. Jesus is my everything. Jesus, I love with my whole heart, with my whole being. I have given Him all, even my sins, and He has espoused me to Himself in all tenderness and love. Now and for life I am the Spouse of my crucified Spouse.” Let us pray for Mother Teresa to intercede for us, that she may like St. Therese spend her heaven making “God loved” and doing “good upon the earth.” May her love be ours as we reach out to victims of abortion, AIDS, sickness, poverty, and loneliness. Let us come to frequent Mass and receive the Body and Blood of Jesus, let us come to adore Him that we might carry on her work little by little each day. Mother Teresa pray for us.
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O Blessed Poverty

O blessed poverty, Who bestows eternal riches,
On those who love and embrace her!
O holy poverty, God promises,
The kingdom of heaven.
And, in fact, offers eternal glory
And a blessed life to those who possess and desire you!
St. Clare of Assisi

“For you know the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, that though he was rich, yet for your sakes he became poor, so that you through his poverty might become rich.” 2 Corinthians 8:9

Seven Ways To Help Homeless People This Summer

People often think about doing something for people who are homeless during the winter. They might take jackets, winter caps, sleeping bags, blanket and other winter items to help homeless people who might be stuck in the cold.

Summer presents another set of challenges as temperature soars into the nineties and in some areas above a hundred degrees. Some of the health risks then are dehydration, heat stroke, general exhaustion, and athlete’s foot.

Here are seven ways you can help people who are homeless this summer.

1. Clothing
Collect and distribute light summer clothing. This includes t-shirts and shorts. Most homeless people have limited access to air conditioned facilities so they really need cooler clothing during the summer. Be sure that the clothes are clean and in good repair.

2. Baby Wipes
You could provide people who are homeless with baby wipes. People who are homeless can use these to clean up when they don’t have access to proper shower facilities.

3. Bottled Water or Gatorade
You can give away bottled water. Water is essential to prevent dehydration on very hot days. If you can afford it, things like Gatorade will not only help people on the streets remain hydrated but will replace lost minerals as well. They don’t have to be ice cold, but make sure they are cool. You don’t want to give out hot bottles of water or Gatorade. Try to make it as refreshing as possible.

4. Foot Care
Foot care is a major concern for people who are homeless. Because of heat, lack of ability to stay clean, and lack of clean socks, athlete’s foot is a major concern for homeless men and women. You can help by giving clean socks, foot powder, and athlete’s foot spray to people who are homeless.

5. Backpacks
Homeless people often need backpacks. This is a good item to collect all year round, but a great opportunity to obtain these will be at the end of summer when stores have back-to-school sales. It's a perfect time to buy them cheap.

6. Underwear
Another item the homeless need year round is underwear. However, in the summer time it's very important to give out clean underwear because changing frequently helps prevent rashes and skin infections. For men, they generally prefer boxers in dark colors.

7. Smiles
Be sure to smile. Strike up a conversation with someone who’s homeless. You may find that your stereotypes get challenged. In addition, the person who’s homeless feels that someone actually sees them as a person and cares about them. Smiles are free!

From http://www.squidoo.com/lovethehomeless
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Let us welcome Christ, the stranger who knocks upon our doors for hospitality.

Do not neglect hospitality, for through it some have unknowingly entertained angels. (Hebrews 13:2)

Let us welcome the poor, the homeless, the sick and the dying and greet the poor Christ as we pray . . .


R Make your home in our hearts, Lord, Jesus!

In the strangers who come into our lives,
- let us see your face and serve you. R

In the cardboard boxes, shanties and plastic tents of the homeless,
- let us see your poverty. R

In the sufferings of those in hospitals, nursing homes and confinement,
- let us see your cross and hope in your resurrection. R

Welcome one another, then as Christ welcomed you, for the glory of God. (Romans 15:7)

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The Wealthy Gift at Less than 1/2 of the Poor

A U.S. Bureau of Labor survey found that the poor—those making an average of $10,531—give 4.3 percent to charity. The wealthiest make an average of $158,888 and give only 2.1 percent. They give at less than ½ of the poor. Over the past nine months, HIA bloggers and readers have been asked their opinion as to why this might be so. Here is how they responded . . .

0% endorsed the idea that the wealthy usually do not associate with or know many poor people as one possible explanation. Or, that the wealthy generally live isolated lives and are unaware of social concerns.

7% felt that a reasonable explanation is that the poor by nature are more empathetic and feel for others in want or need.

About 14% believe that the poor have a higher pattern of giving because they also send money home helping other less fortunate family members.

Ultimately, 71% believe that all the above statements some how play a factor in explaining why the poor by-and-large give at more than double the rate of the wealthy.

Only 1% felt that an explanation did not exist in any of the above statements.

Thank you for participating the poll. Please scroll down to near the bottom of this main page and tell us what you think in the other polls. Your opinion counts!
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"You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone."

What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily food. If one of you says to him, "Go, I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead. But someone will say, "You have faith; I have deeds." Show me your faith without deeds, and I will show you my faith by what I do. You believe that there is one God. Good! Even the demons believe that—and shudder.

You foolish man, do you want evidence that faith without deeds is useless? Was not our ancestor Abraham considered righteous for what he did when he offered his son Isaac on the altar? You see that his faith and his actions were working together, and his faith was made complete by what he did. And the scripture was fulfilled that says, "Abraham believed God, and it was credited to him as righteousness," and he was called God's friend. You see that a person is justified by what he does and not by faith alone. James 2:14-24
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Wooh Hoo! Cheers for Starbucks

Starbucks is now offering free, unlimited wireless to all customers beginning this past July 1st. Many homeless people spend plenty of time in Starbucks, in what has been historically an unofficial don’t-ask-them-to-leave policy. But now they’re making it official! Wooh hoo! Are the latest cheers from the homeless, the unemployed and starving college students who look for a welcoming place to check email, craft a resume or job search on the Internet. For the price of a $1.50 cup of coffee, one can have an air-conditioned place to groove all day.

While many coffee shops try to discourage people from buying a cup of coffee and then lingering for hours to use their free Internet access, Starbucks encourages them to stay as long as they want. The company is making the change as many coffeehouses experiment with ways to cut off squatters who browse and do not spend. Some post signs asking people to continue buying food and drinks if they stay, while the more aggressive ones cover their power outlets with tape so people cannot charge their laptops.

The Starbucks coffee chain is catering in part to people who are out of work and need a place to perfect their résumés or do freelance jobs. In January, the company announced that same-store sales increased 4 percent after months of steady declines. Starbucks attributes the improvement, which came before consumer spending rebounded as a whole, in part to its role as an office for the unemployed.
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A Good Reason to Give the Rosary to the Poor and Suffering

By Caryll Houselander

Do you find help from the rosary? I find just holding on to it, even, helps. Of course, some would say that is mere superstition, but it isn't if it symbolizes holding on to God, as it does for me. I have been visiting a girl once a week for a doctor; the girl was a baffling nerve case. She used to have about three attacks a day resembling acute attacks of Saint Vitus' dance, and followed by palpitations of so violent a nature that the doctors marveled that her heart could stand up to it. . . She had been previously two years in hospital and had seen every specialist, but no one could diagnose her case and she just went on getting worse. She had no religion, and her only reaction to God - a very vague idea to her - was fear and aversion.

I gave her a rosary and told her to try to say something with it in her hand - her own prayer - or say nothing, but mean to hold on to God. From the hour she took the rosary into her hand she has been better and is now almost cured... Her mind has flowered too, literally changed from a narrow self-obsessed mind to a big, objective, clever, and loving one.

Caryll Houselander (+ 1954) was a British mystic, poet, and spiritual teacher.

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A Thousand Words In Pictures

If a picture is worth a thousand words, here are a few pictures and thousands of words telling the story of American homeless living on the streets, under bridges and in alleyways. Many thanks to Noah's Bagels for the more than 100 bagel snacks, St. Vincent de Paul Society for the beverages and Sunkist for the 100s of oranges packed in each white lunch bag. Many thanks to the Our Lady Rosary Makers in South Carolina, California and Washington state for the many rosaries and prayer cards that they provided and were given out at this recent StreetReach. God bless all the Servants of the Father of Mercy "Missioners" who donated or served the poor at this outreach: Pam, Joel, Henry, Angela, Frances, Arnold and Tony.

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Hope for Homeless Youth: The Church goes Out of their Seats and into the Streets

Los Angeles based, Hope for Homeless Youth is a 12-month program for men and women at least 18 years of age, who have a desire for change, a willingness to be held accountable and to be under authority. The program compromises of four phases.

1. 24 hour Emergency Shelter is provided for up to 72 hours. This gives an individual a chance to get off the street and a have a safe place for them to reevaluate their situation.
2. After 72 hours youth have a choice of leaving or putting in an application to either the Hope for Homeless Youth Discipleship Program, the Los Angeles Dream center Discipleship Program or a referral to another program.
3. Acceptance and completion of a 12 month Christian discipleship program.
4. Then a graduate of any Christian 12 month program can spend up to 12 more months in a transitional home getting back into the mainstream of society living as a drug free Christian.

Hope for Homeless Youth's mission is to take the Gospel of Jesus Christ, outside of the four walls of the Church. They are off of their comfy seats and into the streets for Jesus!

More on the Internet:
http://hopeforhomelessyouth.org/
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The Four Favors of St. Teresa of Avila

Lord, grant that I may to receive the four favors of St. Teresa Avila . . .

1. Give me an understanding of how much pain and suffering my sin has caused you.
2. Allow me to stop sinning so that I don’t hurt you anymore.
3. Grant true charity to the sick, the poor, the dying, the homeless and my brothers and sisters.
4. Grant humility because you perfect me by grace and so I have nothing to boast in but you my God.
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