A Letter from Jesus

Dear Friends,

As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the celebration. I remember that last year many had a great feast in my honor. The dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left outside, they closed the door in my face, homeless .. and I wanted to be with them and share their table. In truth, that didn't surprise me because in the last few years all close their doors to me. Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand time. To top it all, this large man all dressed in red wearing a long white beard entered the room yelling "Ho-Ho-Ho!" He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party were in his honor! At midnight all the people began to hug each other; I extended my arms waiting for someone to hug me and do you know no-one hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe, there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse. People only remember the gifts, the parties, to eat and drink, and nobody remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into the home of your hearts. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you. Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart and welcome me in.

Jesus

Jesus was Born Homeless, Lived Homeless, Died Homeless and Remains Homeless in our Lives Until We Invite Him into Our Hearts, Homes & Celebrations this Christmas

The Lofty He Brings Down

The Word of God

"On that day they will sing this song in the land of Judah: 'A strong city have we; he sets up walls and ramparts to protect us. Open up the gates to let in a nation that is just, one that keeps the faith. A nation firm in purpose you keep in peace; in peace for its trust in you.'

"Trust in the Lord forever! For the Lord is an eternal rock. He humbles those in high places, and the lofty he brings down; He tumbles to the ground, levels it with dust. It is trampled underfoot by the needy, by the footsteps of the poor."

The Meditation

What song will I sing in the coming day of the Lord? There are two songs, O Lord. One is a song of lamentation. In this melody I will have to construct words to express all the times you tried to humble me in all my pride, but I failed to change. It will be my song of eternal failure. A song of Holy longing that will never be filled for an agonizing eternity. I will lament that my will was never broken - that I never yielded to your will. In this song, I have become an eternal prisoner of my own pride. The other song O Lord is a song of joy and triumph. In this song, I will join the poor, who in your justice you pardon in their suffering. I will join with them in exaltation over all those who proudly try to set themselves above you and your law. Lord, grant me the mercy that I may respond to your voice for conversion today. Grant that I may in the day of the Lord sing the latter and not the former. That I may join the poor, the migrant, the landless, the downtrodden and the victim in their song of eternal salvation and celebration.

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Juan, the Poor Ambassador Chosen to Call Landless & Homeless Peoples Home

December 12th is the day of annual celebration in Mexican culture of the Virgin Maria de Guadalupe. As history retells the story, it all began with a poor Indian farmer by the name of Juan. He was born around 1474 in the village of Cuautitlan. He was a Chichimeca of the Family of Texcoco. His Indian name was Cuauhtlatoatzin that means "He who talks like an eagle". Juan converted to Christianity around 1525 and was baptized, together with his wife, Maria Lucia, by the Franciscan missionary Friar Toribio de Benavente.

Juan Diego lived before and after the Spanish Conquest of 1521. The Conquest was an apocalyptic event for the indigenous peoples. They lost their freedom, their land, their religion, their culture, their society and their great city of Tenochtitlan, present day Mexico City. Juan's life bridged two cultures from the pre-Conquest worship of false gods and the human sacrifices made to appease them to the post-Conquest worship of the one true God and the end of human sacrifice.

The apparitions occurred at Tepeyac, a small hill and a former sanctuary to the Aztec goddess Tonanzin. Mary asked Juan Diego to request that the local bishop build a church on that site. There she could be present with all her love and compassion for “all the inhabitants of this land.” It was here he received from Mary the fresh roses growing in winter and delivered them to the bishop as a sign. A miraculous image of Mary appeared on his tilma upon releasing the roses to the floor of the bishop’s residence.

Juan Diego spent hours in prayer to Jesus and Mary and cared for her Image. He lived a life of poverty, chastity and obedience and was revered by all. He died in 1548 at the age of 74 and was probably buried in his hermitage next to the chapel that he had cared for so well.

In his poverty, Juan Diego was chosen to herald the Son of God to the now landless and homeless indigenous peoples. Our Lady was true to her promise and manifested her Son to the millions of native people who converted to Him. For the next seventeen years Juan lived as a humble hermit in a hermitage at the base of Tepeyac Hill and cared for the nearby church that housed the tilma with Mary’s image emblazoned on it.

Food Waste and Hunger is a Side by Side Problem

Americans are tossing out at least $75 billion in food each year, according to an extensive study that follows foods from farms through retailers and into the mouths and waste bins of consumers. The eight-year study revealed that restaurants, convenience stores and most families could help their bottom lines if they just learned to buy, store and use food more wisely

Official surveys indicate that every year more than 350 billion pounds of edible food is available for human consumption in the United States. Of that total, nearly 100 billion pounds -- including fresh vegetables, fruits, milk, and grain products -- are lost to waste by retailers, restaurants, and consumers.

By contrast, the amount of food required to meet the needs of the hungry is only four billion pounds, according to Food Not Bombs, an advocacy group, which estimates that every year more than 30 million people in the United States are going hungry on regular basis.

According to various reports, the U.S. and Western European consumers, who constitute only about 12 percent of the world population, are responsible for about 60 percent of its private consumer goods consumption.

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More on the Internet:

http://dsc.discovery.com/news

http://www.commondreams.org/

New Middle Eastern Ice Cream Flavor, "Sacrificial Lamb" ?

Ice Cream Helps Keep Homeless Warm (see Saturday, December 1, 2007) chills some to the idea of Ben & Jerry's advertisement logos on the back of warm jackets they have sponsored for the homeless. However, J.F. writes in and says ... "Hmmm, not sure how I feel about this one. On the face of it, it does seem demeaning. It could be said that charity should not come with a price. Companies should give for the sake of giving and treating the homeless like sandwich boards for the sake of profit further strips them of their dignity. On the other hand, why not? Every professional athlete and NASCAR racer is blanketed like an avalanche with sponsor advertisements and logos. And is there a Catholic church in existence without the ultimate advertising logo of the cross and a few dozen assorted Saints? If everyone wins, what’s the harm? Still, it’s hard to imagine Jesus’ well-worn tunic with a Nike swoosh on it. Maybe if there was a new Ben and Jerry’s vanilla flavor: “Heavenly Host”, or a Middle Eastern flavor, Sacrificial Lamb or, best of all, a new chocolate flavor: “Jamaican Jesus?” The possibilities are endless…"

Newspaper Pillows

Twinkling stars can't keep you warm

when your sleeping in the park till the break of dawn

A newspaper pillow and a plastic tarp

watching for the pigs that come out after dark

Lost your job got jacked and robbed

your landlord said that's not my prob

Doctor bills kill you can't afford the pills

now your shaking heart breaking drink as much as you spill

Waiting on The First to quench your thirst

alleviate the discomfort of an asphalt earth

Trying to find a shelter to get some rest

but nowhere seems safe without a knife proof vest

If you could just get back to square one

start to heal the disease that's got you on the run

Feeling invisible going insane

scowls and nightsticks fall like rain

by James Chionsini

Life is a Journey - Avoid McMansions?

Regarding Garden Roots (see Wednesday, November 28, 2007) M.D. writes... "You've given an age-old spiritual theme a new twist, connecting it to our political problem of homelessness. Nice! The existentialist philosopher Karl Jaspers has noted that the rise of philosophy and the world religions in the 800s B.C. to 300s B.C. (which Jaspers has referred to as the "Axis Age") had as its theme the idea of LIFE AS A JOURNEY. All of the founders of the religions, Zoroaster, the Hebrew Prophets, Buddha, and the founders of philosophical systems, Socrates, Plato, Aristotle, Confucius, etc. saw life as transitory or simply a journey toward enlightenment or HOME. So, your theme is well established."

J.F. writes regarding A Bing Crosby Holiday (see Thursday, November 22, 2007) ... "Beautiful thoughts ... In a way I think you are saying the more we “need” a physical home (McMansions, etc.) the more homeless our souls are. Yesterday, I was watching a show on TV about small spaces where people were fitting what used to constitute an entire house, Living Room, Dining room, Bedroom, Kitchen, Family Room, et. al, into small apartments (under 500 sq. ft) in New York. The most interesting part was that the more they got rid of stuff and reduced their lives to bare necessities in order to fit their space, the happier they seemed to be, regardless of their level of income. So less room for material goods seems to equal more peace and room for God?"

Burning Ignites Response

Last week, the story Malibu Burning (see Monday, November 26, 2007) covered the homeless conditions that unexpectedly and quickly overtook many in a second round of wildfires striking residents of SoCal's paradise seaside village. Certainly, our concern is for all those who are homeless, rich and poor alike. Blessed are those who are merciful to all who are homeless - they shall obtain mercy in their time of need.

In regards to Malibu Burning, Anonymous said ... "I appreciate your compassionate tone of this article. We are all God's children, even the fortunate ones. Sometimes it's easy to be resentful of people who from outward appearance seem to have it all. Human tragedy applies to us all."

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Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel is born to thee O Israel

O Lord, hear our Advent song. Give us wisdom to hear and welcome your Word now dawning in our hearts. Grant us the courage to welcome His appearance with acts of justice for the homeless, the poor, the oppressed, the migrant, the forsaken, the outcast, the unforgiven and the addicted.

O come O Wisdom from on high,
Who orders all things mightily;
To us the path of knowledge show,
And teach us in her ways to go.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel
is born to thee O Israel

O Lord, hear our Advent song. Grant that people everywhere, across the face of the earth may receive a vision of your awesome presence. Come in your power and majesty. May the peoples tremble, may they tremble in fear of your almighty power.

O come O come great Lord of might,
Who to your tribes on Sinai's height
In ancient times once gave the Law
In cloud and majesty and awe.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel
is born to thee O Israel

Rejoice, rejoice O people, your God is coming. He is coming swiftly in your crucifixions. Once your wills are crushed and you RIP, He will role away the stone from your tombs. You will rise triumphant from your coffins. Victory is yours, rest assured!

O come, O Rod of Jesse's stem,
From every foe deliver them
That trust your mighty power to save,
And give them victory o'er the grave.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel
is born to thee O Israel

Rejoice, rejoice O people of broken and contrite hearts – you will laugh. Lay down your deserts and He will be your sea. Humbly wear your brokenness and He shall lift you up - higher and higher.

O come, O Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel
is born to thee O Israel

O come, O light, creator of the stars of night. Let us see your day breaking bright. Illuminate the darkness of our appetites and senses and dispel the fright of sin.

O Come, O Dayspring from on high
And cheer us by your drawing nigh;
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night,
And death's dark shadow put to flight.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel
is born to thee O Israel

O God, may we declare to the peoples everywhere what you have spoken: Peace I leave you, My peace I give you. Let faithful love and truth embrace; let peace and justice come face to face.

O come, Desire of nations, bind
In one the hearts of humankind;
O bid our sad divisions cease,
And be for us our king of peace.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel
is born to thee O Israel

O Lord, today we say yes to you. Yes, O Lord, in this our Advent song, we lift our souls to you – and we rejoice!

O come, O come Emmanuel,
And ransom captive Israel,
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear.
Rejoice, rejoice! Emmanuel
is born to thee O Israel

Ice Cream Helps Keep Homeless Warm

It has been awfully cold and rainy in Los Angeles the past couple of days. It's even colder in other parts of the country. Today, Midwest cities are getting pounded with ice, snow and frigid temperatures. In New York, lows this morning dipped to 25 degrees with snow in the forecast. So, how can we help the homeless to keep warm in winter weather - short of miraculously supplying housing for everyone?

Yesterday, an email arrived on a damp and rainy Friday in Los Angeles. The person asked, “How do the homeless stay warm in times like this?” Well, yesterday’s food line quickly served up gallons of hot coffee, instantly making about 150 people at the very least temporarily warm. But, there is another way that may just offer a more long-lasting solution.

Ewen MacAskill, writer for The Guardian reports that Catholic nuns running a charity in Amsterdam’s city center have made a heartwarming deal with the U.S. Vermont-based ice cream maker, Ben & Jerry's. The homeless people have begun to sport logos on their backs such as Chubby Hubby, Chunky Monkey and Willie Nelson’s Country Peach Cobbler. In return for financial help for the center, the nuns have offered to have Ben & Jerry's logos stuck on the backs of new warm jackets for homeless people who volunteer for their innovative fundraiser.

When all is said and done, some feel the program may win points for caring capitalists. Others are concerned that it could be seen as further demeaning an already vulnerable group in society. Erwin van der Laan, a spokesman for the media company behind the project, Bizon Media Group, denied that it was demeaning for the participants to wear the advertisements. He told the Associated Press news agency: "You have to see this as something that they're doing to repay the nuns, something that they're proud of."

Ben & Jerry's was founded in 1978 by childhood friends, Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield. Its mission statement is "to operate the company in a way that actively recognizes the central role that business plays in society by initiating innovative ways to improve the quality of life locally, nationally and internationally".

On the plus side, it is admirable that Ben and Jerry’s has taken the risk. It is often very difficult to find companies that are willing to be associated with the homeless. The nuns' provide help for homeless people, alcoholics, drug addicts and prostitutes.

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More on the Internet:

http://www.guardian.co.uk/

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