God’s Dwelling Place is Poverty

“How can we embrace poverty as a way to God when everyone around us wants to become rich? Poverty has many forms. We have to ask ourselves, ‘What is my poverty?’ Is it lack of money, lack of emotional stability, lack of a loving partner, lack of security, lack of safety, lack of self-confidence? Each human being has a place of poverty. That’s the place where God wants to dwell! “How blessed are the poor.” Jesus says (Matthew 5:3). This means that our blessing is hidden in poverty. We are also inclined to cover up our poverty and ignore it that we often miss the opportunity to discover God, who dwells in it. Let’s dare to see our poverty as the land in which our treasure is hidden.”
by Henri Nouwen

Built to Wander

In an inspiring work on loneliness, Fr. Roland Rolheiser refers to all humans as lonely creatures and thereby are always somewhat “homeless.” In his book, The Restless Heart, we discover a strong premise that exposes each of us for what we really are - poor nomads and wanderers. “Homeless” is no longer just a title we give to those physically lost on streets and sleeping in alleyways. Rolheiser states, “We are built to wander, to be restless and lonely. Accordingly, we should not be surprised if we find ourselves incurably in that condition.” The nomad in each of us is always on a journey that is never quite fulfilled no matter how hard we try because we are ultimately built by God for union with the Infinite. St. Augustine agrees. He states in possibly the most quoted thought of his writings, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.”

Homelessness is not just a physical state of being lost and lonely under a bridge somewhere. It is a psychological/spiritual emptiness, loneliness and restlessness built inside of each of us by God to inspire us to seek after Him. So what does psychological and spiritual homelessness look like? It begins with the fact that each of us goes through life always experiencing dissatisfaction and being unfulfilled. Think about when you prefer a window over an aisle seat, prefer it to be hotter or cooler in the room or prefer New York over Los Angles. We are always in a state of seeking personal satisfaction and fulfillment. It is at the root of why frequently in our lives we believe, "the grass is greener on the other side of the fence."

Thus, the “homeless” state of mind is expressed in our own personal obsessions, whims, anxieties, compulsions and addictions. Personal homelessness is demonstrated in each in a variety of ways, such as: Being a workaholic, gym addict, packrat, shopaholic, Internet addict, O.C.D., neurotic user of cell phones/email/TM/IM, collector of anything, big talker, recluse, alcoholic, drug user, porn or sex addict - well, the list goes on and on. In this respect we are one big “happy” dysfunctional homeless family and must treat each other with compassion and concern. We must help to bring each other home. Each of us is a direct brother or sister of those who are physically homeless. Like them, each of us is nomadic and seeking rest but wake up each day to discover it is always elusive.

In summary, Rolheiser states, “We are constantly being driven by our loneliness to seek more and more love, more and more knowledge, and more and more beauty. We have an inbuilt loneliness that makes us longing, yearning, grasping, and hungry creatures. Our aspirations for love and knowledge are limitless, yet our capability of fulfilling these aspirations is always limited, no matter how good a situation we are in. For this reason, we are this side of heaven, always lonely.” And, for that matter, we are always homeless. Because, as St. Augustine states and it is worth repeating, “Our hearts are restless until they rest in thee.”

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South Carolina's Our Lady's Rosary Makers

In the past two weeks, more than 200 rosaries have been lovingly handed out to homeless women and men living on the streets, under bridges and in alleyways. Most prefer to wear them around the neck. Others put them in a pocket to later draw upon in times of trouble or while feeling alone and frightened in the night. It is because of this great need to feel God’s presence that almost everyone becomes "Catholic" as they most gratefully accept and grasp upon the rosary. More than prayer cards and other religious items, it is the most loved single source of comfort preferred by those living in homelessness.

All the rosaries have been handmade and donated by Our Lady’s Rosary Makers (olrm.org) of South Carolina. OLRM is just one of many branches of The Rosary Club of Louisville, Kentucky founded by Brother Sylvan, C.F.X. In 1949, Brother Sylvan began to teach children how to make rosaries for missionaries. Inspired by Our Lady's words at Fatima, and having received letters of request from missionaries around the world, he knew of the great need for rosaries in the mission fields. By 1954 membership had grown to 2,500 adults and many children in schools across the nation.

Today the club has grown from its humble origins to an international non-profit organization. A new International Rosary Center was built and has more than doubled the organization's original size. A staff of 24 people, working five days a week fill orders and serve over 40,000 members, who annually distribute millions of rosaries to the world's missions.

Many thanks to Our Lady’s Rosary Makers of South Carolina and the Rosary Club of Louisville, Kentucky for generously supplying us hundreds of rosaries. Recently, they just sent another new shipment. Through their efforts, the rosary is now a gift lighting the way for hundreds of poor Angelinos who grasp the Cross of Christ and the intercessions of Mary when they are alone, frightened and struggling for hope.

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Pray for Us

Today, HIA goes on a day-long retreat with the St. Peter's Homeless Prayer Group & Bible Study community. The four-part day will begin with "Testimonies of Mercy" as we discover how God has lovingly brought each person to this point of knowing Him in their lives. After a short time of reflection we plan to gather for a second session, "Prayers of Mercy" as we explore showing mercy for others in our private prayers and how to pray. After some more reflection, we return for a third session to ask the question, "What is God saying to me today?" Lastly, we will break bread and have fellowship as real people at a local restaurant! Please pray for our retreatants: Arturo, Ernesto, Juanito and Raby (pronounced "Robbie").

Also, please pray for the many that we know and actively pray for living under the bridges, in alleys and on the streets of Skid Row: Paul, Maynard, David, Anthony, Kitty, California, Pur, Anthony, Jim, James, Pepper, Pio, William, Terry, Tara and her baby, Shannon (male) and Shannon (female), Elaine, Joyce, Patricia, Gloria, Kevin, James, Tyrone, Victor, Connie, Sheila, Tabatha, Ty, Jo Jo, Anne, Meghan, Seven, Jimmy, Melanie, Tora, Eritleka, Leanord, Gregory, Blackie, Tee, Wayne, Heaven, Michelle, Khalid ...

Singularities

To both discover and live God’s message of mercy to the poor is the equivalent of physicists discovering the all-encompassing singularity theory. The "Mercy Message" is THE “God surprise” and THE paradox that defines the Kingdom of God. The mystery of mercy is revealed by the Holy Spirit – to those who are spiritually and psychologically ready to hear and to hear, to see and to see, to act and to act upon it.

Catholic Christians in particular embrace the potent “Mercy Message” in the Sacrament of Reconciliation, however only in so much as mercy is embraced as a two-way-street. We receive mercy in the sacrament, but we must also leave the confessional and then go and do likewise; otherwise just receiving mercy is pointless by Jesus’ standards, (see the parable of the wicked servant). In the Sacrament of Reconciliation, the mercy flow floods us to sanctify our lives only when we go out and do the same for others. We must actively be merciful to others according to the mercy God has shown us. “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall obtain mercy.”

The call of poverty-stricken Israel (See Poor Israel, Thursday, October 18, 2007) is a microcosm of the mercy message God desires to make known to all of humankind. He wishes to tell us that from birth, "each is a poor nomad" and "each is homeless" until as Augustine once said - "Our souls are restless until they rest in Thee." Our personal poverty, once embraced is the tool that God uses to call us to our homes, peace and rest in Him. In mercy, He rescues each one of us from self-destruction. (If you believe that in and of yourself you are beautiful, successful and not sure why you need a Savior, this will make no sense to you.) Once we accept his mercy for our own personal brokenness and then share it with others, we enter into eternal time and are no longer homeless. Until that happens, each of us is psychologically and in many cases literally nomadic, on the run and destitute.

So, rather than despising the homeless and poor, we are to actively embrace them. They, by God’s design are a sign, image and symbol of the poverty in each one of us waiting to embrace God’s message of mercy. Despise the poor loser and Christ is despised. Embrace the poor and mercifully God sanctifies our wretched lives and shows the way home. Heaven is found. Welcome to THE paradox of the Kingdom of God!

How may I help?

An HIA blogger raises an important question regarding today's post, "More than 500,000 Found Homeless or Worse". R.S. writes, "How may I help?"

More than 500,000 Found Homeless or Worse

Today, by late afternoon, an AP update regarding SoCal's apparently unstoppable wildfires reports that more than 500,000 people are temporarily homeless or worse from north of Los Angeles, through San Diego to the Mexican border. They have been ordered to immediately evacuate by authorities. It is the biggest evacuation in California history. Today is the third day of wildfires raging across the state that firefighters concede there is no end in sight short of stopping at the ocean. More than 1,800 homes have been destroyed. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger said the flames were threatening 68,000 more homes. In San Diego, evacuees are at Qualcomm Stadium, home of the San Diego Chargers. At the moment, nearly 20,000 displaced homeowners are huddled inside the stadium, according to reports. The fires are the worst in California since 2003, when 22 people were killed and 3,000 homes were destroyed. One evacuee sleeping in a Wal-Mart parking lot with her 10 year old daughter said, "No one ever expects something like this to happen to them."

Make of our Hands your Hands

Fr. John and Danny gather us to pray last Friday, the night of St. Paul's first "Sandwich Builders." Danny prays ...

Dear God,

There is no place like home. For home is where the heart is.

We feel the truth of these words as we gather now together to serve the homeless.

We give thanks for food, drink, warmth and shelter.

We ask you to remember those who do not enjoy these simple necessities.

Hear our prayers for all men, women and children who are homeless.

For those sleeping under bridges, on park benches, or in doorways. We pray for them.

For those who have no relatives or friends who can take them in. We pray for them.

Blest are they, the lowly ones, for they shall inherit the earth.

Blest are they, who hunger and thirst, for they shall have their fill.

Lord, bless the volunteers who gather at our parish to serve the homeless.

We gather to do your work.

Make of our hands, your hands.

In your name we pray, Amen.

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The Expedition

In today’s blog, J.F. shares a reprise of a story written a couple of years ago for Gary’s Downtown Deals - now merged with the Los Angeles Downtown News. (“Deals” is a color glossy coupon magazine in DTLA designed to create jobs for the homeless and raise money for the poor.) J.F. shares the story in hopes it gives readers a sense of the rich history and the cause St. Paul’s under-the-bridges mission is benefiting.

THE EXPEDITION

Spending an afternoon feeding the homeless wasn’t exactly what one might expect. Of course, one afternoon does not a statistical sample make, but in this one experience, it wasn’t so much about finding a level of desolation or despair as much as learning to accept homelessness as a part of life that just is.

It is 10:00 am; we meet at the Casa Juan Diego house, a home for homeless young men personally started by Mother Theresa. Today, our hosts are Jack, Blanca, Letti, Josie and Ines. For the last three years, they have gone out every Wednesday underneath the bridges, behind the industrial buildings and into the lives of the homeless people on Skid Row. Earlier in the week, Jack made the rounds to Vons and gathered day old bread, pastries and candies. Letti made sandwiches – over a 100.

Now it is 11:30 am; we venture out into the streets. Jack explains it is not always safe to get out and we should stay in our cars. Jack has seen it all. In between cutting hair for a living, he’s been a military chaplain and a prison counselor. We see all types of homeless. The most common thread among them is substance abuse and mental illness.

What am I observing as I move about in places that most in Los Angeles would dare to go? Despite the filth, drugs, prostitution and violence, many homeless wouldn’t feel comfortable anywhere else. Entrance into a shelter means exposure to more predators than in living under a bridge. A job may mean the crushing pressure of responsibility that those who are mentally ill cannot handle. The rickety, leaky plastic tents, worn clothes three sizes too large or small, the public outhouses that double as a red light district are as home to them as a picket fence is to the rest of us.

It is 3:00pm; five hours later what did I learn? I learned that preconceived notions and prejudices fade like a sunset as you get to know someone else and their situation. We can move them, we can dump them and we can try to “societize” them, but in this one morning and afternoon it began to emerge that we probably can’t cure most. This is a part of life that will always be with us. Sharing even a tiny bit with the poor and vulnerable is a great blessing we both give and receive when we care for those who are less fortunate than ourselves. J.F.

Thankful for Volunteers, St. Paul's Gets the Call, "Time to Serve in Los Angeles"

Friday evening, more than 100 parishioners packed up 180 lunches while children made hand-crafted prayer cards for the homeless living under downtown bridges. Thankful for the volunteers, it is just the first day of a monthly outreach to the homeless from St. Paul the Apostle Parish in West Los Angeles. They call the Friday event, "Sandwich Builders." Food, water, prayer cards and clothing are then delivered first thing Saturday morning by a team that has been serving the homeless in downtown for more than four years.

Take in the photos and pray for those encountered - like Shannon, a beautiful teenage girl emaciated and suffering from addiction as well as Elaine - a young woman sweet, broken, timid scared and running from an abusive boyfriend. We remember - we pray!

“How lovely on the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who announces peace and brings good news of happiness, who announces salvation, and says ... “Our God reigns!” Isaiah 52:7

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