The Story behind the "Homeless Dude"...
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Dear Friend...
Catholic Community of Disciples (Acts. 4:32-34):
This Sunday Jesus distinguishes between the sheep and the goats (Matt. 25:31-46). The sheep are those who treat others, particularly the most marginalized among us, as they would Him. The goats do not. The sheep will inherit heaven. The goats, well, the other place.
So this is pretty important. And particularly challenging for us. Why?
Even the poorest in our country rank among the most comfortable on the planet. Comparatively speaking, our children want for nothing. As such, we parents know how difficult it is to foster an "anawim" spirit among our children, that is, a kind of radical dependency upon God. These "poor in spirit" are those whom Jesus most loved.
Having things in abundance can be a real threat to faith. When things are always there, we tend to take them for granted. When we take things for granted, we are not living in a spirit of giving thanks. And giving thanks is the literal meaning of "Eucharist."
In sum, if we do not have an attitude of gratitude, we may be mechanically receiving the Eucharist, but without a spirit of privation and poverty, our capacity to truly receive Him Who alone is our Provision-- is substantially diminished.
A lack of our looking into the true, spiritual mirror and recognizing our essential poverty (condition for truly receiving Him whom alone is our Provision), may be a reason many Catholics have either stopped going to Mass, or perhaps why many of us Catholics, on any given Sunday-- feel fundamentally indifferent.
We encounter the Changer, but remain unchanged.
So, with that as a pretext, as we prepared for this weeks' Live IT episode we prayed for illumination that might foster this gratitude.
God answered.
A good friend had recently attended a concert by Daniel Oberreuter of the Catholic band, The Thirsting. Daniel, his wife and children would be in the area for another week and needed a place to stay. Next thing you know it, we were blessed to provide a home for four days.
Coming from large families (over 90 nieces and nephews), this did not throw off our mojo too much, but particularly with their little ones, it was an occasion for each of us to stretch beyond ourselves, to regard all we had as something from God. We more fully embraced the great truth that the Blesser blesses us in order that we might be His blessers.
Of course, being the Catholic-evangelical opportunist I am, we incorporated Daniel into both our IGNITE Radio Live! episode last week, and this week's Live IT Episode, "Homeless Dude." Along with wonderful times of prayer, worship and conversation, these were ways our family was profoundly blessed.
Now here's an opportunity for you. We're just two weeks away from our first Presence for Christmas (10 locations this year). REGISTER NOW for the Meal+Message-- see it as an occasion of "easy evangelization." All whom you invite will more deeply encounter Jesus Christ.
Abundant blessings in Jesus through Mary. |
