This morning a friend of ours came here to the Catholic Worker House. Here I'll call him "Stan." Stan is homeless and suffers from various ailments. He moves very slowly; it seems like one might be overstating his degree of mobility if one were to say that he hobbles along. On his legs and his fingers, his skin has become scaly and is peeling off in large flakes. This morning, it was clear that his sores had broken open and were bleeding.
Despite his misfortune, at one point this morning, Stan proclaimed, "The Lord is good." Stan could lament his medical condition, but instead he chooses to give glory to God. In the midst of his discomfort, Stan praises and adores and glorifies God for His great goodness.
Amidst suffering, just as during times of ease and comfort, we are to give thanks to God. Knowing that God is good, we are to be joyful always, pray constantly, and for all things give thanks.*
I am reminded and am told that we must do so by the suffering homeless man who shows up at my doorstep. Jesus, in the impoverished individuals** in front of us, comes to us to continue to teach us how to love God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength.***
As we open our hearts to the poor persons who are before us, we open our hearts to God. When we truly see the impoverished man in front of us, we recognize Jesus here with us.**** As we welcome the homeless person here with us into our hearts, we welcome Jesus into our hearts.
As we welcome God into our hearts, we see that God is infinitely good. When we realize that the Lord is good, we give thanks always. We never stop expressing gratitude to God once we see that God infinitely loves us.
When we recognize that God is love,***** we welcome the truth that God loves us always. Aware that God loves us infinitely, we rejoice at all times. Ever joyful, we give thanks for all things. Amen.
* 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
** Matthew 25:40,45
*** Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 10:12; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27
**** Matthew 28:20
***** 1 John 4:8,16
Despite his misfortune, at one point this morning, Stan proclaimed, "The Lord is good." Stan could lament his medical condition, but instead he chooses to give glory to God. In the midst of his discomfort, Stan praises and adores and glorifies God for His great goodness.
Amidst suffering, just as during times of ease and comfort, we are to give thanks to God. Knowing that God is good, we are to be joyful always, pray constantly, and for all things give thanks.*
I am reminded and am told that we must do so by the suffering homeless man who shows up at my doorstep. Jesus, in the impoverished individuals** in front of us, comes to us to continue to teach us how to love God with all our heart, with all our mind, with all our soul, and with all our strength.***
As we open our hearts to the poor persons who are before us, we open our hearts to God. When we truly see the impoverished man in front of us, we recognize Jesus here with us.**** As we welcome the homeless person here with us into our hearts, we welcome Jesus into our hearts.
As we welcome God into our hearts, we see that God is infinitely good. When we realize that the Lord is good, we give thanks always. We never stop expressing gratitude to God once we see that God infinitely loves us.
When we recognize that God is love,***** we welcome the truth that God loves us always. Aware that God loves us infinitely, we rejoice at all times. Ever joyful, we give thanks for all things. Amen.
* 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18
** Matthew 25:40,45
*** Deuteronomy 6:5; Deuteronomy 10:12; Matthew 22:37; Mark 12:30; Luke 10:27
**** Matthew 28:20
***** 1 John 4:8,16
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