Living Under the Bridge

Living under the bridge. It is a stark and sad reality that I have personally witnessed. Thousands of Americans are homeless and live off the benevolence of others, or dive through dumpsters in order to find everything from food to blankets to plastic garbage bags to use for storage. Many of these people are mentally handicapped and have been forgotten by society. Some are people who have simply lost control of their lives and have ended up living wherever they can find a place to lay their heads. Then there are those who willingly take up this lifestyle, as they desire to live off the kindness of others. There are the alcoholics and drug addicts who have hit bottom and beg for money in order to buy their next drink or get their next fix. Then there are the forgotten brave veterans who came back from wars, suffering and lost. Regardless of what brought the homeless to this state of desperate existence, most of these people sleep in the streets, under bridges, in dark alleys, or even the woods.

Regardless of who these people are or their circumstances, they are children of God who are “Lost like Sheep without a Shepherd.” As Christians, Christ calls us to love and reach out to the lost and hopeless people of this world and not condemn them. In the Gospel of Luke Jesus says to the Pharisee’s (who condemn him for sharing a meal and the hospitality of hated tax collectors), “I have come to serve the sick, the blind, the lost and the lame.” Jesus had mercy on the outcasts of society and calls us to do the same.

I am so proud of Our Savior and the work we do feeding the hungry, providing needy families with meals at Thanksgiving and Christmas, and out reach to those incarcerated in prison or youth detention. I am proud of our Helping Hands who volunteer their time to serve at the Master’s Table on Fenwick Street and all the people who donate food to the Golden Harvest Food bank. I am in awe of the commitment to Saturday Sacks that feed children who would otherwise go hungry over the weekends. I am especially humbled by the level of acceptance displayed by our parishioners, inviting all people, no matter where they are in their life, into the very heart and ministry of our parish.

It is my hope that the next project we can embark on together is a community garden; one that will allow the parish and local community to work together to provide for those in need. Working with our surrounding community not only invites people into our church, it makes us an active part of our community and allows for mutual affection and care for our brothers and sisters who need assistance.

Thank you Our Savior for teaching and modeling for me what it truly means to love our neighbor as ourselves.