An encounter with the homeless Jesus Christ. A recent experience on the road being touched by a face to face encounter with a homeless man in Baton Rouge. "Will there be any room at my inn for the Lord or will I turn Him away by what I have stored?" - KJPH
"Count Your Blessings" Lenten Supper by Baton Rouge's Society of St. Vincent de Paul.
Public Domain Pic: "Homeless Jesus Statue" by Canadian sculptor Tim Schmalz
Society of St. Vincent de Paul in Baton Rouge (www.svdpbr.org)
“The first time ever I saw your face
I thought the sun rose in your eyes
And the moon and the stars were the gifts you gave
To the dark and the end of the skies” - Roberta Flack, 1972
This morning, as I was seated in my car with my wife on the way to church, we came to the very long lasting traffic light at Siegen Lane and I-10 – it must take about 3 + minutes just to be able to take that entrance to the interstate going westbound, and I saw someone for the first time in my life!
Many other times when I've come to this spot, I've mumbled to myself not the most pleasant words or had not the most gracious thoughts, in complaint about why the DOTD hadn't given us more time! I usually will try to rationalize to my wife that the traffic light was the reason why we got to church late, when actually, I hadn't prioritized leaving earlier to make it on time.
This morning was basically a normal one – I'd read most of the large Sunday Advocate paper delivered to our house and taken my morning jog before Mass. And yes, unfortunately, we were running a little late and I caught that darned traffic light again at Siegen Lane and I-10! But as I was coming to a stop behind a few other cars, I noticed a man standing in the median and holding a sign asking for help – like those famous “will work 4 food” ones.
As the man was approaching our car, I recalled the prophetic words which a former social services agency director whom I worked for always reminded us about in our work with the homeless: “We're called to be a hand up, not a hand out,” and also, “When you look into the face of a homeless or needy person, you are really seeing the Face of Christ!”
My first impulse was to recall that we like to keep granola bars in the car to give out to folks in need, which I got ready to do. And I wished that I had a business card that I do keep in another car which gives the contact info and has a map to a local agency helping the homeless.
Recently, a local news station had an investigative report about “panhandlers” who actually may “make a killing” on begging for money at intersections. But I was also reminded of what Someone else once noted, whom Pope Francis has certainly emulated well: “Whatever you did for one of these least brothers ("panhandlers") of mine, you did for me.” (Mt. 25:40)
So with the man standing next to my door and with the window down, I looked up and saw his pleading face, so simple and sincere. And as our hands slightly touched one another when he took the granola bar from my hand, I also mentioned to him about the St. Vincent de Paul (SVDP) Services located near to the Greyhound Bus Station downtown, and he smiled and said, “I was hoping to get there later.”
Michael Acaldo, Executive Director of SVDP, is that former social services director I noted above who always helps us to better help others in need (Homeless Shelters for men, women, families, “Uniforms for Kids,” Thrift Stores, Daily lunches at 11:30 everyday, a Pharmacy, volunteer opportunities, etc.). The SVDP “Count Your Blessings” Lenten Supper is coming up on April 4th – try to attend this if you can to help this great “Face to Face” agency serve more needy – www.svdpbr.org.
As the song ends, let me modify it with what Micheal has so well taught us:
...The first time ever I saw your face, ...
Christ's face, ...
Your face, ...
Christ's face!
Keith John Paul Horcasitas, 1133 Knollhaven Drive, BRLA 70810, khorcasitas.yahoo.com, March 16, 2014.
Join me as we travel together on the road called "Aging." I will be sharing my personal experiences with you and offer ideas on how we can better navigate the complex byways of our older years. Grief, healing, generations, ancestors, and more.
“The first time ever I saw your face
