Some politics free faith:

So I’ve been very political on my blog, and a little religious here and there. I think this time I’m just going to share something that’s more faith oriented than anything else. This is regarding a scenario I hardly understand to be perfectly honest. What is that exactly? How my very Christian friends, could be among those saying “I never give money to “hobo’s”, they’re just going to spend it on booze!”

This mystifies me because Christ does teach, quite clearly that Christ can be found in every homeless person looking for shelter, or a little money for food. Basically in a very real sense, that homeless person is Christ, how? Because what you do, or don’t do for him you effectively do or do or do not do for Christ. Of course this isn’t to say the homeless person is Christ in the physical real sense, after all it is quite possible that that particular person might well go spend that money on vice, something I’m sure Christ would not do.

But just the same, it’s quite powerful to consider that what we do or don’t do for that homeless person, equates to how we are treating Christ directly. I write all this, because I happened to be watching some CatholicTV video clips and Father Jeff Bayhi reminded me of this very important reality when he discusses the same issue. I’d certainly invite anyone to watch it and ponder. Oh, and for those of you whom might be wondering about everything I wrote above, about what we do or don’t do for the homeless person. Below the video I’ll quote (and link to) Matthew 25 31- 46, a passage which speaks directly to this.

 

Biblical Reference:

http://www.vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/__PVY.HTM

31

14 "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne,

32

and all the nations 15 will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats.

33

He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left.

34

Then the king will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.

35

For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me,

36

naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.'

37

Then the righteous 16 will answer him and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink?

38

When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you?

39

When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?'

40

And the king will say to them in reply, 'Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.'

41

17 Then he will say to those on his left, 'Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels.

42

For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink,

43

a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.'

44

18 Then they will answer and say, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?'

45

He will answer them, 'Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.'

46

And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life."