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Man and a mirror
by Jamie L Manson on Jul. 30, 2009
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Printer-friendly versionSend to friendPDF versionAfter my last essay about Michael Jackson was published, I received a number of interesting follow-up messages by phone, e-mail and Web posting. But I wasn’t prepared for an indirect response that I received after our soup kitchen one night in early July.
I had heard from our social worker that one of our most mentally unstable, physically ill, and drug-addicted homeless men (I’ll call him Clinton) had saved all of his money to purchase a Michael Jackson memorial t-shirt. Nearly two hours after our dinner ended, Clinton stopped by, operating on his typical schedule. I was tired and a little annoyed, so I slouched toward the call to never send anyone away hungry. It had been raining very hard that evening, so he was changing into dry clothes that we gave him. After Clinton finished eating, I told him amusedly that I had heard about his fantastic new shirt. He quickly pulled it out of his bag and held it up for me. I told him it was the most beautiful version of a Jackson memento that I’d seen (and I’d seen many versions by then). Without a thought, he folded it up and said, “Just let it dry, and then wear it proudly.” I was dumbstruck. When my speech returned, I protested heavily, begging him to take it back. He would not hear of it, and headed into the street.
I’m not sure why I was so shocked. Such selfless acts of generosity are common among the poor. More often than not, when our guests come to us for clothing or food or toiletries, they plan to share at least half, sometimes all of it, with one or two poor friends. Encountering Clinton’s pure, immediate generosity at once inspired and humbled me. He held up a mirror that forced me to see my goodness and my limitations -- both of which are pretty difficult to look at. The experience reminded me of how much church folk, that is, the comfortable people who sit in the pews on Sundays or feast days, have to learn from the poor.
The soup kitchen that we were hosting that night was not supposed to be held at our site. Two weeks earlier, a neighboring congregation cancelled its summer dinner program with ten days notice. Though they said publicly that the closure was due to maintenance issues in the kitchen, several congregants came forward to tell me that the church had a conservative new pastor and that the congregation had embraced a strong Evangelical ideology. There were concerns about a soup kitchen that simply fed bodies but did not feed the soul through mandatory proselytizing and attendance at worship.
I’m not sure what the real story is, but the fact remained that many people would be sent away empty as a result. Though we did not have enough funding to open our doors for an additional eight nights through the summer, we had enough food for a substantive beginning. So I took the leap of faith and asked the appropriate powers to open our door for an additional night. Not unlike our poor guests, I went to our neighboring churches begging for small grants or food and supply donations. With the exception of one congregation, my pleas fell on deaf ears, even though our soup kitchen is located in one of the wealthiest zip codes in the country.
The experience reminded me of why I choose to use my Master of Divinity degree by working among the poor, rather than in traditional church ministry. I do not do this work to “do good” or “reach out” or “give back,” but in order to encounter a God who is fully alive in the bodies of those who are ailing, addicted, needy, desperate and desolate.
In Matthew 25:34-46, Jesus tells us that whenever we feed the hungry, clothe the naked, care for the sick, welcome the stranger and visit the prisoner, we do this to God. Jesus doesn’t say that God is pleased, or that through these works one can become a better Christian. The experience is far more radical and authentic: we actually touch God in a real, physical encounter. I am far from a biblical fundamentalist, but I do, consistently and without contradiction, find absolute truth in this teaching.
Members of more than one religious community that I have served in one way or another have criticized me for not attending worship services more often. I believe that I go to worship everyday. Each day I encounter the broken, I see bread broken in front of me. Each time I feed someone, I feel I am given Eucharist. It is the poor who give me bread for the journey. When I am made vulnerable or sent away hungry by rejections from churches or wealthy individuals, it is our poor guests who feed me and clothe me with their awesome and inspiring support and generosity. One might say I am a daily communicant.
The next time I saw Clinton, he was very upset. He told me that he had tried to help a pregnant woman who was carrying very heavy packages. She nervously ignored him and hurried away. Of course, I cannot blame her. How could she know that, under his strange, intimidating exterior longed a man only wishing to be kind? Not unlike Michael Jackson, Clinton and so many of the homeless and poor suffer greatly in mind and body, they are powerless against drugs that medicated their pain, and they struggle passionately with loneliness. Feelings of being judged and misunderstood besiege them, while peace and a sense of home always elude them.
Now and then a few ‘bad seeds’ fall into the mix, and try to take advantage of our services. But I remain convinced that there are far fewer bad seeds among the poor than there are among the comfortable or the wealthy. How many participants in corporate greed are constantly benefiting from unjust systems? How many functioning addicts and untreated mentally ill people are teaching our children, running our businesses and government offices, and leading our religious communities? Even when our guests sadden me by relapsing into alcohol and drugs, returning to abusive partners, or refusing to take opportunities to better their lives, there is no change in my love and respect for them, or my desire to honor their dignity as beloved creations of God. If God is merciful in the face of all of our limitations and failures, why shouldn’t I try to be as patient and forgiving with the neediest?
Generous acts emerge out of poor people effortlessly because of their profound understanding of vulnerability. We avoid the poor because they are embodiments of our own vulnerabilities; they are mirror images of the hidden sufferings of our present and the potential deprivations of our future. Clinton’s loving act was truly a giving of self, a giving from out of his need, and it compelled me to look at my own strengths and weaknesses.
My greatest frustration with church folk is the frequency and ease with which so many of them avoid the poor and the stranger. If church communities seek to live out the gospel and honor the life of Jesus, the embodiment of God, they should be founded and grounded on working with the poor and the marginalized. It isn’t easy or simple, but if they take the risk, they could learn a lot about Jesus from guys like Clinton. By pushing women and men like him away, we push away our own vulnerability. But we also push away the God who is reaching out to us.
Jamie Manson received her master of divinity degree from Yale Divinity School where she studied Catholic theology, personal commitments and sexual ethics with Mercy Sr. Margaret Farley. She is the former editor in chief of the Yale magazine Reflections, and currently serves as director of Social Justice Ministries at Jan Hus Presbyterian Church, working primarily with New York City’s homeless and poor populations. She is a member of the national board of the Women’s Ordination Conference.
You brought me to tears with
You brought me to tears with this - thank you. What a profound reminder that, truly, what we do to the least of God's people, we do unto God.
What a beautiful gift Clinton
What a beautiful gift Clinton gave you. And shame on those churches for not giving you anything at all. I am sure they don't want your soup kitchen in their neighborhood though and that is why. The few bad apples have done a lot of damage and with the murder of that girl by a supposed vagrant the other day on the news it's not likely to change. These churches struggle is to learn to view the homeless as people to care for without conditions and your struggle will be to find Jesus in the rich people. It's very hard to straddle the middle seeing Jesus in everyone. Best of luck to you.
Ms. Manson, I
Ms. Manson,
I would like to say that you are 100% right when you talk about seeing Jesus in the faces of those whom you serve. When you serve those in need you serve God. For this you truly are doing the work of God! In serving God's most neey we serve Him.
However, there are two problems which come to mind:
1) You do NOT recieve the Eucharist by helping them. Now you are just making up your own version of the Catholic faith as you go along. Please understand that one cannot neglect spirituality! For "what doth it profit a man to gain the world but lose the kingdom of heaven?" (Gospel of Mark).
Please go back to mass and recieve the body of Christ there! For only there can one fully recieve the Body of Christ!
2) You talk about "church-folk" not doing social justice. But surely throughout the Church's history the Church has supported so many charities and hospitals that one cannot simply neglect that! Just look today at the Church as the number one charity organization in the world!
I guess what I am trying to say to you is to PLEASE not neglect the sacraments! For recieving the sacraments from a Catholic priest is the high point of our faith! Through the sacraments we encounter Jesus in an intimate manner that can compare to noting else. Please Ms. Madison. Your social justice ministry is far above admirable! You do the will of Christ by helping the downtrodden! Yet Do not abandon the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass for you spiritually damage yourself. Please return to your Sunday "obligation." I put "obligation" in quotes because, if we think about it, we should not consider recieving our Lord as an obligation at all!
Jamie: I really believe that
Jamie: I really believe that you do experience "Eucharist" when you minister to the poor and others and not just by attending a Eucharistic celebration in a building.
I find the comment from A Sinner making assumptions about your faith practice(s), actually offensive. I used to believe as described in the last paragraph. However, I have moved away from the isolating experience of the Catholic priesthood with its rigidity and rules. In my opinion, there is a lack of leadership by the celibate male clerics (especially the bishops)as they refuse to move towards providing the ordination of women and married men. I have gained new awareness where I experience the intimacy of Jesus' love in my life, many experiences outside of church buildings, such as being in the presence of animals and nature and suffering people.
A Sinner needs to go through a process of seeing with new eyes (physically, emotionally and spiritually).
Marye, I did not mean
Marye,
I did not mean to offend anyone. PLease note that my goal was not to judge the spirituality of Jamie. We are all on our way towards Christ. Yet I am concerned about Jamie not recieving the Body of Christ in the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass! Please do not misunderstand what I say as I in no way say that I am holier or more devout than Jamie.
I was begging Jamie to come back to the Eucharist because of how important it is! There are no words to describe just how important the Holy Eucharist is! I beg you to please reconsider as well marye though I am sure you, like Jamie, love Christ. Please do not think I am being judgemental.
I understand that in much of what you and Jamie have said, Marye, that you do indeed experience intimacy with Christ for Jesus said "whatever you do for the least of my brethren you do for me." Yet there is nothing, absolutely nothing, which can compare to recieving, quite literally, God's body during the mass! When you claim you do not wish to go to Church due to anger at the Church hierarchy do you not think this is like Donatism? Where, from the Bible, Church Fathers, tradition due you find the belief on recieving the Eucharist by doing charity work or being with the suffering or nature?
PLease, I beg yo both to reconsider and do not think that I mean to sound arrogant!
Yes, we do have an experience
Yes, we do have an experience of the Risen Christ in the poor and the needy. However it is by no means the same thing as receiving Him, Body and Blood, Soul and Divinity in Holy Communion. Moreoever, the graces we receive at Holy Communion are beyond any that we receive in other ways. Indeed, it is the reception of those very graces that allows us, nay, leads, prompts and encourages us, to serve God and neighbor, to do good and avoid evil. There is simply no substitute for the reception of Christ Jesus in the Eucharist. This is the Church's consistent teaching. It is Christ's teaching, Who said, "I tell you the truth, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you" (John 6: 53).
All of this is not meant to say that Ms. Manson's work with the poor is not good. Indeed, she is doing great and essential work. However, if she does not also follow through with evangelization, then there is a missing component. Blessed Mother Teresa of Calcutta, one of the greatest witnesses of Christ's love for the poorest of the poor who ever lived, understood this. There is a need to feed and clothe the poor, the hungry and the naked. But, we are foolish and blind to believe that they do not have a spiritual need as well.
Christ Himself recognized this, working miracles, feeding the hungry, raising the dead, curing the sick and crippled, all for the greater purpose of evangelization. He did what we would call today "social justice ministry" not because He was a nice guy, or because He felt compassion and pity, but because He realized that, for some, their sickness or injury, hunger or the death of loved ones, were keeping them from embracing the love of, and faith in, God. Thus, He helped those in need, and then preached the Good News of the Kingdom to them.
I am edified by the words of that conservative pastor, so blithely dismissed by Ms. Manson, who wanted to know if the soup kitchen that his church operated was just about feeding the poor, or whether it was also about the ministry of evangelizing those folks. If it is not, then there is a serious component of authentic ministry missing. Everything that the Church does must be focused on Christ and on spreading the Gospel to all the world, as He commanded us. When we serve the poor, we are not only doing so because we see their need, feel compassion and seek to draw closer to Christ in serving them, but we also must be about helping the poor draw closer to Christ as well.
But, how can we do all of this if we do not receive the immeasurable graces of Holy Communion? Christ never intended ministry to be a replacement for communion with Him. Indeed, after sending His disciples out on ministry, the Gospels say that, when they returned, He took them away for a while to rest and to be with Him. This is what we do at Mass each week. We sit at the feet of the Master and listen to His Word. He then feeds us with His own Body and Blood and sends us out to minister to the world. Then, a week later, He calls us back to "come away a while and rest" with Him and the community of followers He has gathered. He nourishes us with the Holy Food and instructs us by His Word. Then sends us out again to preach the Gospel. This is why Second Vatican Council called the celebration of the Eucharist, the Mass, the "Source and summit of the Christian life".
Finally, Marye, based solely on your comments above, and making no other assumption about who you are as a person, I would suggest that you seriously consider what you say and believe. Yes, we can find the beauty and grandeur of God in nature, and can see the face of Christ in our brothers and sisters. But, there is absolutely no substitute for actual communion with Christ. I fail to see how you can equate those experiences with the experience of receiving Christ into your own body? This intimate union is beyond anything else imaginable. Further, I do not understand how you can choose to deny yourself this union with Our Lord over simple and, frankly, trivial objections to Church teaching. The ordination of married men is a discipline, not a doctrine, that might change should the need arise (thus far, it has not. And, those men who have been ordained who were married have oft found great difficulties in living both lives authentically, but that is a matter for another time). The ordination of women is a settled matter. It falls to us, as Catholics, to accept that the Church, guided as she is by the Holy Spirit, may know a few things that we do not, and thus we should accept those teachings in humility. Instead of wasting time being upset about things that we cannot, and should not change, we should instead seek out those nearly limitless ways in which we may still be of service to the Church.
Marye, do not deny yourself the Eucharist and the fullness of God's grace! God desires to pour that grace upon His people. Embark on the adventure of fidelity to the Church, and, filled with God's grace, you will do far greater things than you ever thought possible. Through you, many will come to know Christ and His Church. You may be the conduit through which He desires to save myriad people!
As Jesus pointed out to one
As Jesus pointed out to one young man, you are very close to the kingdom. May God bless you in his work.
A Secular Franciscan
i can't fault the pregnant
i can't fault the pregnant lady, honestly. in my area, we have had several instances where such situations quickly turned into robbery and, in one case, rape. i have also told my wife not to stop when people look to be broken down on the side of the road when shes by herself. last summer two people were carjacked when they stopped to help a lady beside a 'broken down' car. when they pulled over, several guys hiding on the other side of the embankment jumpped up and held him at gunpoint.
many in our church help with charities and other activities aimed to assist the poor in our city. in a public area with other people, one can be very direct in your aid. if by yourself and/or dealing with several people, you simply have to be cautions. it is very unfortunate, but such is the world. we help as we can, but we must be careful, as not everyone who comes up out of the blue to offer assistance with bags is as noble a person as your homeless friend you describe.
God bless you Jamie Manson. I
God bless you Jamie Manson. I have read a number of your articles and I find you to be authentic, genuine, and loving. it was not the priest, or the lawyer
or the busines person in Jesus's parable who stopped to tend the poor person who had been beaten by robbers.....it was YOU!! May you serve as a model for all of us who are too fearful and faithless to really serve the poor and despised in a world that has become too comfortable with the the status quo.
Jamie, great post! Thanks.
Jamie, great post! Thanks.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Jamie, Thanks for sharing
Jamie,
Thanks for sharing this beautiful post with us.
God Bless
Thank you so much for
Thank you so much for reminding us of the Gospel. I too have found myself overwhelmed by the abundant generosity of poor people. I too have wondered "Would I have done the same act of kindness?"
This is a truly wonderful
This is a truly wonderful exposition, Jamie, of the core, the nucleus, the essence, the mandate of the teachings of Jesus. I'd say your actions and those of your companions are living Mathew 25:34-45. Though I shall likely be criticized roundly, I say again: All else is fluff.
Aldus
I recant some words and
I recant some words and apologize for: "All else is fluff."
It would have been much better, and less rude, to say something like this:
All else is valuable only to the extent that they bring each of us, one at a time, into a relationship with Jesus which helps us follow his teachings and examples. Then, and only then, I think, should one be bold enough to call ourselves Jesus' disciples.
Aldus
Love of the poor is a gift,
Love of the poor is a gift, however just doing so doesn't make one a Catholic. One does not "get in to heaven" from works. Rather through the grace of Jesus-God come in the flesh. I strongly recommend that you seek out a qualified spiritual director. I frankly see difference between what you are advocating and the position of a secular humanist. Its simply wrong to "proof text" Matthew 25:34-46 and claim to be a Christian. Communion with Christ Jesus is in fact an intimate spiritual/nupital union which requires actual work to grow and prosper; you cannot only seek out the needs of the body neglecting the soul and the Person of Christ. What you are advocating is actually very impersonal; for God is a personal God. On you side comment about "church people" please keep in mind that everybody has a different role. I imagine that your salary is being paid by those "church people". Please seek out a Roman Catholic spiritual director and keep all the Commandments as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I don't mean to seem hard on you, but judging by the way you write, I do not see maturity in the Christian life. But don't wory, all in good time. God bless!
Snowdrop: You along with A
Snowdrop: You along with A Sinner make many assumptions about Jamie's ministry and relationship with God. You also come across as very patronizing (and patriarchal). Of course, you would not see Jamie as mature in the Christian life as you have your own definition of maturity. To work with the poor and hurting people requires much inner strength. I believe Jamie is "mature" at her age. Life in the secular world with its many challenges takes courage as you are not sheltered in an academic environment or monastery!!!
Snowdrop says: Please seek
Snowdrop says: Please seek out a Roman Catholic spiritual director and keep all the Commandments as outlined in the Catechism of the Catholic Church. I don't mean to seem hard on you, but judging by the way you write, I do not see maturity in the Christian life."
I don't mean to be hard of YOU, Snowdrop, but I don't see YOUR maturity in the Christian life. Certainly, by now, you must realize that keeping "all the Commandments" doesn't make a person Catholic, much less Christian. Jesus didn't invent the Catechism or any of the rules you think make a person a Christian/Catholic. If being a mature Christian means following the Catechism, I dare say I know very few such people--laity or clergy--if any.
Aldus
"Love of the poor is a gift,
"Love of the poor is a gift, however just doing so doesn't make one a Catholic. One does not "get in to heaven" from works. Rather through the grace of Jesus-God come in the flesh."
Martin Luther must be smiling at that one.
Wonderful article, Jamie. AS
Wonderful article, Jamie. AS always, but especially when you speak of and for the poor. You give them an eloquent voice.
"Generous acts emerge out of
"Generous acts emerge out of poor people effortlessly because of their profound understanding of vulnerability. We avoid the poor because they are embodiments of our own vulnerabilities; they are mirror images of the hidden sufferings of our present and the potential deprivations of our future."
"Not unlike our poor guests, I went to our neighboring churches begging for small grants or food and supply donations. With the exception of one congregation, my pleas fell on deaf ears, even though our soup kitchen is located in one of the wealthiest zip codes in the country."
Need one say anything more?
Snowdrop, do you realize how
Snowdrop, do you realize how very little maturity in the Christian life comes forth in what you write, in how you criticize and judge others?
It is superbly spiritually mature and personal and integral what Jamie does in directly being the hands and heart of Christ to the most fragile and needy of humans. She is the Christ to those who have thirst, hunger, pain and need clothing and shelter.
It is self-centred to only care about ritual and personal "nuptial union" with Christ in some self-obsessed way, something Jesus never taught us to do.
You are wrong because you are ignoring what Jesus always asked us to do, to help, reach out, love our neighbour, not sit in the synagogue , temple or church, saying the longest, loudest prayers, obsessing on our "nuptual-union" with Jesus-- he never taught such an obsession or theology to us,
We do not marry our brother in God, Jesus, he's not our spouse, fully human, fully divine, we too are sons and daughters of God, and God is our parent, not our spouse --it is not incest as we as church do not marry Jesus or God our parent ;;; that is really incestuous pagan nonsense Jesus never taught us. Neither should we sit in church wearing the richest robes, ignoring those who need help, mercy, justice. What Jamie does is the very mature Christian life. The hands and heart of Jesus.
I am always saddened by
I am always saddened by people making assumptions that church going people or people that sit "confortably" in a pew are necessarly selfish people who do nothing for the needy. There are many people in an average Catholic parish who selflessly give of themselves in so many different ways. Meals are prepared and brought to the poor, people volunteer to drive sick people to doctors appointments etc. Being a practicing Catholic is not mutually exclusive with being a compassionate person and heeding Jesus' call to "whatever you do to the least of my people you do it to me".
Some people are also called to be more contemplative, like Mary--Lazarus' sister-- who sat at the foot of Jesus drinking in every word He said while her sister Martha was busy with the food preparation.
The body of Christ is made up of different people with different God given talents. I would be hesitant to think that a contemplative nun's life, totally given to prayer, is less worthy in God'd eyes that the life of someone who finds his/her true calling in helping the poor.
Wonderful article. But as my
Wonderful article. But as my wife the Social Worker points out that the Sacraments, especially Eucharist, is her much needed "Spiritual Adrenalin"... do what you do so well... but don't neglect other important things.
Greg says: One does not "get
Greg says: One does not "get in to heaven" from works. Rather through the grace of Jesus-God come in the flesh."
You miss the point, Greg. One doesn't do good works to "get to 'heaven'". One does works of love and compassion, especially to and for the "least" of Jesus' people, because that is what Jesus taught us to do. That is what Jesus DID to and for the people. To be a "disciple" one is expected to follow the leader. Jesus never taught us that our goal was to "get to heaven."
Aldus
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