On Memorial Day, before reporting to my yearly priestly retreat, I decided to spend time at the office catching up on some paper work. Holidays are perfect for a little catch up because there are fewer ‘interruptions.’
Right before lunch, I decided to take a jog on the bike trail north to the Devaney Center and back. While going north I noticed more homeless people than usual sleeping under the bridges of the new Antelope Creek Valley waterway.
My plan was to eat lunch after running. On my return leg, the message from the Lord was loud and clear, “How can you eat and drink knowing I am hungry and thirsty? How can you ignore me?”(Mt 25:31-46).
I knew in that moment after returning to the office, before doing anything else, I needed to feed and give something to drink to Jesus, Who lives in the homeless individuals I’d seen.
One of the men I passed was having trouble putting his shoes on, visibly in pain. While helping him with his shoes, I remembered I had given him those very shoes just weeks before. While helping him, I learned that after getting a construction job, he pulled a muscle in his back.
After returning to the office food pantry, I loaded up some grape juice and sandwiches and returned to those living under the bridges. They were very happy and grateful. The men and women living under the bridges do so 12 months out of the year. One even showed me his foot, on which he had lost several toes due to frostbite, as he lacked proper boots.
I am grateful to the many donors who help us assist so many: the homeless; individuals and families so they may avoid homelessness; individuals who cannot afford the total cost of counseling; the ladies at St. Gianna’s who come to us escaping domestic violence and abortion with their children. They are most grateful for your love and support. Please know that all of you, your families and intentions are in our prayers.
