Seeing Christ in the poor

  • Thread starter Thread starter 14er
  • Start date Start date
Status
Not open for further replies.
1

14er

Guest
Hi,

I spend about 15 hours a month helping the poor at the local soup kitchen. I have always heard that when one works with the poor, one can see Christ in them. That sounds neat, but I don’t get it. I was hoping to understand it when I started, but after 6 months or so, I still don’t understand what that means.

I feel bad about this, but what I mostly see is alcoholism, drug addiction, and laziness. Not always though. I do see that some are so lost and unfortunate, that they hate their situations and try to improve, and they want me to pray for them. It’s a little easier to “see Christ” in them as opposed to the drunks and belligerent.

What is really meant by the phrase “to see Christ in the poor?”
 
I heard Mother Teresa say in a video “that whatever we do, no matter what, we do it with Jesus, we it for Jesus, and we do it to Jesus.” So in all reality I guess the disposition of the people does not matter, what matters is that we are doing it.

A Salesian Priest who spent many years teaching in a very well-to-do Catholic school said to us something to this effect:

While I was teaching in that school, I found that these teenagers were very impoverished. They did know the love of God. So I asked that they would send me to the poor projects. I knew for sure they would know the love of God because they were physicallly and economically poor. I found out they were all impoverished, they neither knew Jesus in their wealth or their poverty.

See it doesn’t matter what we think, we are doing or not doing, what matters is we are. Jesus said that we will plant seeds and others will come along and harvest them. You really are not sure of what seeds you are planting by being there. Nor are you sure of what seeds you might be harvesting that others planted before you.

So again, if we are there, God can get us right. Like Peter, he said some really stupid things:blush: But, because he was there - and we are God’s hands and feet - Jesus was able to get him right. :byzsoc: Be at peace and don’t let the darkness drive you away from there.

Here is an interesting blog on Mother Teresa
closedcafeteria.blogspot.com/2007/09/fr-cantalamessa-on-bl-mother-teresa.html
 
We are called to love our neighbour and taught that our neighbour is everyone we happen to come upon.

This includes people with drug addictions, alcoholics, rapists and murderers.

We are to show love especially to those whose behaviour makes them “unlovable”.

To see Christ in the poor, means that we acknowledge they are made in the image and likeness of God, even if they, themselves, do not recognise that fact.
 
I think its great that you are involved in this ministry(yes ministry).Have you ever met a child who said"when I grow up ,I want to be a drug addict,alcoholic,or a prostitute"?None of us have heard a child say this.These people at one time had hope,dreams just like me and you.Satan has them bound,(chained)believing they have no worth,and are of no value,that no one could possibly love them.Our Heavenly Father did not create them this way.We should try to see them the way God created them and wrestle them back from Satan through our prayers and actions.You are doing this and I will be praying for you.🙂
 
Believers or nonbelievers are all God’s children and created in God’s image. That is why Jesus said if we do to the least of our brothers, we do it unto Him. Working with the poor, we follow Jesus’ teaching to reach out to some least of our brothers. Christ is in the poor and suffers with them. When we help the suffering poor, we help the suffering Christ and see Jesus in them.

I used to work in the Soup Kitchen for years. It is a meaningful service. Keep up the good work!
 
I worked in a Franciscan parish with a bag ministry. In other words, I gave canned food to the poor. I encountered the same problem too. How do I find Christ here and how do I endure the cursing and disdain? Some didn’t like the food I gave them and others wanted more than I could give. However, there was one person who said thank you and told me he was finally moving off the streets. I believe I met Christ there in the subtle ordinary grace of someone who decided he had enough. He also said thank you with such sincere gratitude I thought “Lord are you there.” Perhaps I’m embellishing, but the Lord presents himself under the mask of ordinary bread and wine. Why should I expect him to reveal himself in the poor in some flashy sort of way?
 
On a personal experience level, I have never been able to see Christ in the poor and/or in my neighbour.:o Theologically on an intellectual level there may be a case. I can see others as unique creations of God with a unique identity and loved uniquely by God and on that level I can respond lovingly. I cannot help but feel that to love another because of someone else one sees in them, other than who they uiquely are, is somehow to rob them of their identity. Frankly, I would desire to be loved for myself and not because someone saw and loved Christ in me, though I can assent that such would be a great priviledge.

Blessings - Barb:)
 
14er said:
Hi,

I spend about 15 hours a month helping the poor at the local soup kitchen. I have always heard that when one works with the poor, one can see Christ in them. "
Click to expand...
I think we need to practice seeing Christ in everyone, beginning with our own family and those who are part of our lives every day. this ability comes from meditating on His life, which is why the rosary, daily gospel reading or any other method of prayer that is rooted in the gospels is so necessary. When we see a child, we see the Christ Child, when we see someone in great mental anguish, we see Christ in the agony in the garden, when we see someone battling temptation or addiction, we see Christ being tempted in the desert, when we see people celebrating, we see Christ at the wedding in Cana or on other occasions when he met with his friends. and so on. when we see immigrants, we see Christ with his parents fleeing to Egypt, when we see the poor we see Christ wandering about relying on the generosity of his followers, and his words about the poor, and so on.
 
14er said:
Hi,

I spend about 15 hours a month helping the poor at the local soup kitchen. I have always heard that when one works with the poor, one can see Christ in them. That sounds neat, but I don’t get it. I was hoping to understand it when I started, but after 6 months or so, I still don’t understand what that means.

I feel bad about this, but what I mostly see is alcoholism, drug addiction, and laziness. Not always though. I do see that some are so lost and unfortunate, that they hate their situations and try to improve, and they want me to pray for them. It’s a little easier to “see Christ” in them as opposed to the drunks and belligerent.

What is really meant by the phrase “to see Christ in the poor?”
Click to expand...
Jesus words were (are) I came not for those who are well butfor those who are ill. That is not so much in well being money etc but more for those who are or have nothing the needy vagabond those the world has allowed to go between the cracks in the floor. For instance all those yousee how does the world see them?
Look at them again and ask your self how the world sees them thenask how Jesus sees them. Not many care but it only takes you me and others to be the “good semariton” . Sister Therese saw the children the sick and in them she saw Jesus born into a cave with no home buried into a borrowed cave you serve these people, each time you do, you serve Jesus.

God bless
littleone
 
drunks and belligerent.
Click to expand...
I dont think I am a drunkard nor belligerent…but I sure have other faults and failings that I am sure annoy…

Blessings - Barb:)
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
Back
Top