02-20-25

ECCLESIOLOGICAL ETCHINGS
February 20, 2025
It is a cold morning! After our last blast, I was sort of hoping we were done with the below-freezing stuff. Like many of you, I covered certain plants that don’t like the hard freeze. As I covered my rather tall olive tree, it got me to thinking about how little work I do in making sure the unhoused on our streets are well covered. There was a sudden heaviness that came over me. Am I more concerned about my olive tree than I am the person I saw back in the park on Sunday afternoon? Yesterday afternoon, I gave away a pair of gloves and a blanket I had in my office, but to be honest, it felt sort of shallow. The prophets seemed to suggest that a society is judged by how it does in caring for the most vulnerable. We have some amazing programs, including Hope Center and NAM, but we need to do more. A lack of good mental health programs is also concerning, leaving so many on the streets or in unsafe situations where they are easily exploited. I don’t intend for this to be depressing. In fact, I hope to inspire us all to consider a small act of kindness today that could provide encouragement and support to someone in need; someone needing some advocacy. 

Lord of Heaven and Earth, with so many people in need, let us never become so overwhelmed that we lose sight of what we can do. And for many of us, there are places where we can stretch ourselves even more for the sake of the most vulnerable. Be our guide! Amen.