I’m preaching an old sermon this Sunday; it’s entitled, “Street People.” The sermon is about the Good Samaritan parable and how it might be applied to daily life. This message got a fair amount of feedback at the time, and a version was eventually published in the Christian Century magazine.
I rarely repeat sermons, as the context of sermons changes so rapidly that God’s message to a given moment may not apply to a different moment, even a few years later.
But I am curious to see how my early-90’s thoughts stand the test of time today, when we in Manhattan are facing a new flood of street people. Pope Francis recently had some noble words about always engaging in some way with beggars on the street. Many of us (who spend a lot more time navigating popular thoroughfares than the Pope does) may find his advice inadequate.
That said, I am still thinking about the proper Christian response to people on the street. —J. Douglas Ousley
Tags: neighborhood, outreach, Pope, social issues
Doug,
I think this is the most important issue of our time and I don’t think will improve with time. I believe the homeless in the NYC of the future will overwhelmingly be from our undocumented population. I believe Pope Francis is leaningtoward , don’t pretend they are not there. I have at least $1.00 a day budgetted to give a homess person, I make sure I look them in the eye and wish them well when I do it. I think that is what Francis means…..
Hearing your sermon this morning at the 11 am service was thought provoking and timely. As I passed by a very sad young man, homeless and asleep on the corner of 34th and Madison on the way to service this morning I was confronted with the feelings the sermon explored; mainly what should my response be. I saw my own stepson in this young man and I spent the hour of grace at IC contemplating what I should do. Your sermon put forth the exact feelings I struggle with, the guilt of not responding to each person in need. And the frustration of the not really being able to solve to complex human suffering with a quick handout. Thank you Doug for bringing up this difficult topic with insight, grace, and courage to discuss the many facets of the issue of homelessness.
There is a fellow who always stands outside Pret a Mange on 39th Street with a paper cup in his hand, and I always give him at least a dollar. To give to those less fortunate than you is a part of being a caring and responsible human being, especially in a place as big and vast (and, at times, difficult) as Manhattan.