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Sheltering the Homeless - St. Mother Theresa


Introduction

Everyone wants to experience some amount of care, concern or personal interest from seniors, superiors or the manager of a company. Without care and concern it would be hard for any individual to live out one’s own life and family happily. At the same time, both the society and the family reject the one who does not conform to the existing setup and consider him / her a misfit. In this connection, the poorest have no place to lay down their heads and they have no voice to raise. It is very common to see the poor young and the old on the streets, bus and railway stations. There is no one to care for them or nobody has a heart to listen to the cries of the unfortunate brethren. It is painful to mention an incident that took place in Delhi. In the year 2016 August 10, a 56 years old security guard was hit by a tempo and left there to die. According to the police report after verifying the CCTV of that area stated that within half an hour time, that same road there were some 140 cars, 80 three wheelers and 181 bikes passed on but no one cared for that person. If someone attended to do something that security guard would have been saved, but several individuals moved as heartless bye-passers. Similarly, hundreds of homeless individuals die each year from diseases, untreated medical conditions, lack of nutrition, starvation, and freezing to death. Homeless people suffer from a lack of access to regular bathing, unable to obtain sufficient levels of sleep. They have great trouble finding storage locations for their belongings. There are now several homeless shelters as ‘Rescue Homes’ which provide temporary residence, typically operated for specific circumstances. In this article let me briefly explain the practice of care for the homeless and its importance. Every individual should be given due respect and dignity as human person, since all are created in the image and likeness of God.

Biblical Understanding

In the Bible, especially in the OT, one can find that the desire for external ritual and fasting contrasts with Yahweh’s desire for compassion toward the poor. The compassion of God is seen in the writings of prophet Isaiah 58:7 “Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and bring the homeless poor into your house” invites everyone to experience the care and concern towards the people who do not experience in their life. Moreover, the people of Israel were very much worried in observing the law of fasting but neglected the afflicted and needy amidst them. It is clear that observing the fast and neglecting the poor pervert reality of a religion, instead fasting should enable the people to share the resources with the poor and the needy and to look God as the source of life and nourishment. Similarly in the NT, Matthew 25.35 “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me”, reveals to us the undoubtable presence of Christ in the poor. Further, the words of Jesus “I was hungry, I was naked, I was sick and whatever you did it to the least of my brethren you did it to me” (Mt 25:35-40), was the primary invitation of Jesus. Throughout the history of the humankind and of the Church, the Spirit of God has inspired men and women to dedicate themselves for the poor by sharing and in participating in their sufferings and in their pains. In this way, the Spirit makes present God’s love for mankind. This is the call to transform the person to be a sharer in the life and spirit of God.

Understanding of Kindness

The basic and important requisite for any individual to express one’s care and concern towards the needy and the poor should grow in kindness, humility, poverty and simplicity of life. In this sense, kindness is a personal quality that enables an individual to be sensitive to the needs of others. It is more than just being nice and agreeable. In this sense, Pope Francis explains “Tenderness is the love that comes close and becomes real. It is a movement that starts from our heart and reaches the eyes, the ears and the hands”[1]. It is both a quality of one’s being and one’s behaviour. Kind people show their strength in character, generous feelings towards others, not wanting others to suffer and act from concern for others. A kind person views the happiness of another as if it were his own and treating others as he would like to be treated. Kindness according to James Kroeger is “God’s love in deeds”,[2] which comprises a sense of ethical and the traits of honesty, friendliness, generosity, compassion, goodness, justice and caring.[3] It is described as an overflow of a thoughtful and selfless love into a realm of speech and action. In this regard, Mother Teresa says “Be the living expression of God’s kindness: kindness in your eyes; on your face and in your smile”[4]. It is kindness and humility brought many people to encounter Jesus, and should not be spoiled by one’s own selfishness rather should transform the individual to share.

Moreover, Pope Francis encouraged “We need to make God’s mercy and tenderness for every creature visible to the humanity of our day”.[5] Everyone should experience the greatest tenderness and the grace of God, and the same experience must be shared with the people whom one meets and relates. Following the footsteps of Jesus, the Church always continues to be a companion to the poorest of the poor. Coming closer to the poor and coming closer to Jesus need an open heart for an individual. This type of closeness with the poor will make the entire humanity friends to one another and will enhance the human community with proper dignity of the human person.

Life of Humility

          The important and essential thing to have such closeness with the poor is centred on the virtue of humility. Pope Francis clearly indicates “Humility and tenderness are not virtues of the weak but of the strong”,[6] and this is possible only by the wisdom of God from above. Moreover, James in his letter lists that a person who is humble will be full of mercy, peaceable, gentle, constant and sincere (James 3.17). Jesus was certainly merciful, gracious and abounding in steadfast love and fidelity. In this regard, Francis Xavier writes in his book: “There are three signs essential to understand genuine humility: they are respect and obedience to the superiors; joyous acceptance of all humiliations; charity towards poor and the needy”.[7] Therefore, all three things are interconnected. Life of humility will enhance an individual to have solidarity with everyone in the society.

Solidarity and Sensitive to the Needs of the Poor

            The entire human community should be sensitive to the needs of the other. The culture of selfishness and individualism cannot create a human community but the element of love must rule. In this regard, Pope Francis highlights “The culture of solidarity that sees others not as rivals but brothers and sisters would make our earthily living that no one is disposable”.[8]  By hearing the voice of the poor and understanding the heart of the poor, one can establish intimate union with Jesus. Indeed, the love of Jesus is the source to feel one with the poor and the needy. Jesus denounced the enslaving structures and liberated the individual from selfishness, fear, worry, greed, bitterness, hatred which enslave the human person. However, God does not wish that human beings are to be oppressed but should enjoy perfect freedom. Sensitivity to the needs of the poor will make the individual to be one with the suffering humanity. Only the real human heart will realize and understand the sufferings and the pain of the individual. Moreover, the deep rooted spiritual power and strength will make the individual to be sensitive to the needs of the poor. The human person can experience and share love and compassion with one another.

            In this connection, one cannot forget what Cardinal Angelo Sodano expressed during the funeral ceremony of Saint Mother Teresa: “Let our hearts be filled with genuine love. When we learn to see others as our brothers and sisters then the entire humanity will learn the ways of peace, then truly we have done something beautiful for God”.[9] Similarly, Giuliano Vigini writes “The poor are the privileged teachers of the knowledge of God; their frailty and simplicity unmask the selfishness, false security. They guide to experience God’s closeness and tenderness and to receive his love in our lives”.[10] Solidarity is the necessary response to violations of human dignity. In this sense, Pope Francis explains, “Solidarity is a term that many wish to erase from the dictionary. It is not an automatic mechanism but a free response born from the heart of each and every one”.[11]  Every human person needs to empower one another to attain full potential through respecting the dignity of the human person. In addition to this, Pope Francis encourages, “Solidarity is a way of making history with the poor, apparently, the altruistic works that reduce the other to indifference”.[12] It is by this one is called to build up the Kingdom of God by combating the selfishness of the human person, and to encourage and to promote the solidarity between people. It is a matter of creating a culture of solidarity for real humanity. Such a great responsibility will make the world a better place for everyone to live in. Further, Pope Francis explains the two fundamental criteria for love to be concrete: not purely with words but in actions; and by giving than receiving.[13] Thus it is clear that one, who loves, gives of himself to God and to others. Instead, the one who does not love always looks to receive, to have things and to have the advantages for oneself right from the womb to the tomb.

Prophetic Actions – The Way of Jesus

            The FABC document clearly points out “The proclamation of Jesus primarily relies in the witness of Christian communities through the practices of the values of the Kingdom of God and therefore it is a proclamation through Christ-like deeds”.[14] The life and activities of Jesus one can notice that is centred on the poor and the marginalized and the weaker sections of the society. Jesus during his ministry moved and related with the weaker sections were rejected and not accepted by the society. Indeed, real love for God will naturally enhance the individual to move beyond the boundaries and to act according to the plan of God. In addition, the Synoptic Gospels present the life of Jesus as one of self-chosen poverty (Mt 8:20; Lk 9:58) and the entire life of Jesus was identified with the poor. He emptied himself taking the form of a servant. In the modern world, the gap between the poor and the rich is growing wider and the number of the poor is increasing even with all the scientific and technological development. Moreover, the Christians in India engaged in the mission work of God are a small group; and the number of the poor in India is exceedingly great. It is in reciprocity between word and witness in which God himself communicated through the incarnation of his Word,[15] who became poor and upheld the blessedness of being poor (Lk 4:18-21; Is 61:1-3). It is very clear that the authority understood by Jesus is ‘service, humility and love’.[16] On the contrary, the present society often expresses heartless and compassionless attitudes towards the poor and the needy. The Church should go in the same road that Christ went namely the road of poverty, obedience, love, service, and self-sacrifice even unto death opting openly and decisively for the poor.[17] By taking care of the sick, poor and the disabled, the Church involves in the struggle for justice, peace and integrity. This is to enter the logic of Jesus who washed the feet of his disciples through love and service. And hence, the Church’s primary path of mission shall be the same as that of Jesus who became the voice of the voiceless. In this respect, Pope Francis underlines, “No one is excluded from God’s love. The Church is sent to reawaken where it has been suffocated by difficult and inhuman living conditions. We need the fresh air of the Gospel to rekindle in the hearts of the people”.[18] Thus the values of the Gospel are the binding force for everyone to grow in human love. The detachment of heart is the necessary step for commitment and completely available to Jesus through service to the poorest of the poor. In this context of practice of care one cannot forget Saint Mother Teresa, who worked in India. Looking into the Indian context there may be other great saints and blessed persons but the life and the different loving services of Mother Teresa really attracts me. Thus I have the specific reason to mention here in this article. She did not worry about her safety and security rather entrusting herself completely and totally to God alone. This complete surrender made her to work for the poor and the needy.


            Mother Teresa started to work in the slum called Motijhil in Kolkata and came to be known all over the world as the Mother of the poor. She understood in her personal life that the act of conversion is the work of God and not the work of human person. She was a witness amidst all sorts of people and of God’s love for all human being without any discrimination. She shared the sufferings of the poor and showed tenderness of God with them. Therefore, Mother engaged herself with Christ-like deeds of love and care and transmitted that same love to the deprived and to the destitute. She cultivated the acts of charity and shared them with the needy. She manifested her love through her actions in an ordinary and in simple ways.
           
However, the service of Mother Teresa to the poorest of the poor transcends the barriers of caste, creed, colour, culture, ethnicity, language and nation. Therefore, she launched deeper into the lives of the people by identifying herself with the poor of the locality, their culture, and language and food habits of the place.  It is evidently clear that the motherly touch had a healing effect, her kind words soothed feelings of the poor and her compassionate look dispelled the gloom of grief and pain. Her diminutive figure and fragile frame became a beacon of hope for the hopeless. Moreover, Mother always reflected “To see Jesus in the person of the poor the necessity of purity of heart is essential”,[19] to transmit that same love for the poor.
 Love of God has been manifested to each and every one. To satisfy the hunger of God, Mother went to the slums and to the streets not as a teacher but as a poor witness of Jesus to proclaim through her silent contemplation and her personal experience of God’s love through her presence.[20] Any service done without love does not have its value. In the modern world one could notice that people do a lot of services for the welfare of the poor. In all sorts of actions, one should know how much love is inserted in them. Mother Teresa had universal outlook to actualize the love of God in and through her services so that the whole humanity can enjoy the real joy and peace. However, Mother emphasized that religion should not be the dividing force in the human society. Moreover, in all the religions, one can perceive that God calls every individual to love and to share that love.

Sheltering the Homeless

The preferential option of the Church to serve the poor, the sick and the marginalized has made a significant impact on the lives of the people. At the national level in India, the CBCI Commission for Health and the Catholic Health Care Association (CHAI) and various professional bodies give direction and help to coordinate the ministry. Health care[21] is in a unique position to bear witness to God’s love. Mother Teresa frequently repeated, “The greatest disease in the modern society is to be unwanted, unloved, just left alone, and thrown away by the family and the society”.[22] Amidst these types of hardships and sufferings, the poor were extended a helping hand through the charitable activities to have the experience of the love of God.
 
            The greatness of humanity is seen in the life and activities of great people. Through the spiritual nourishment and prayers, Mother Teresa made the poor dying and the destitute to recognize the presence of God in their lives. There were desperately poor, victims of malnourishment and illness in the big city of Kolkata and they were left to die in loneliness on the roadside and on the market places. There was not even a single person besides the sick at the movement of their death though their own sons and daughters lived in a wealthy situation. However, amidst the busiest market place and the premise of the famous Hindu Kali temple the sick, the poor, the needy and the abandoned are taken care. For her “This was the living Tabernacle of the suffering Christ”,[23] and a Calvary present today, a sacred place.[24] In this house, the inmates get free basic medical attention for festering body sores and gangrene; they are washed, fed, consoled, encouraged and prepared to die peacefully.[25] Besides, Pope John Paul II when visited this place stated “It is a place of suffering, a house familiar with anguish and pain, a home for destitute and dying, at the same time it is a place of hope, a house built on courage and faith, a home where love reigns, a home filled with love”.[26] This was the first hospice to welcome, treat, clean the abandoned dying on the streets of Kolkata. Moreover, she instructed her followers that one needs to go with clean hands to touch the broken bodies and with clean tongues to speak the words of comfort, faith and love.[27]The poor are treated even now as the guests of honour in that house. It is a place for the destitute and the dying which produces joy that confronts human logic. Further she acclaimed “Every day we are visited by Jesus in the abandoned one. We welcome and serve them with joy, we clean them, listen with joy and prepare them to return to God with joy in their heart”.[28] Due to this, Mother Teresa was very much accepted, loved and respected by the Hindus.

In this sense, Mother enlightened, “Love does not live on words nor can it be explained by words but real love serves Him and loves Him in others”.[29] Thus, charity makes present Christ and to contribute most effectively his reign in all the hearts of the individuals. Real love does not feel any burden, does not complain the impossibilities but does everything. The main aim of care for the poor is to restore the dignity of the human person, transform the human society, to create the universal brotherhood and thus to experience the love of God to the entire creation without any discrimination in the human society and to be sensitive to the needs of the poor.


The Second Vatican Council enriched the entire humanity. “All men are endowed with a rational soul and are created in God’s image; they have the same nature and origin and being redeemed by Christ, they enjoy the same divine calling and destiny, there is a basic equality between all men”.[30] These are not separate entity but integral aspects of human life. The harsh realities of life lie in restoring the dignity of the poor, the sick and the dying. Such a universal love attracts many people irrespective of caste, creed or nationality. In this connection, Leela states “All human life is precious in whatever condition it is found from the womb to the tomb”.[31] The dignity for human person is granted by God himself and therefore there cannot be any hindrance in this regard. 

The human society must feel the need to be transformed then only the human community will feel that oneness with everyone. Especially, in the Indian context, poverty exists widely and often the poor become the victims of oppression and misery. The values of the Gospel must be kept up for the transformation of the society. As well, the human society must experience the human love amidst difficulties and thus make the individual to collaborate for the transformation of the society. Thus, the human community can become a source of joy and happiness by sharing the joy of being human with each other and to work for what is good for the entire humanity and to promote the common good of the society.


            By nature, human beings are restricted by themselves in relationships and do not mix up with everyone freely rather focusing on the differences everyone tries to keep away from one another. Thus, the mutual love and the reciprocal respect is not cultivated within the human society. Moreover, due to lack of respect for one another there exists hatred feeling towards the neighbour. Thus, the human person begins to alienate the other person even within the family and in the society at large. Therefore, the loss of love is the root cause of human values and creates lots of tension and suffering in the human communities. The human society needs to agree on the power and the grace of God to realize that all the members of the society are equally treated. Thus, it is universal brotherhood, which is a way of life in the modern society. It is not merely to be preached by word, but it is an essential part of the very conduct and behaviour. Every individual should cultivate within one’s own heart that all are equal and created in the image and likeness of God. There is no one on the earth as a stranger for one another and the entire world is a house and all the human persons form one human family. In this regard, Pope Francis said “Earth is the common home for the entire humanity”.[32] Thus everyone is invited to protect the bond of unity and love at a larger level

Promoting a Civilization of Love

            The modern society needs to promote the civilization of love in order to recognize the entire human society as one family. Love does not have a specific knowledge of a language, but real love can understand the heart of the individual. There was no hesitation for Mother Teresa in working for the promotion of the civilization of love in the society. She did not consider anything as an obstacle for herself in proclaiming the love of Christ, even though there were several oppositions from the fanatics and criticized her work. The service and the practice of care of Mother is purely based on love for one another as Jesus.

Conclusion

            The world is becoming more and more wide due to the effects of globalization, information and technological developments, resulting in a breakdown in moral value system and draining away concern and compassion from the hearts of human person. God is present in everything and everywhere. And this God can be loved only through his creatures, men and women. One cannot love God or meet him apart from His creatures. Indeed St. Mother Teresa was a great woman she was able to launch deeper into the lives of the people by identifying herself with the poor and the needy. It is love, kindness, compassion and the tenderness of heart made her to understand the power of God to find a shelter for the homeless. The most important expression for understanding of mercy goes beyond mere emotion and grief. This is God’s free and gracious turning towards the human person with care and concern.






[1] Pope Francis, “Revolution of Tenderness” L’Osservatore Romano, No. 17, April 2017, p. 6.
[2] James Kroeger, H., “Kindness: God’s Love in Deeds”, Mission Today, Vol. 12 (2010) No. 3, p. 249.
[3] James Kroeger, H., “Kindness: God’s Love in Deeds”, p. 250.
[4] Mother’s Letter, May 1964.
[5] Pope Francis, “The Fresh Air of the Gospel”, L’Osservatore Romano, No. 42 (October 2013), p. 5.
[6] Pope Francis, Evangelli Gaudium, No. 288.
[7] Francis Xavier, Mother Teresa: An Inspiration for Self-improvement, Bangalore: ATC Publications, 2012, p. 148.
[8] Pope Francis, “No One is Disposable”, L’Osservatore Romano, No. 31 (July 2013), p. 6.
[9] Angelo Sodano, “It is More Blessed to Give Than to Receive: The Funeral Mass for Mother Teresa”, L’Osservatore Romano, No. 38 (September 1997), p. 2.
[10] Giuliano Vigini, Pope Francis: The Church of Mercy, Bangalore: ATC, 2014, p. 120.
[11] Pope Francis, “Revolution of Tenderness” L’Osservatore Romano, No. 17, April 2017, p. 6.
[12] Pope Francis, “True Friends of the Poor”, L’Osservatore Romano, No. 50, December 2014, p. 13.
[14] FABC, BIRA IV/2”, In For All the Peoples of Asia, The Church in Asia: Asian Bishops’ Statements on Mission, Community and Ministry, Social Action, Lay Apostolate, Dialogue 1974-1986 Vol. 1, Philippines: IMC Publications, 1987, Pp. 281-282.
[15] Pope Benedict XVI, Verbum Domini, No. 97.
[16] Pope Benedict XVI, “On Authority as Service”, Vatican City: January 30, 2012, http://www.zenit.org/article-34205?l=english, accessed on June 15, 2017. Corresponding to Jesus’ options who addressed himself and gave privileged value to the marginalized poor, socio-economically and religiously marginalized. This corresponds to the reversal of the concept of power and authority which he proposed: first as last and last as first, serving and not being served.
[17] Pope John Paul II, RM, No. 39.
[18] Pope Francis, “The Fresh Air of the Gospel”, L’Osservatore Romano, No. 42 (October 2013), p. 5.
[19] Constitutions of the Missionaries of Charity, No. 70.
[20] Constitutions of the Missionaries of Charity, No. 107.
[21] Cf. G.D. Revindran, “The Light of Jesus Shines through Health Services”, in Vijay Shantiraj, Prabhu Yesu Mahotsav: First Indian Mission Congress, Bangalore: Commission for Proclamation CCBI, 2010, Pp. 162-164 states that a Portuguese missionary established the first Catholic hospital in 1550 then health care institutions have spread all over the country. According to the health directory, there are 764 hospitals, 2587 dispensaries and health centers, 70 rehabilitation centers, 108 centers for the mentally challenged, 162 non-formal health facilities, 165 leprosaria, 418 health care centers for the aged, 61 centers for alternate systems of cure, 113 medical training centers and 5 medical colleges. 85 % of the healthcare facilities offered by the Church in India are in remote villages.
[22] Mary Kathleen, Teresa of Kolkata: A Biography, New York: Aladdin Paperbacks, 2006, p. 77; See also Mother’s Instructions, 5th October, 1984 stated that when Mother along with some of her sisters went to Banaras, where the Hindu go to die. There is a big veranda facing the river Ganges. There were several old dying people. When Mother met an old lady eaten up by worms and she told Mother do not touch, for I am a Brahmin. Mother replied I am a Brahmin = a person consecrated to God, then only she allowed Mother.
[23]Mother’s Letter, 8th February, 1981.
[24]Mother’s Letter, 21st September, 1981.
[25] Mary Kathleen, Teresa of Kolkata: A Biography, p. 68.
[26]Pope John Paul II, “Pope’s Visit to Nirmal Hriday: Every Person is Precious in the Eyes of God”, L’Osservatore Romano, No. 6 (February 1986), p. 8.
[27]Mother’s Letter, January 15, 1981.
[28] Francis Xavier, Mother Teresa: An Inspiration for Self-improvement, p. 48.
[29]Mother’s Letter, 22nd March, 1981.
[30]Gaudium et Spes, No. 29.
[31] Leela Moozhayil, Remembering Mother Teresa: Queen of the Poor, Mumbai: Pauline Publications, 2008. p. 29.
[32] Pope Francis, Laudato Si, No. 13.

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