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.
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.
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.
[13]
Pope Francis, http://www.zenit.org/en/articles/pope-francis-christian-love-is-concrete, accessed on 22/5/2017.
[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.
