Vision impaired.
There but for the grace of God.
I was reading the account of a person’s trip through the seedy sections of a large city, and I got the impression the writer had been disgusted by what he saw. The men and women were referred to as bums, druggies, and hookers. The writer lives in the suburbs, hence the apparent cultural shock. Most of us who live comfortable, insulated lives experience similar reactions when we are confronted with such ne’er-do-wells. “Low lifes” like these are such that the Pharisees very well would have condemned them and said, as they told the man born blind in today’s Gospel: “You are steeped in sin since your birth…” (Jn. 9:34)
Some of them who thought they were better than others (the Pharisees), said to him, “You are not calling us blind, are you?”
“Jesus said to them, “If you were blind there would be no sin in that. ‘But we see,’ you say, and your sin remains.” (Jn. 9:40-41)
Modern Pharisees can thank God they are not like other lay-abouts, because they have jobs, credit cards, a 401k, health insurance, and homes in the suburbs.
March 2nd, 2008 at 2:49 pm
Terry:
“There but for the Grace of God.” As Catholics how could you look down on your brother in need? Anything could happen to us at any time–we could one day be where they are. The poor, homeless, mentally ill–they are put on the earth to shame the rich, wealthy, and those who have been given great gifts.
My heart aches for them and their suffering–it’s so hard to know how to help them–Mother Teresa knew–she just “did it.”
March 2nd, 2008 at 2:56 pm
An ever increasing number of those Pharisees are closer to the streets than they realize.
March 2nd, 2008 at 10:00 pm
These pharisees don’t realize that everything they own will be left behind the day they are called before their Maker. What will status or money mean then?
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:05 pm
Having done 12th step work for 15 of the almost 18 years I have been in AA I can say with authority that way more people that you ever imagined are just one more drink or drug from that street.
March 3rd, 2008 at 3:42 pm
Adrienne - I never thought of it that way. Thanks.