Conference lgp30::christian-perspective

    What to do?  Bring him to the attention of my host.
    
    I don't think it is right to offer the food of my 
    host to someone who isn't invited.  If my host decides
    to invite him then I might welcome him to the feast.

    Depending on how my host reacts I would choose my next
    actions.

    BTW: you never said he was poor, hungry, cold or even
    male.

    Tom

Note 695.1

>    BTW: you never said he was poor, hungry, cold or even
>    male.

I did that on purpose.  All I really want you to comprehend about this
individual is a sense of isolation and perhaps distance.  We might add
that we see this person is not dressed entirely appropriate for an occasion
such as this and that we can tell it's been awhile since this person has
enjoyed a good meal.

This is a question which was proposed by a Roman Catholic priest during
a lenten experience I attended a few years back.

Richard

    re:  .0  Richard
    
    Are you going to relate this to a particular Bible passage?  If so,
    what is it?
    
    
    Steve

    .3  I hadn't planned to, Steve.  You're welcome to check out
        Matthew 25.31-46, however.
    
    Peace,
    Richard

I sense that some may be skeptical about responding to the basenote for
fear of sharing an "incorrect" response.

I assure you, there is only one "incorrect" response, imo.  It's not to be
found among the following:

One might bring the stranger to the attention of one's neighbors at the table
(or host as Tom suggested).

One might suggest a shifting around of chairs to create room at the table
for the stranger.

One might go to the stranger and offer to bring a plate to him or her.

One might take two plates to the stranger and fellowship over the meal
together apart from the other guests at the banquet.

One might excuse oneself from the banquet altogether to stand in solidarity
with the stranger.

There are dozens of possibilities.

Peace,
Richard

Re: .5 Richard

>I sense that some may be skeptical about responding to the basenote for
>fear of sharing an "incorrect" response.

Maybe the problem is that the correct Christian response would be to
invite the stranger to share in the banquet, but the practical response
within our capitalistic society would be to show the stranger to the door.
After all, the stranger was not invited to the banquet and is not paying
for it.

				-- Bob

Ideally, one should see if it is possible for the person to be acommodated
at the banquet.

If this is impractical, make sure the person is treated with respect and
compassion, and provided with food and lodging at an appropriate place.

/john

Re .6

Well, Bob.  There are possibilities there, too.

One might offer to pay (or take up a collection) for the stranger's portion
of the meal.

One might invite the stranger to be one's guest at the MacDonald's
down the street in a an hour or two.

One might invite the stranger into one's home.

Richard

From a sermon of Caesarius, Bishop of Arles [543]

"Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy."  My brothers and
sisters, sweet is the thought of mercy, but even more so is mercy itself.
It is what all hope for, but unfortunately, not what all deserve.  For
while all wish to receive it, only a few are willing to give it.

How can we ask for ourselves what we refuse to give to another?  If we
expect to receive any mercy in heaven, we should give mercy on earth.
Do we all desire to receive mercy?  Let us make mercy our patroness now,
and she will free us in the world to come.  Yes, there is mercy in heaven,
but the road to it is paved by our merciful acts on earth.  As Scripture
says: "Lord, your mercy is in heaven."

There is, therefore, an earthly as well as heavenly mercy, that is to
say, a human and a divine mercy.  Human mercy has compassion on the
miseries of the poor.  Divine mercy grants forgiveness of sins.  Whatever
human mercy bestows here on earth, divine mercy will return to us in our
homeland.  In this life God feels cold and hunger in all who are stricken
with poverty; for, remember, he once said: "What you have done to the
least of my brothers and sisters you have done to me."  Yes, God who sees
fit to give his mercy in heaven wishes it to be a reality here on earth.

What kind of people are we?  When God gives, we wish to receive, but when
he begs, we refuse to give.  Remember, it was Christ who said: "I was
hungry and you gave me nothing to eat."  When the poor are starving,
Christ too hungers.  Do not neglect to improve the unhappy conditions of
the poor, if you wish to ensure that your own sins be forgiven you.
Christ hungers now, beloved; it is he who deigns to hunger and thirst
in the persons of the poor.  And what he will return in heaven tomorrow
is what he receives here on earth today.

What do you wish for, what do you pray for, my dear brothers and sisters,
when you come to church?  Is it mercy?  How can it be anything else?  Show
mercy, then, while you are on earth, and mercy will be shown to you in
heaven.  A poor person asks you for something; you ask God for something.
The poor person begs for a morsel of food; you beg for eternal life.  Give
to the beggar so that you may merit to receive from Christ.  For he it is
who says: "Give and it will be given to you."  It baffles me that you have
the impudence to ask for what you do not want to give.  Give when you come
to church.  Give to the poor.  Give them whatever your resources will allow.

    John,

    re: .9

    Lovely!

    Thanks for entering the extract from that sermon.  I agree with this
    wholeheartedly.  We, as the Body of Christ, are Christ's hands in this
    world.  

    My main challenge is that I do not always *know* what the most loving
    action is.  If we run on "automatic" we may do more harm than good. 
    For example, giving money to a street person is not always in his/her
    best interest.  He/She may use it to finance a drug habit.

    I think this is where prayer and listening to that still small voice
    are vital.  If we truly want to be the Hand of Christ reaching to a
    downtrodden brother or sister, we must also check in with the Mind of
    Christ.

    Ruth