Helping without Hurting: Relationships

A Culture of Encounter

One of Pope Francis' favorite catch-phrases is "culture of encounter," especially when applied to those in material poverty or who live on the margins of society. It's hard to understand the reality of poverty from statistics, much less help effectively.

But, as Christians, we are called to love our neighbor, not just help them from afar. How to we treat those in need as fellow children of God with human dignity without meeting them in-person?

Anderson Cooper: How I See Homeless People Now

Filming a story on chronic homelessness, Anderson Cooper interviewed many homeless people, many in the middle of the night and in the parts of town very few frequent. It changed his perspective on the homeless, including a homeless man who camps right outside his house.

Have the Homeless Become Invisible?

In this social experiment by New York City Rescue Mission, unsuspecting people walked by relatives pretending to be homeless. Would they notice their family members? Or have the homeless become invisible?

"When You Meet the Needy, Your Heart Grows Bigger"

As part of a video message to Argentina, Pope Francis spoke about connecting with those in poverty:

What's important is that we don't just look at them from afar or help from afar. No, no! We must reach out to them. This is being Christian! This is what Jesus taught us: to reach out to the needy. Like Jesus who always reached out to the people. He went to meet them. Reaching out to those most in need.

Sometimes, I ask people, "Do you give alms." They say, "Yes, father." "And when you give alms, do you look into the eyes of people you are giving alms to?" "Ah, I do not know, I don't really think about it". "Then you have not reached out to those people. You just tossed them some charity and went away. When you give alms, do you touch their hands or just toss them the coins?". "No, I toss them the coins". "Then you have not touched them. And if you have not touched them, you have not reached out to them." What Jesus teaches us, first of all, is to reach out to each other, and in reaching out, helping one another.

We must be able to reach out to each other. We must build, create, construct a culture of encounter.... With those who are going through a bad time, far worse than what I'm going through.

Photo licensed from YayImages (22005454)

There is always someone who is having [it] worse, eh? Always! There is always someone. So, I think, "I'm going through a bad time, I line up to encounter San Cayetano and with Jesus and then go out to encounter others, because there is always someone who is having it worse than me." To these people, it is to these people that we have to reach out....

When you meet those most in need, your heart will begin to grow bigger, bigger and bigger! Because reaching out multiplies our capacity to love. An encounter with others makes our heart bigger.

Also See: FIGHTING POVERTY REQUIRES 'CULTURE OF ENCOUNTER'

Read at CatholicNewsAgency.com

Statue Of A Homeless Jesus Startles A Wealthy Community

A new religious statue in the town of Davidson, N.C., is unlike anything you might see in church. The statue depicts Jesus as a vagrant sleeping on a park bench.

Get To KNow a Person in Poverty

Creating a culture of encounter requires more than just organizing drives. It might even mean learning a name or two.

About 10 years ago, during a college Christmas break, I spent a couple of days with a group of classmates at a Franciscan community of priests and brothers in the South Bronx. One night we packed a van with sandwiches and a tank of hot chocolate, and a friar named Brother Giuseppe drove us down to Lower Manhattan. We parked and unloaded at a street corner where the Franciscans spend time with the homeless all year round.

Within a few minutes, people began to gather. We handed out sandwiches and chatted. A middle-aged man came up to me, smiled, and reached out his hand. “Jian,” he said.