Well, the time of the year came around again when we performed our White Castle Feed the Homeless Run. I would have to say that it was a great success in the sense that we raised $263.00 which allowed us to hand out 300 burgers spread over 75 packaged meals that included burgers, chips and soda. This was the most we've every been able to prepare. Yes, in this sense it was a great success.
However, in regards to the willingness of Orthodox Seminarians to actually put the Gospel into practice in their daily lives, it was a HORRIBLE FAILURE. I say this because out of approx. 120 seminarians studying for priesthood and various other positions in the church, we had to beg people to help with the distribution. It was even harder to get people involved than last time we did this. Although the monetary donations were generous, they came from a very small and dedicated group of people. If we actually had the whole student body contribute, the result would have been astronomical.
But lets get back to giving up one's time. I mean, I know that people are busy and have essays to write (as if the people who actually went live on another planet and do not have essays), but lets face it the majority of people procrastinate when it comes to work and then they have the audacity to tell me that they decide on the morning of the homeless run that they need to buckle down and do their essay. C'mon people, who are you kidding. Just tell me the truth; you don't wanna go and you'll gladly give me money to go away. I've heard every excuse in the book from choir practice to laundry day. As if any of these things have to do with salvation or the person who is starving on the street. I mean really, I think that the choir will understand if one misses so they can feed the homeless. What's disturbing is that all these people are the future leaders of the church who will be great at preaching the social gospel but never practicing it. Unless it's convenient of course. If you got no time to come and feed the poor and then you ask me if I wanna see a movie tonight, there's something seriously wrong.
Now I know I am no saint and God knows I am lazy and gluttonous and probably self righteous, but that doesn't change the truth of what I am saying. As Orthodox Christians, especially ones at seminary, we should be clearing our desks when it comes to feeding the homeless, or any other social activity for that matter. NO EXCUSES! That' why next time we're going during exam week, just to piss everyone off. If we can't prioritize when the pressure is on, than we will never do it as priests. That's all.
Oh, and just in case the message was not clear enough in the above paragraphs, what I am saying is POOR PEOPLE ARE MORE IMPORTANT THAN ESSAYS, EXAMS, OR GOOD GRADES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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1 comment:
Bro,
You make some good points and your wording reminds me of the Lord’s Parable of the Great Banquet (Luke 14:15-24). And the Lord said, “A certain man was preparing a great banquet and invited many guests. At the time of the banquet he sent his servant to tell those who had been invited, ‘Come, for everything is now ready.’
“But they all alike began to make excuses. The first said, ‘I have just bought a field, and I must go and see it. Please excuse me.’
“Another said, ‘I have just bought five yoke of oxen, and I'm on my way to try them out. Please excuse me.’
“Still another said, ‘I just got married, so I can't come.’
“The servant came back and reported this to his master. Then the owner of the house became angry and ordered his servant, ‘Go out quickly into the streets and alleys of the town and bring in the poor, the crippled, the blind and the lame.’
“ ‘Sir,’ the servant said, ‘what you ordered has been done, but there is still room.’
"Then the master told his servant, “Go out to the roads and country lanes and make them come in, so that my house will be full. I tell you, not one of those men who were invited will get a taste of my banquet.’”
I am nobody, but if I was there right now you would have had my help in handing out the food. If you are ever in the Greater Vancouver area again, call me up. I know where the homeless hang out—in my neighborhood in Surrey (it’s the ghetto) and on Granville Street near the skytrain station in Vancouver. And instead of burgers, we also have this great little pizza place on Granville as well.
God Bless always :)
Simeon aka Neo
PS Check out my blog, http://theologicaldisciple.blogspot.com/
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