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TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME SEPTEMBER 1, 2019

Olivia M. Bannan

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke 14:1,7-14

On a sabbath Jesus went to dine at the home of one of the leading Pharisees, and the people there were observing him carefully. He told a parable to those who had been invited, noticing how they were choosing the places of honor at the table.

"When you are invited by someone to a wedding banquet, do not recline at table in the place of honor. A more distinguished guest than you may have been invited by him, and the host who invited both of you may approach you and say, 'Give your place to this man,' and then you would proceed with embarrassment to take the lowest place. Rather, when you are invited, go and take the lowest place so that when the host comes to you he may say, 'My friend, move up to a higher position.' Then you will enjoy the esteem of your companions at the table. For every one who exalts himself will be humbled, but the one who humbles himself will be exalted." Then he said to the host who invited him, "When you hold a lunch or a dinner, do not invite your friends or your brothers or your relatives or your wealthy neighbors, in case they may invite you back and you have repayment. Rather, when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you. For you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."

REFLECTION: ...'when you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind; blessed indeed will you be because of their inability to repay you."

Have you heard of the 3 Step Process? Neither had I till I met Walt P.

1. If your window is rolled down, raise it quickly.

2. Make no eye contact.

3. When that light turns green, quickly go throught the intersection.

And just like that you avoid the uncomfortable, the embarrassment and the acknowledgment that something is wrong. You avoid the homeless, the addict, the mental illness and just that "encounter".

He practiced that process til one day the Lord called him with His plans. The Breaking Bread Homeless Ministries began over 20 years ago. It was started by Walt and has since grown --Walt's mission was to feed the homeless, give them dignity and celebrate life with them, with no judgment.

Every Saturday without fail, Walt and his lovely wife Mary Martha P, work with a group of volunteers, handing out bags of food. The day is started in prayer, and then the first encounter is usually with friends who live under the bridge. They know Walt and his ministry. The homeless sit down with a cup coffee and breakfast. They are given a place of honor at the makeshift breakfast area and they eat, talk, share and discuss the scripture reading from "Our Daily Bread" booklet.

Every Thanksgiving, hundreds of people from the Catholic Charismatic Center, cook turkeys, bring casseroles and pies to feed the homeless. Walt rents china and silverware and the volunteers serve the homeless. Hundreds of homeless are fed and there is always enough food for leftover bags.

My hats off to Walt and his ministry--truly he follows the Lord's advice. Give without expecting anything in return. It is what Jesus does for us. Is it not time for us to do the same?

God Bless


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