Spiritual Reflection

Homeless Jesus – sculpture by Ontario based Timothy Schmalz

Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?’
And the king will answer them, ‘Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.’
Matthew 25: 37-40

We decide to keep our path, our anxiety increases, why?
As we pass, what do we do?
What do we say?
Do we give them money or even better, go and buy them a warm drink or a small meal?
I have no time, I'm running late.
Maybe they are drug affected.
Better to look the other way, or even better, I'll check my phone as I walk past.
I'm a good person, but what do I do?

What would you do if, as you approached the homeless person on the street, you received a text from God saying this person was Jesus?

What would you feel, think, say and do?

Social Justice Sunday in 2025 will be observed on 31 August 2025. This annual event, a tradition in the Australian Catholic Church since 1940, is when the Catholic Bishops release a statement addressing a key social justice issue. This year’s statement focuses on the experiences of people living with homelessness and mental ill-health.

“The people on the edges have much to teach us. In their difficulties, they know the suffering Christ. We need to let ourselves be evangelised by them. The new evangelisation is an invitation to put them at the centre of the Church’s pilgrim way. We are called to find Christ in them, to lend our voice to their causes, but also to be their friends, to listen to them, to speak for them and to embrace the mysterious wisdom which God wishes to share with us through them."

Pope Francis.
Evangelii Gaudium, No. 198

“This year’s Social Justice Statement calls us to follow the example of Jesus, who always noticed, listened to, and cared for those on the edge of society. Just as Jesus healed the blind man Bartimaeus (Mark 10:46–52), we are called to see and respond to the needs of our sisters and brothers living in hardship.”

Points to Ponder

In this year of Jubilee, how will we be people of hope for the homeless and those with mental ill-health?
What does hope look like for those who need our compassion?
How can we notice, know and serve our homeless in our communities?
How do we love our neighbour as ourselves when our neighbour is homeless or with mental ill-health?
If a home is a place of refuge, safety, nourishment and growth, how can we be a ‘home’ to others in our community?