update

I just wanted to quickly report that LIHEAP in Pennsylvania is opening for the winter season beginning November 2nd, 2009. This is about a month earlier than was previously anticipated by the newspaper article I posted about over a month ago (September 9th).

This is a good sign for the low-income families of Pennsylvania as we experienced an early cold snap already. The balmy days are currently affording us the opportunity to turn off our heat once again and provide some respite from the financial burden heating a home entails.

Have a blessed day!

“Blessed is the servant who loves his brother as much when he is sick and useless as when he is well and be of service to him.” -St. Francis

Last week I participated in a training for an online program called The Benefit Bank. The program is designed to “close the gap between public funds and people in need.” There are $39 billion in unclaimed benefits for citizens in the United States and only about half of the people that are eligible for Food Stamps are receiving the supplemental income. The Benefit Bank helps people to easily apply for these benefits. Programs like LIHEAP (which I’ve written about in a past blog), SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, aka Food Stamps), TANF (welfare), Medicare/Medicaid, child care subsidies, and rent rebates applications are all accessible.

We recently opened up four internet-capable computers at the Urban Center and we are hoping that by becoming a Benefit Bank center, we can help people to get the assistance they are entitled to. Brother John and I will be sending out flyers to local agencies and churches to inform area providers of the services we offer.

“Go, sell what you have, and give to the poor and you will have treasure in heaven; then come, follow me.”

This past weekend I was blessed to travel to Tampa, Florida to visit friends of mine. I attended Sacred Heart Catholic Church for mass on Sunday, a parish run by the Holy Name Province in downtown Tampa.

The above quote is from the Gospel of Mark, Chapter 10, which was read this past Sunday. If you've ever been to mass, you've probably heard this reading. We hear it all the time, especially among Franciscan circles (who inordinately (just kidding) value poverty). The man to whom Jesus is speaking, we find out, leaves saddened by the newest commandment of discipleship from the Messiah.

While agreeing that “possessions” means tangible, the visiting priest equally argued that perhaps more of what gets in the way of our discipleship of Jesus are the intangible things that we cling to: anger, greed, sadness, prejudices, stereotypes, jealousy, ideologies. It is these things that individually and collectively obscure our ability to be Christ-like and to follow Christ. Fr. Jack posited that when Jesus commanded the man to do this, it was a greater call to abandon everything that makes it hard for us to see Jesus, not just our physical possessions.

Imagine what it would be like, for example, if the national view of welfare shifted from one of a handout to a hand up... if our own greed didn’t impede our ability to give to others who may need it. What if there was no “race card” to be pulled? What if, instead of harboring anger towards a long-lost family member or friend, we sought reconciliation and love?

I think it would be easier to give up all my tangible possessions than to change those things that I have let distance me from others, even if it wasn’t intentional.

So what did I learn on my trip to Tampa? That I want to move there and enjoy the 90 degree weather in October (especially when it’s about 45 degrees here)? Well, yes. But more importantly that perhaps our call to simplicity in discipleship is wrapped more tightly around the soul of each of us and not in our physical possessions. It’s not easy, I’ll give you that. But we were never told it was going to be.

Here are some pictures from my trip, just in case wherever you are, it's raining and you could use some sunshine:

Clearwater Beach, Florida

St. Petersburg at sunset

"Believe in me like I believe in you..."

The following is a music video I recently came across that I thought was really positive and hopeful. Michael Franti has

a song on popular radio right now called "Say Hey" which I also really like. But this song, called "Hey World" paints

a picture of hope. He discusses the various problems that the world is currently facing (child soldiers, disease, etc) but

that there is a level of hope that exists within him. He holds each of us, individuals and the world at large accountable to

each other for change.

Some of his other music is actually quite interesting- he seems to be a rastafarian, but the messages he sends of peace

and love transcend his lifestyle and are applicable even to Christians.

So I ask you to listen to/watch the following video with an open mind. If you don't like it, even if you do, please let me

know!

Here are the lyrics:

"Tell me why the grass was greener
a year ago.
I swear it used to grow here
but no more here.

Tell me why,
on this hill,
all the birds they used to come to fly here,
come to die here.

And tell my why I need to know.
sometimes I wish I didn't have to know
all you show me.

Hey world,
what you say?
Should I stick around for another day or two?
Don't give up on me;
I won't give up on you.
Just believe in me like I believe in...

Tell me why on the corner
all the kids that used to come to run here,
load the guns here.
And tell me why
it's okay
to kill in the name of the gods we pray.

Tell me who said it's okay
to die in the name of the lies we say.
Tell me why there's child soldiers.
Tell me why they closed the borders.
Tell me how to fight disease.
And tell me now won't you please?

The only thing I want to do
is to be in the arms of someone who believes in me
like I believe in you.
I try, try, try, try.
I try, try, try, try for you.
Don't give up on me.
and I cry, cry, cry, cry.
I cry, cry, cry, cry for you.
Just believe in me
like I believe in you."