On the third Sunday of Advent I presided the celebration of Mass at the Cathedral. Third Sundays of the month are led by the CWL (Catholic Womens League) sodality. They do the readings and join the choir for the hymns.
This Sunday, though, during the offertory, each one of them joined the procession carrying a bucket. The photo above shows just a few buckets but have a look at the photo below and you will get an idea of how many buckets were placed in front of the altar!
They do it always. Each bucket is filled with some food and toiletries and will be taken to one of our families.
While receiving the buckets a biblical passage came to my mind: “When you host a dinner or a banquet, do not invite your friends or brothers or relatives or rich neighbors. Otherwise, they may invite you in return, and you will be repaid. But when you host a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind, and you will be blessed, because they cannot repay you." (Lk 14: 12 - 14) I told them so before the final blessing when I asked them to join me at the altar.
The truth is that this is not the only place where it happens or the only group who does it. By chance I came across the photos of the Christmas' event for the poor and the elderly organised by St Vincent the Paul at Mater Dolorosa Parish (Mbabane).
They look after the poor in their area all year round but a couple of times' a year they organised a special event for them.
These and many others are not "exceptions" or "unique events" in the year. They never appear in any media (hardly ever in our social media either!). They are the regular expression of a faith that always calls us to welcome Jesus in those with whom He himself chose to identify with.
They look after the poor in their area all year round but a couple of times' a year they organised a special event for them.
These and many others are not "exceptions" or "unique events" in the year. They never appear in any media (hardly ever in our social media either!). They are the regular expression of a faith that always calls us to welcome Jesus in those with whom He himself chose to identify with.
