The Homeless Calling?

[MithLuin]

Rich Mullins is also someone worth checking out.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DVhOWDyOLVo

The song starts at 3:55-6:30.


Death is something that's going to happen to all of us, no matter what. It's also true that if you're reckless, you're more likely to run into it sooner. Counseling someone to be wise is not unChristian or too timid. After all, wisdom is something associated with the Holy Spirit, and the Bible tells us to seek after her above most other gifts.

The reason martyrdom is so special is because our lives are so valuable. You're giving up something [i]extremely[/i] precious. Throwing your life away would be not only rash, but devaluing God's gift to us.

The opening poster mentioned a lot of discernment that went into this. People have just followed that up with advice on how to continue that discernment. Seeking out spiritual direction is good advice for most anyone.

[kafka]

let me put it this way.

All major and minor actions or commitments of man have moral consequences or effects which are good and bad. A banal example would be deciding to eat a slice of pizza. The pizza lacks good nutrition however it is delicious and might raise one's spirit. So occasionally eating pizza the good would outweigh the bad. If one chose only to eat pizza at every meal the bad consequences would outweigh the good, therefore it would be morally wrong. Another example would be driving to the grocery store to buy groceries. There are potential bad consequences to that action such as a car accident, however sustaining oneself outweighs potential harm is this case.

Making a decision to follow Christ in a radical way brings an interesting dilemna since there are spiritual consequences as well as physical consequences. The spiritual consequences are uncertain since they cannot be sensed or foreseen because of our fallen state, however the physical consequences are clearer to one's mind. So what has to be present is Faith. There is a certain risk and darkness one plunges into when following Christ and this is true even for Christians who genuinely follow Christ in a less radical way. One must completely entrust himself to God and rely on God's grace, providence and will according to the judgment of his conscience in his particular situation.

Now let us analyse Saint Francis. When he decided to sell all his possessions and give to the poor in order to follow Christ and preach the Gospel, he probably aware of the fact that he would have to undergo some physical sufferings such as hunger, cold, psychological sufferings of doubt, bearing the ridicule of others, no money, no children, etc, yet there is no possible way he could foresee the immense spiritual benefits he won for himself and others. In the beginning he probably had a basic plan (he didnt intend to begin a religious order), yet there is no way he could know where his original decision would take him. So his decision was based on an Act of Faith, complete trust and confidence in God. It is called being a fool for Christ and takes a certain sort of wisdom which transcends worldly wisdom.

He remained faithful. He followed God's providence and will imperfectly for a while, and the eventual spiritual as well as physical benefits poured out upon man via his decision and faithfulness are innumerable. They still endure and will endure forever.

So my point is that one must weigh the consequences for oneself when following Christ in some radical form according to God's grace/providence/will. A spiritual director could be a providential.

Edited October 22, 2009 by kafka

[alleros]

This idea causes concerns, as many others have said so clearly and ccgently here.

We all and each need to eat and to have a safe place to sleep.

And not to become a physical burden to others, if we can do else.

It is about love, love and caring for others, consideration.

Jesus when He was teaching large crowds, was always concerned for their physical needs for food.

And He Himself had a large extended family and always somewhere to be cared for safely - until the time came to be and do else.

One life that shows how all can be given up and to serve still is John Bradburne. Yet he never ever left himself without shelter and food.

He incidentally was shot for living as he did.

This world of today is a risky one.

Also; if you read Acts and the epistles? All worked who could, and for the common good.

And all were cared for in the Body of Christ.

if you give up a safe place, then you are putting at risk not just your life, but taking from others..

As others here have said.

None of us is alone if we are in Jesus, and we are accountable, for each other. Cutting off from safe provision is not laying down one's life. Nowhere does Jesus teach that.

If you refer to Saints Francis and Clare? Both deeply regretted their excessed of fasting in their lives and wrote that, and both forbade those in their care to do as they had done..

[quote name='aalpha1989' date='21 October 2009 - 04:01 PM' timestamp='1256158894' post='1989160']
I don't think that completely renouncing worldly goods, including house and home, is placing oneself foolishly at risk. If one has no children or spouse to care for, and has taken care of all responsibilities, I would consider just a good way to radically follow the Lord. One would save many souls by the grace earned from such a great penance.

To connect it to the smoking thread, one need not be afraid to either enjoy life or to completely reject life's luxuries, so long as one is following one's call. In Catholic spiritual tradition, though, cannot be denied that to completely reject these luxuries is the higher calling. The only way to please God is to do what He calls us to, and to do it with great love. There is no greater love than to lay down one's life for one's friends, and that is what perfectunion has proposed.

Edit: Many saints have performed actions which seemed to speed their deaths. Death should not be viewed so negatively. Death should be viewed with joy, because it is through death that we will find that perfect union with the Divine.
[/quote]

[Gemma]

http://forums.catholic.com/showthread.php?p=5864940#post5864940

Proposed charism of "Deacons Regular of St. Benedict Joseph Labre". Pilgrim deacons who will "wander".

Blessings,
Gemma