Random Thoughts

This was posted in The Times (http://www.thetimeswire.com/index.php?ID=177), a newspaper in south Mississippi.

Nothing else needs to be said.  This editorial says it all.

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Random Thoughts

By Matt Shackelford

What ever you do for the least of these, you do for Me.

That line stuck in my head the other morning when I attended the early mass at Sacred Heart. I had a friend going through a special ceremony, so my wife and I were there to show our support.

I'm not an overly vocal person about my religious beliefs. I am a firm believer that people who go around talking all their church nonsense and about what they've done are nothing but self promoters. What I do with God is between me and the Creator. I say that because the following event struck me as very odd.

I'd never attended a morning mass there opting mostly to attend the evening service instead. The format was the same, but there was a little more pageantry involved.

There was a choir, and there were by far more people dressed in their finest Sunday clothes as I used to call them.

I was just enjoying watching the people get ready when I noticed a sight I'd never seen, a homeless man sitting in church. He was unshaven and had long unwashed hair. His clothes looked to be falling apart, but despite it all he was smiling. I'd imagine he was just happy to be warm and dry in the church because he wasn't bothering a soul staring at his feet.

My attention wandered to the front where people were coming in so I turned away from the man. It wasn't but a few minutes later when  I saw a police officer walk up to the fellow and ask him to leave. The smile was gone now as he gathered up his meager belongings and slowly trudged out the door. People around him simply looked away, I guess seeing that man in their church bothered them.

That stuck with me through out the entire service as the line I opened this column with came to mind. This man was hurting no one, and for all we know was there to worship. I can see making him go if he was being offensive or harassing people, but he was just sitting there staring at his feet. Why did he have to go, or could he have sit in the back of the church?

Being a Christian organization I would have expected someone to help him, but they didn't. Most just sat there and ignored this man that had more to deal with in his life than most of the others sitting around. Suddenly, needing to get the car fixed or whether or not Auburn would make it to the national championship didn't matter.

Being a newcomer to the church I sat there and thought about what had just happened. My entire life I've heard about Christian love and help, but I guess that only applies to people dressed neatly and not clearly in need. Help those who are in good shape and forget about the rest. Sometimes so called religious people really make me sick.

As the service progressed, I couldn't help but think about the man. I told myself I should have gotten up and maybe talked with him or bought him some coffee and breakfast. Who knows, but I know it was a moment lost.

When Father Pat got up for his homely, he wasn't his normal, cheerful self. He was almost stoic in his attitude as he talked about stewardship. It wasn't until he closed that he made mention of them homeless man. I could tell he he was ashamed of what happened because he didn't call the cops. Someone in the congregation had called the police to escort the man out. He did not condone this action, and said it should not have been done.

Again I thought of that line, what ever you do for the least of these, you do for Me.

A few days later I saw the man walking down the street. I couldn't help but wonder what he thought about being thrown out of a church. What was his perception of Christians and their beliefs?