Holy Week and Easter in One Day at Manna House
Holy Thursday at Manna House began with showers. Kalculus, Ben, and Ashley ably served the first two guests that Kathleen called into the clothing room. They set the guests up with fresh clothing, and then the guests were off to the showers. Nearly twenty guests showered on Thursday. John tells the story of how Jesus “got up from the meal, took off his outer clothing and wrapped a towel around his waist. After that he poured water in a basin and began to wash his disciples’ feet…. I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you” (John 13:1-16). In our Holy Thursday, the meal came after the showers as some folks showed up with sack lunches and then a little bit later some cornbread and soup. It wasn’t exactly bread and wine, but Jesus was definitely present.
Good Friday came as the morning unfolded. I looked around the front yard, the porch, and the house. The crucifixion of the poor continues. Terry’s glasses are covered with tape holding them together, and one lens is cracked. Eye care is restricted to those who can afford it. Larry, like so many guests, is missing most of his teeth. Dental care is restricted to those who can afford it. Michael and Joe and Rennie along with Sarah and Lana sometimes talk into the air to people who are not there. Pat sits alone, talking about a convoluted plot to by the Russians to take over our minds. Mental health care is restricted to those who can afford it. Joe hurt his back working a few weeks ago. He hasn’t been able to work since. It is still very sore. Health care is restricted to those who can afford it. The police came by a few days ago and arrested a guest. We haven’t seen him since. The criminal justice system is constructed so that there is plenty of room for the poor and plenty of profit for corporate owned “corrections.”
Holy Saturday happened this morning as well. We sit and wait for the resurrection. We sit with death. We watch as guests decline from the wear and tear of the streets and poverty. Mr. Smith is walking more and more slowly and now relies on a crutch. Mr. Lee is more and more incoherent. Miss Lorna showed up drunk and bruised. In sitting with death, we also remember guests who have died. Sarah’s portrait overlooks the living room. Tyler used to sleep on the porch and guard Manna House. Elena used to yell at Kathleen, “Hey Lady!” They and many more have died. We also sit with failure, the failure of our guests (they fail like the rest of us in the same way), and we sit with the failure of ourselves, and our society, to embrace the stranger, welcome the alien, do justice for the poor.
Graciously, Easter Sunday also happened this Thursday. Remember Terry and his glasses? Generous donors and the Southern College of Optometry will make sure he gets at new pair (along with two other guests this past week). Two guests this week got housing and a third is moving ever more closely to having his own place. Mr. King got his phone activated and he has a way to communicate with family and friends now. Kirk had a conversation with a guest in which the guest educated him on Freud, and then they moved on to speak with each other about musical theory, at which point they found speaking in Spanish to be most helpful. We all sang “Happy Birthday” to a guest, and his embarrassed smile was huge. There was a lot of laughter, many stories shared, the sun was warm but not hot, the breeze just right. There were little seeds of the Beloved Community being planted all around on this fine Spring morning.
Three Holy Days and Easter all in one morning. Thank you God. Alleluia!
Good Friday came as the morning unfolded. I looked around the front yard, the porch, and the house. The crucifixion of the poor continues. Terry’s glasses are covered with tape holding them together, and one lens is cracked. Eye care is restricted to those who can afford it. Larry, like so many guests, is missing most of his teeth. Dental care is restricted to those who can afford it. Michael and Joe and Rennie along with Sarah and Lana sometimes talk into the air to people who are not there. Pat sits alone, talking about a convoluted plot to by the Russians to take over our minds. Mental health care is restricted to those who can afford it. Joe hurt his back working a few weeks ago. He hasn’t been able to work since. It is still very sore. Health care is restricted to those who can afford it. The police came by a few days ago and arrested a guest. We haven’t seen him since. The criminal justice system is constructed so that there is plenty of room for the poor and plenty of profit for corporate owned “corrections.”
Holy Saturday happened this morning as well. We sit and wait for the resurrection. We sit with death. We watch as guests decline from the wear and tear of the streets and poverty. Mr. Smith is walking more and more slowly and now relies on a crutch. Mr. Lee is more and more incoherent. Miss Lorna showed up drunk and bruised. In sitting with death, we also remember guests who have died. Sarah’s portrait overlooks the living room. Tyler used to sleep on the porch and guard Manna House. Elena used to yell at Kathleen, “Hey Lady!” They and many more have died. We also sit with failure, the failure of our guests (they fail like the rest of us in the same way), and we sit with the failure of ourselves, and our society, to embrace the stranger, welcome the alien, do justice for the poor.
Graciously, Easter Sunday also happened this Thursday. Remember Terry and his glasses? Generous donors and the Southern College of Optometry will make sure he gets at new pair (along with two other guests this past week). Two guests this week got housing and a third is moving ever more closely to having his own place. Mr. King got his phone activated and he has a way to communicate with family and friends now. Kirk had a conversation with a guest in which the guest educated him on Freud, and then they moved on to speak with each other about musical theory, at which point they found speaking in Spanish to be most helpful. We all sang “Happy Birthday” to a guest, and his embarrassed smile was huge. There was a lot of laughter, many stories shared, the sun was warm but not hot, the breeze just right. There were little seeds of the Beloved Community being planted all around on this fine Spring morning.
Three Holy Days and Easter all in one morning. Thank you God. Alleluia!
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