Essay by Dorothy Day, Founder of the Catholic Worker Movement

[DemBones DemBones]

In this brief essay, Dorothy Day is reflecting on the Easter message and thinking about how Catholic Workers are often asked how they can do the work they do, how they can see Jesus in the poor.


The Mystery of the Poor


How can I help but think of these things every time I sit down at Chrystie Street or Peter Maurin Farm and look around at the tables filled with the unutterably poor who are going through their long-continuing crucifixion. It is most surely an exercise of faith for us to see Christ in each other. But it is through such exercise that we grow and the joy of our vocation assures us we are on the right path.

Most certainly, it is easier to believe now that the sun warms us, and we know that buds will appear on the sycamore trees in the wasteland across from the Catholic Worker office, that life will spring out of the dull clods of that littered park across the way. There are wars and rumors of war, poverty and plague, hunger and pain. Still, the sap is rising, again there is the resurrection of spring, God's continuing promise to us that He is with us always, with His comfort and joy, if we will only ask.

The mystery of the poor is this: That they are Jesus, and what you do for them you do for Him. It is the only way we have of knowing and believing in our love. The mystery of poverty is that by sharing in it, making ourselves poor in giving to others, we increase our knowledge of and belief in love.


http://www.bruderhof.com/articles/MysteryOfThePoor.htm?source=DailyDig


If you're not familiar with the movement, here is some info from the Catholic Worker page:

The Catholic Worker Movement, founded by Dorothy Day and Peter Maurin in 1933, is grounded in a firm belief in the God-given dignity of every human person.

Today over 185 Catholic Worker communities remain committed to nonviolence, voluntary poverty, prayer, and hospitality for the homeless, exiled, hungry, and foresaken. Catholic Workers continue to protest injustice, war, racism, and violence of all forms.

and here's the URL

http://www.catholicworker.org/

Lots of good stuff there, including listings of volunteer opportunities, if anyone reading this is interested, plus a link to the Catholic Worker Bookstore (books for progressive Catholics, or just for progressives.)