From the Rev. David Hoster
Dear People of St. James’,
If there’s anything we learn from Jesus, it’s that God values human life in a way that humans themselves often don’t. The first-century Palestinian peasants Jesus touched were the great majority of the population most exposed to the damaging effects of poverty. They were people forced to live their lives at ground level undefended against any disease, storm or military violence that might sweep through. They were easily abused as subhuman by the wealthy and powerful. To people such as these, Jesus brought the full attention of God, gentle healing and the message that these were people of integrity and value, with every right to exist and due full respect for their basic humanity.
We need to remember that the eye of God is still focused on people such as these. While Covid-19 is a danger to us all, rich and poor alike, its most fertile feeding ground is disproportionately those areas of poverty where people’s health is already compromised by exposure to disease with insufficient access to medical care, lack of good nutrition and suffering psychological trauma. Such people are dying in this pandemic at nearly double the rate of people living in wealthier and more secure areas.
Under present circumstances, that circle can be drawn even wider: elderly living in ill-managed nursing homes, people in low wage jobs with high exposure who must work or fail to feed their families, people who have lost their jobs, and the homeless who will die in large numbers, alone and unmourned when the virus catches hold among them.
I am compelled to repeat that Jesus cares about all these people and so should I. So, too, should an inclusive, multicultural community like St. James’.
What does that mean? How should we align with Jesus? Certainly, in serious, fervent prayer. But there must be more.
In the current environment, where it’s not possible to be in direct contact with people, money has to be an answer for the near-term future. Like many of us, Terrie and I have received checks from the federal government totaling $2,400 that we don’t need (if you do, keep yours and use it as you MUST!). Like some others, we’re also saving money on gas, dining out, canceled programs, air travel, and so on and on.
I could treat all this extra money as a windfall, put it in savings or buy something new that I don’t really need. That would mean turning a blind eye to the suffering of the vulnerable who others in our society are ready to write off. For myself, I don’t want to join that company, which means putting my money where my mouth is.
I’ve thought of a few places that I know make a difference, but I’ve barely scratched the surface. Certainly, Welcome Table does vital work right here at St. James’ and in east Austin through Neighbor 2 Neighbor and Freedom Schools. I’ve given money to a friend who has taken food and water (yes, water!) to homeless people regularly for a number of years. Mary House Catholic Worker in Austin has been on my radar for many years. Another of my favorites is Down Home Ranch, a facility near Elgin that cares for Downs Syndrome folks. The multicultural ministry of St. James’ Episcopal Church itself is always worthy of an extra donation.
If you, too, find yourself benefitting from unexpected income in this pandemic, who can you suggest needs our help? What agencies are best positioned to get aid directly to the people who need it? I welcome some guidance. Likely others do too. I will post this letter on my Facebook page when it goes out in the St. James’ weekly e-news. Why not go there and add your suggestions in the “Comments”?
Let’s hear from you. Even more, let those vulnerable souls whom Jesus loves hear from you, and not just in words.
The Rev. David Hoster
