A young Christian from Dublin living in a flat in London whilst studying medicine in order to became a missionary to China. In 1867, Thomas Barnardo set up a Ragged School in the East End, where poor children could get a basic education. One evening a boy at the Mission, Jim Jarvis, took Thomas Barnardo around the East End showing him children sleeping on roofs and in gutters. The encounter so affected him he decided to give up on his dream of going to China himself to helping destitute children. He started by taking in as many as he could to his small lodgings. With no money and no support he believed in acting first and trusting God for the finances later. The finances came, eventually and in 1870, Barnardo opened his first home for boys in Stepney Causeway training boys in carpentry, metal work and shoemaking.
These skills enabled the boys to secure apprenticeships and work .
He was later given the lease on a property which enabled him to open a girls school. He vowed that he would never turn away a needy child. By the time of his death he had provided homes, education and training for over 8,500 children. And today his work continues in the field of social care. He is a household name. He is a hero.
He was just a young man when he started this great work. He had no money, no backing, no support, no overarching vision. He just had an understanding of the value of human life and a God who had called him to go into all the world and be Good News.
Recently Pope Francis said this about mission when addressing a conference of priests
“When I give alms, do I drop the coin without touching the hand (of the poor person, beggar)? And if by chance I do touch it, do I immediately withdraw it? When I give alms, do I look into the eyes of my brother, my sister? When I know a person is ill, do I go and visit that person? Do I greet him or her with affection? There’s a sign that possibly may help us, it’s a question: Am I capable of giving a caress or a hug to the sick, the elderly, the children, or have I lost sight of the meaning of a caress? These hypocrites were unable to give a caress. They had forgotten how to do it….. Don’t be ashamed of the flesh of our brother, it’s our flesh! We will be judged by the way we behave towards this brother, this sister.”
James 2
15 Suppose a brother or a sister is without clothes and daily food. 16 If one of you says to them, “Go in peace; keep warm and well fed,” but does nothing about their physical needs, what good is it? 17 In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead.
My faith is DEAD if it is not accompanied by action!! That is strong language. A sobering thought.
Im afraid I tend to be all talk and no action. Just today I was reprimanded by a friend for not acting when I should have done to offer her support. It is easy to moan about the state of the world and harder to get out there and actually do something which makes a difference. But God says if we are all talk and no action then our faith is dead. True faith always leads to action of some sort or other.
So today lets look the Big Issue Seller in the eye and smile. Lets talk to the lonely person on the bus, offer to carry someones shopping, hold the fraught mothers baby as she struggles with her car keys. Even the smallest actions show we care and make a difference. Or why not be brave and radical and open our homes to the homeless. Invite a hungry person to dinner. Become a foster carer. A hospital volunteer. A prison correspondent.
Lord
I want to make a real difference. Please let me walk where you are walking and see what you are seeing today. Then show me what to do and give me the courage to do it with joy. Amen
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