A Lenten Appeal from Simone Weil Catholic Worker
This Lent, we invite you to support our work financially. We are so grateful for the support offered to our community during the Advent season, which gave us a few months of peace of mind. However, this spring, we are now once again facing a monthly shortfall. Donations, especially recurring donations of any size, are greatly appreciated!
And as he sat at table in the house, behold, many tax collectors and sinners came and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And when the Pharisees saw this, they said to his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and sinners?” But when he heard it, he said, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. Go and learn what this means, ‘I desire mercy, and not sacrifice.’ For I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”
Matthew 9:10-13
Dear friend,
When Jesus quoted Hosea, “I desire mercy, not sacrifice” he was drawing us to the relationship at the very heart of salvation history.
The word “mercy” is a translation of the Hebrew chesed, a term that might otherwise be translated “covenant faithfulness,” or “loyal love.” When it is used to describe God, it means something like “God keeps his promises, even when humans don’t.” When enjoined on people, it means acting from this fidelity: especially expanding our circles of faithful, familial love to include those who are on the margins of society.
As Simone Weil House we give and receive, but even more, make a place for chesed, where faithful love can become a pattern for community relations: for example, at our free fridge/pantry/closet the community offers from its abundance and receives in its need – so our whole community can have an experience of itself as a family defined by responsive, faithful love. Another example of this is our own voluntary poverty! We get to make family as we do because a supporting community considers us to be part of its own sphere of faithful love.
This Lent, we invite you to support our work financially. We are so grateful for the support offered to our community during the Advent season, which gave us a few months of peace of mind. However, this spring, we are now once again facing a monthly shortfall. Donations, especially recurring donations of any size, are greatly appreciated!
Donations can be made via check (payable to In My Backyard) or online via Paypal at bit.ly/IMBY-donate. Thank you again for supporting our community with your prayers, participation, and financial contributions. We look forward to seeing you at the house soon!
Peace to you,
Bert, Emma, Katherine, Marie, and the rest of the Simone Weil Catholic Worker community
