Gerard Thomas Straub

For Personal or Small Group Reflection

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Opening Prayer (after watching the video)

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O God, the treasure we seek is not here or there

but within our hearts.

Our treasure is you, and you alone.

Grant me the grace to truly feel my intrinsic poverty.

Based on a reflection from Reading Thomas Merton and Longing for God in Haiti: Learning Wisdom in the School of My Life (p. 102).

Straub, Gerard; Montaldo, Jonathan. Pax et Bonum Communications. Kindle Edition  Available on Amazon.

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Reflection Questions

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This video clip begins with an excerpt from Gerard Thomas Straub’s film about Haiti, Mud Pies and Kites. It presents a rapid-fire synthesis of Gerry’s understanding of poverty, and how it opens us up to receiving God through the poor. The video bears watching, and listening, more than once.

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1. View the video above. What did you see? How did you feel?

2. Gerry found that living with the poor revealed to him the radical truth of the Gospel that “Only empty hands can hold God”. How do you understand that statement? Do you agree or disagree? Why?

3. What is the radical truth of the Gospel to you?

4. How has your life thus far led you to this understanding?

5. According to Christ, how we love the hungry, the lowly, and the lost is how we love him. Who are the hungry, the lowly and the lost as reported in the news? How do you choose to love them?

6. Gerry says that, “For Jesus, the poor are sacraments.” What does that mean to you? Does Gerry’s comment expand your understanding of sacramentality?

7. Compassion comes from the Latin meaning “to suffer with”. “Christianity does not turn away from the cross and suffering… it enters it.” What does this mean for our calling as Americans?

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Response

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1. Brainstorm local organizations that serve the poor in your area. Is there an opportunity for you to volunteer with friends or family members?

2. What is your greatest talent? Is there a way you can use that to serve the poor locally?

3. Discover where can you learn more about the poor and ways of caring for them. You can view for free the full length version of Mud Pies and Kites here as well as other films by Gerard Straub. He also has many books on spirituality and his journey in trying to live according to the life of Saint Francis of Assisi and the writings of Thomas Merton.

4. In 2015 Gerard Straub put aside documenting the plight of the poor in order to live with the poor. He established Santa Chiara Children's Center (and now also Academy) due to the dangers of sending the children off to nearby schools. If you feel moved to donate to the center, you may donate via Paypal here, or send a donation to Santa Chiara Children's Center, P.O. Box 643308, Vero Beach, FL 32964

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Closing Prayer

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Tender God:

God, you have been my refuge

from year to year;

You are my refuge from day to day,

even from hour to hour.

Blessed are you, Lord.

Show me, I beg, what You want

me to do,

who You want me to become.

I am Yours.

Amen

Straub, Gerard. A Journey to Meekness: Prayer Poems and Reflections (p. 57). Pax et Bonum Communications. Kindle Edition.