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Camillus House News
Advent 2009: DIGNITY
December 9, 2009
Dr. Paul R. Ahr
Paul says, “God has composed the body so that greater dignity is given to the parts which were without it, and so that there may not be disagreements inside the body but each part may be equally concerned for all the others” (1 Corinthians 12:24-25). This is the true vision. The poor are given to the Church so that the Church as the body of Christ can be and remain a place of mutual concern, love, and peace.” – Henri Nouwen
“What child is this, who, laid to rest on Mary's lap, is sleeping? Whom angels greet with anthems sweet, while shepherds watch are keeping?” asks the Christmas anthem. This is the Son of our God who provided for the dignity of all of us so that we may be equally concerned for the welfare of each other. This is Christ who taught us through the Parable of the Good Shepherd that through his compassionate availability to a victimized stranger – that is, by acting on his feelings of concern, love and peace for another person – the good Samaritan validated the dignity of that stranger, and in doing so, observed the greatest commandment to love one another.
When treating all persons with dignity is the work of God Himself, how can we resist doing it? As Pope John Paul II instructed us with regard to the wounded stranger in the Good Samaritan parable, “We are not allowed to ‘pass by on the other side’ indifferently; we must ‘stop’ beside him.” So, too, we are not allowed to stand by while others are deprived of their inherent human dignity.
Happily, one of the great paradoxes of sharing respect is that when we respect the dignity of another, we elevate the dignity of both that person and ourselves. This is our inherent reward for carrying out the work of God. As Mother Teresa of Calcutta has taught us:
At the end of our lives, we will not be judged by how many diplomas we have received, how much money we have made or how many great things we have done. We will be judged by ‘I was hungry and you gave me to eat. I was naked and you clothed me. I was homeless and you took me in.’ Hungry not only for bread - but hungry for love. Naked not only for clothing - but naked of human dignity and respect. Homeless not only for want of a room of bricks - but homeless because of rejection. This is Christ in distressing disguise [emphasis added]."
Our clients and guests have told us that the unconditional regard and respect shown them by Camillus staff accelerates their transition from the false self-esteem offered by drugs and alcohol, to a more enduring self-esteem based on unveiling each man’s and each woman’s inherent human dignity. Our other guests and clients who have a physical and/or mental illness or are merely displaced and/or “down on their luck” share in the enhanced self-esteem that is a by-product of that caring. Good food, the opportunity to rest, the presence of others making the same passage from shame to dignity, and the availability of caring staff to guide the way accelerate the journey.
“You put the dignity in us,” William, now a graduate of out treatment program, told us. “No,” we reply, “we help you find where you misplaced it, and help you put it on.” Let no person here be naked of human dignity and respect. Help all find and put on the dignity that is their birthright so that we can truly be known as “a people of mutual concern, love and peace.”
