大象传媒

Good morning. Two years ago, when I celebrated my 75th birthday, I decided to give a lunch to some of the many people with whom I have worked across the years.听 A friend, who is the owner of a very fine restaurant in South London, offered to host the gathering and we all duly assembled one lunchtime for a really good meal.听 There were friends there from every walk of life and all, in one way or another,听 had engaged in work designed to support the less fortunate of this world.
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I sat next to two people, husband and wife, whom I had known for many years.听 I first came across them when they came to an Emmaus Community for the homeless.听 They both arrived in a pretty sorry state but over the years, thanks to the support of the community, they got back on their feet and were able to return to mainstream life.听 During the course of the meal John turned to me and said, 'You know, I never ever thought I should be eating in this restaurant.'听 He pointed down to the stalls in the market below.听 'For ten years,' he said, 'I slept each night under the benches of that very market.'
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Whenever I walk though the streets of London or any town, I often think of what it must be like not to have a place to sleep at night.听听There are many who simply need an appropriate structure to help them back on their feet and regain their place as contributing members of society.听 John is one of the many who have made that journey.听 He and his wife are not wealthy in material terms.听 They are immensely rich in other ways.听 They have both regained their dignity as human beings and I am proud to call them my friends.
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O Lord, in a world where many are lonely we thank you for our friendships.

Amen.