Thursday, October 22, 2009

How would the application of the Beatitudes guide Christians in addressing youth homelessness?

The Beatitudes focus largely on the poor and marginalized in society. According to Jesus, these poor and marginalized people, while not well-regarded on Earth, are thought of highly in Heaven. If a young person is homeless, that person can usually be assumed to be "poor in spirit," which is one of the groups referenced by Jesus. The "poor in spirit" are supposed to receive the Kingdom of Heaven. Reaching the Kingdom of Heaven is generally considered to be the goal of Christians on Earth, so if people who are poor in spirit are making it to Heaven, everyone else should try to learn from them so they can reach Heaven, too. Learning from someone happens best when you respect that person's background, so, in the case of youth homelessness, someone trying to apply the Beatitudes would not only try to help homeless young people, but also be respectful about their situations and to them.

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