Cappuccino Soul

Cappuccino Soul

Friday, October 27, 2006

Breaking Bread with the Poor

Recently The Homeless Guy quoted this passage from Luke 14:12-14. It's a timely quote given the number of homeless people in Nashville and the country, not to mention those who live at or near the poverty level.

Then Jesus said to his host, "When you give a luncheon or dinner, do not invite your friends, your brothers or relatives, or your rich neighbors; if you do, they may invite you back and so you will be repaid. But when you give a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind, and you will be blessed. Although they cannot repay you, you will be repaid at the resurrection of the righteous."




And here's a beautiful translation of the same passage from De Nyew Testament (The New Testament translated in Gullah, Sea Island Creole). This Bible has been translated from the Greek by a team of experts who know the Gullah language intimately. For those of you not familiar with the Gullah or Geechee people of South Carolina and Georgia, look for more information about these amazing folks on this blog in the near future.

Den Jedus tell de man wa eenbite um say, "Wen ya hab dinna eeda a big feas, mus dohn eenbite ya fren dem, ya broda dem, ya kin, needa ya rich neighba dem. Cause den dey gwine eenbite ya back ta dey house fa nyam (food) an wen dey eenbite ya back, ya done git ya payback. Bot wen ya hab feas, mus eenbite dem wa ain got much, dem wa cripple op, an dem wa ain able fa waak good, an dem wa bline (blind). Dem people ain able fa gii ya de payback fa de good ya done fa um. Bot God gwine bless ya fa dat good ya done. E gwine gii ya de payback pon de day wen dem dat done wa God say gwine git op fom mongst de dead an lib gin."


Over the past year, over 3 million men, women, and children were homeless, according to the National Law Center on Homelessness and Poverty in Washington, D.C. In 1995 the demand for shelter increased by 11%. Also according to the center, over 40% of homeless persons are eligible for disability benefits, but only 11% actually receive them. Most are eligible for food stamps, but only 37% receive them. Most families are eligible for welfare benefits, but only 52% receive them. Some 12% of children are denied access to school, despite federal law.

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