We can go early, he said. We’ll beat the heat, he said. There had been rain on Friday, and my hubby thought it would certainly make for a cooler morning on Saturday when he and I took Efrain for a downtown walkabout. HA! I haven’t felt so much like I was in Florida since… I was in Florida!
Still and all, we had a good time, the three of us, and I had lots of photo-phun. Here is a sampling, minus all the adorable shots of Efrain at Wesley Bolin Memorial Plaza and climbing around in the giant bucket and wheel in front of the (currently shuttered) Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum. I am quite intrigued by the beautiful Carnegie Public Library and surrounding grounds, which, though closed to the public for safety concerns in 2001, is open for visits by appointment. Interestingly, it is one of four libraries in the state that were built with grants awarded by the Carnegie Corporation in 1899 to 1917. We also walked around the curiously situated Evans House, the oldest of only two true Queen Anne-Victorian homes still standing in Phoenix.
I would be remiss if I did not also take a moment to mention that as we walked along Washington Ave. we were only a couple of very short blocks away from a large homeless encampment, located near the downtown St. Vincent de Paul Human Services and Dining Center. There were people tucked into corners everywhere we walked that morning, in the park and around the memorials, on the back porch of the Evans House. I was very careful where I pointed my camera on our walkabout – the last thing I would want to do is intrude on what little privacy they have. It is heartbreaking and jarring to see so much destitution right in the middle of downtown Phoenix, but I fear it is like this in every wealthy commercial center, and it’s not getting any better. The need for hands and hearts to extend the love of Jesus is tremendous!
Matthew 25:31-46 Revised Standard Version Catholic Edition (RSVCE)
The Judgment of the Nations
31 “When the Son of man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32 Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate them one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 and he will place the sheep at his right hand, but the goats at the left.
34 Then the King will say to those at his right hand, ‘Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; 35 for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.’
37 Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry and feed thee, or thirsty and give thee drink? 38 And when did we see thee a stranger and welcome thee, or naked and clothe thee? 39 And when did we see thee sick or in prison and visit thee?’
40 And the King will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.’
41 Then he will say to those at his left hand, ‘Depart from me, you cursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; 42 for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, 43 I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not clothe me, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.’
44 Then they also will answer, ‘Lord, when did we see thee hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not minister to thee?’
45 Then he will answer them, ‘Truly, I say to you, as you did it not to one of the least of these, you did it not to me.’46 And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life.”
