When I was a child in the Mayfair section of Philadelphia, Mrs. Brown would shuffle down the street towards St. Bernard’s church, wearing an old bandanna, moccasins and a shabby grey shawl. She never missed church regardless of the weather.
On really cold days she may wear two shawls for warmth., but she was a widow and so poor – really had nothing. We all referred to her as the crazy lady not out of any disrespect, but because she’d be mumbling words and bobbing her head every once in a while, going down the street. Little did we know at the time she was saying the rosary and bowing her head at the name of Jesus.
On one extremely cold snowy day in February, the crazy lady was headed to daily mass coughing violently and wearing only one shawl. She was cold and she was shivering.
A older man at the corner candy store came out and wrapped an old jacket around her. He said “Keep it and stay warm. She smiled, thanked him and headed across the street to church. What a beautiful thing that man did and how happy it made her. What so ever you do to the least of my brethren, that you do unto Me.
She wore that jacket for most of that winter and seemed pretty proud of it.
On another cold day in March, the crazy lady was again headed to church clutching her jacket, when out of the same corner candy store came running a little girl chasing her puppy that just broke loose.
Mrs. Brown tried to comfort the little girl by putting her hand on the girl’s head, who was now crying and cold and was determined to find her dog. So, yes, the crazy lady took her jacket off and put in on the little girl and said stay warm and God bless you. With only her shawl and bandana, went across the street to church.
I was naked and you clothed me.
Jesus, I trust in You - Reflections by Deacon Jim Hallman
