Coats of Many Colors

It's 14 degrees in Nashville this morning and my tired old furnace is working overtime.  Thanks to an arctic blast, we spent Monday in the 60s then woke up Tuesday to snow-covered rooftops, icy roads and that bitter chill that goes right through you when you step outside.  I guess that's why I'm thinking about winter coats and wondering...could I give mine away to a stranger on the street today?

I have that scene in my mind of Pier Giorgio walking the streets of Berlin on a sub-freezing snowy morning while his family is warm and waiting for him back at the Italian Embassy.  He finally returns but is no longer wearing his nice black coat.  His father notices and asks him about it.  He says he gave it away to a poor person.  His father knows something about his acts of charity but thinks this time he has gone too far.  He says so and demands to know why he did it.  Pier Giorgio answers very simply, "Because, Father, the man was cold."

I've told this story so many times over the years while giving presentations but today it is troubling me.  I don't want to even leave my house in this cold weather.  Would I be detached enough, holy enough, loving enough, to give away my coat?  Would you?

On Monday, we celebrated the feast of St. Martin of Tours. Legendary now is the story of his encounter with a beggar on a cold day.  Martin used his sword to cut his own coat in half to cover the poor man.  Later that evening, Christ appeared to him in a vision letting him know that He was the beggar Martin had clothed.  This story also troubles me.  Do I really see Christ in the poor I pass in their regular spots on the streets each day?  Could I give them my coat on a morning like this?  Could you?

I received an email last week from someone who has recently been reading about the life of Pier Giorgio Frassati and was moved to tears by his example.  He wrote, "I am not that good of a person. I am not that good of a Christian."  When we compare ourselves to the saints, it's easy to see how far we have to go.

That brings one other winter coat to mind - my mother's red pea coat.  She was wearing it on a cold December night just hours before she unexpectedly passed away.  Her rosary and scarf were in the pockets.  I put it in my closet and looked at it for years.  Each winter, I would tell myself that someone out there without a coat could use it and I should give it away.  Mom would want me to, I thought.  But it took me at least 10 years to finally part with it.  I'm no Pier Giorgio or Martin of Tours. 

"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven."

The first beatitude is a good one to help develop the much-needed spirit of detachment. It's not so much about being materially poor but spiritually poor -- recognizing that we are completely dependent on God for everything.  And when we really get that, really trust Him with our whole lives, material things do become less significant. 

That brings me to my coat closet.  I've already been in it this morning picking out one to give away today.  I wish I had that radical spirit of St. Francis and could part with them all at once.  But at least I can start with this small step.  What about you?

Blessed Pier Giorgio, patron of the poor, example of detachment and man of the beatitudes, pray for us.

Verso l'alto!  ///cmw