“Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.” — Matthew 7:24-27 24

How powerful is our mighty God and creator! How great is our Father God. He has authority over all things and He sent His Son to have mastery over all storms, sickness and death, and even the evil one. The Son is like the Father who speaks like one having authority, and not like the scribes.

For six hours in Kingston He manifested His greatness and His might. We could see that nothing could stand in His way, like He could smash everything and everyone even if our houses and buildings were like huge fortresses. What we call “natural disaster” are really manifestations of God’s power and might. It is not just the warm sunshine, gentle breezes and kind weather that are of God; there are days of drought for nations, there are hurricanes, earthquakes and tsunamis. There are volcanoes, wars and destruction. There is kindness, there is wickedness, great anger and great laughter.

Our God is a God of punishment and rewards. He made heaven and earth and all things. Let us meditate on these natural phenomena that the Lord tells will be with us in the last days. We should prepare ourselves for the last days. We will live and we will die, and there will be heaven or hell depending wither we live the word of God or we don’t.

During Hurricane Beryl the trees could not resist, swaying, whistling, shouting and yelling in the wind. Everything has to bend to His will, like it or not. There were some trees that stood up straight but would not bend. They broke and fell.

The brothers bent to the needs of our workers who went home to their dwelling places. The brothers left our monasteries to go to our homes for the homeless and destitute, all eager to take care of our poor, most of them mentally and physically sick.

The brothers jumped on the backs of our trucks and stayed at Good Shepherd at Tower Street; others busied themselves at The Lord’s Place to care for the old, rejected homeless women and the crippled ladies. Faith Centre and Mt Tabor, which are packed with men, greeted the brothers with excitement and, as usual, asked for food, clothing, and cried out in thanksgiving as the brothers rushed in to change their clothes, fix their beds, and clean the toilets. Bethlehem, which is the most demanding and filled with children, greeted the brothers with wide, open eyes and a great big welcome as the brothers entered and hugged and consoled the little cripples and mute children.

Our Missionaries of the Poor sisters reassured the women and the babies who they take care of at Holy Innocent and Jacob’s Well. At the monastery, Jesus Redeemer, 150 elderly street people came to take a shower and to relieve their hunger with plates of foods cooked by the brothers.

I thought of all these 500 homeless and destitute people. Where would they be without the brothers being with them, housing and caring for these forgotten ones during the hurricane and permanently after? I thought of hundreds of people who slept in the streets, in the ghettos, and otherwise. I think of the thousands of prisoners sleeping in their wet cells in the dark with the wind and rainwater pouring in on them.

I gave thanks to God that the brothers slept in the homes for the homeless and took care of the forgotten ones. I prayed that God places his hands on the vulnerable, the poor and forgotten ones.

Soon there will be sunshine again, and a gentle breeze.

Come and visit our poor, forgotten ones and our brothers. Please contact us at +18767821493.