Father Charles Puthota

The little Julia and her grandfather were taking a walk in their rural neighborhood, sharing precious moments of conversation about what children tend to ask in their inimitable style of innocence and insight. They happened to pass an open well when the girl says to him: “Grandpa, where does God live?” Holding her arms firmly back, the grandfather asks the girl to look down into the water in the well. He says to her, “Tell me what you see.” The girl says, “I see myself, grandpa.” The man says, “Julia, that is where God lives. God lives in you.“

Walking from St. Elizabeth Church last week to anoint a parishioner in the neighborhood, I saw a long line of people winding around Dr. MLK Jr. Academic Middle School campus on Girard Street. They were waiting to pick up food bags distributed by San Francisco-Marin Food Bank. Talking to the organizers, I came to know that they distribute once a week over 900 food bags at this location as they do in other places as well. Anyone could receive food or donate or volunteer.

An atheist quizzes his newly converted Christian friend about Jesus. “Where was Jesus born? How many apostles did he have? Who were his parents? Where did he die?” The neophyte draws a blank to each question. Unimpressed, the atheist says, “You seem to know almost nothing about Jesus to whom you claim to have been converted.” The friend answers: “I’m ashamed at how little I know about Jesus. However, some years ago I used to be abusive toward my own family and addicted to gambling and alcohol. But now I am completely free from those demons. All this Jesus has done for me. This much I know of him.”