A
Place of Mercy
Finding God on the Street
Thomas O'Brien
163 pages
faithAlivebooks, 2004
About
the Author
Thomas
O'Brien, Ph.D. is an assistant professor of Catholic social thought
at DePaul University in Chicago. O'Brien's work focuses on homelessness,
poverty and destitution, and communal and social justice. His commitment
to social justice is inspired by the belief, called the preferential
option for the poor, that God restores equality in the human family
through human agents by undermining the structures of inequality and
oppression and favoring those who matter least in these hierarchies.
He is the author of John Courtney Murray in a Cold War Context.
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Discussion
Guide
1) How are the images used
to portray the divine person different from those normally applied
in the church? Why do you think the author chose these particular
images and what kind of theology do they convey?
2) Life and death issues pervade the episodes recounted in A Place
of Mercy. In your own experience, has the nearness of death ever
had an effect on your beliefs about life and its meaning?
3) A Place of Mercy tells many stories of struggle and anguish,
but the author claims it is really a story of hope. Do you agree with
this claim, and if so, where are the elements of hope in the story?
4) The Church, through its social teaching, calls all of us to take
an 'option for the poor'. In what ways does the House of Mercy respond
to this call? In what ways have you, or do you plan to respond to
that call in your own life?
5) A Place of Mercy is the story of a specific ministry to
destitute, inner-city population. Does this model of Christian ministry
challenge, contradict, or reinforce your understanding of Christian
service?
6) Name some of the ministries in your parish, or in your region,
that perform some kind of outreach to the poor and homeless. How are
these organizations similar or dissimilar to the House of Mercy? What
role do they play in your community and in the lives of its poorest
members?
7) The House of Mercy staff affirms that their ministry of justice
is inspired by Christ and the gospel, yet many find it difficult to
reconcile this with their often-confrontational style. In what ways
can it be said that Christ is made present even in the more combative
moments of the story?
8) Which character in A Place of Mercy is most memorable
for you? Why do you think this character stands out for you more than
any of the others? What have you learned from this character?
9) Using your imagination, insert yourself somewhere in the story.
What role would you play? How would your presence make things different
or better?
10) The author claims that A Place of Mercy is a kind of
personal pilgrimage for both himself as well as many of the other
characters in the book. What are the characteristics of an authentic
pilgrimage and how are these present (or not) in the story?
