A Safe Home to Live In (Guest Speaker: Kevin Nye)
Luke 19:28-40
Kevin is a writer and advocate working toward ending homelessness. He has written on the intersections of homelessness and faith for numerous publications and publishes weekly on Substack. His first book, Grace Can Lead Us Home, released in August of 2022.
His second book is due out in early 2026. Kevin currently lives with his wife and two sons in Minneapolis, MN, where he works as Housing Director at an organization addressing youth homelessness.
Luke 19:28-40 (NRSV):
28 After he had said this, he went on ahead, going up to Jerusalem.
29 When he had come near Bethphage and Bethany, at the place called the Mount of Olives, he sent two of the disciples, 30 saying, “Go into the village ahead of you, and as you enter it you will find tied there a colt that has never been ridden. Untie it and bring it here. 31 If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ just say this, ‘The Lord needs it.’ ” 32 So those who were sent departed and found it as he had told them. 33 As they were untying the colt, its owners asked them, “Why are you untying the colt?” 34 They said, “The Lord needs it.” 35 Then they brought it to Jesus, and after throwing their cloaks on the colt, they set Jesus on it. 36 As he rode along, people kept spreading their cloaks on the road. 37 Now as he was approaching the path down from the Mount of Olives, the whole multitude of the disciples began to praise God joyfully with a loud voice for all the deeds of power that they had seen, 38 saying,
“Blessed is the king
who comes in the name of the Lord!
Peace in heaven,
and glory in the highest heaven!”
39 Some of the Pharisees in the crowd said to him, “Teacher, order your disciples to stop.” 40 He answered, “I tell you, if these were silent, the stones would shout out.”
Queries:
In what ways do you see Jesus subvert traditional models of charity and 'helping'?
How do people of faith overcome the negative reaction when social change may cost us something we hold dearly?
What does proximity to the margins on an issue like homelessness look like, and what could it change?
In what ways would our communal life be better if everyone had a safe home to live in?