The crowd watched with disdain as a homeless guy in filthy clothes and no shoes entered the church, but everyone was startled by what the priest did 
In the church, there was silence. Sitting on the benches, some people prayed in private, while others paid close attention to what the priest had to say. Until a man entered the doorway, everything appeared to be as usual.
He had gray hair, was barefoot, wore ripped, old clothes, and had a worn-out appearance. A soft murmur echoed across the corridor. Everyone could smell the strong odor emanating from him. Men turned away to avoid him as much as they could, while some ladies scowled. No one wished to interact with him in any way.
Knowing this, the homeless man didn’t even look at the benches. He was aware that “normal” people would not accept him and that he was filthy. He just folded his hands, knelt on the chilly floor, and started to pray. Almost no one could hear the words that escaped his lips.
In the meantime, the assembly continued to whisper:
Why is he in this place?
— What a disgrace.
— He has no place here. We cannot find serenity from them, not even in church.
Unwilling to sit next to such a “man,” someone got up and walked away.
The service was then cut short by the priest. He approached the homeless man after lowering himself cautiously from the pulpit. The audience froze. Everyone thought the priest would expel him, but he took a surprising action.
With a loud voice, the priest put his hand on the man’s back and said:
— Brother, God sent you here. in order for us to assist you. so that He might reach out to you via us.
Following his remarks, the priest removed his shoes and gave them to the man.
— Grab them. Join us in prayer now. We will offer prayers today for your spirit, your pain, and everything that pushed you to live on the streets. However, we shall also offer prayers for the sins of people who view God’s creation with disdain and judge a man by his attire. We learned to love our neighbors from the Lord.
These remarks were like a blow to everyone’s hearts. Many were afraid to look at each other, so they lowered their heads. They were embarrassed. They understood that the priest was referring to them.
This tale serves as a reminder that goodness starts with the individual.
