Vijay Gupta & San Julian
When the Spanish conquistadores made their way into what they eventually called Los Angeles, they named the area after their saints. One of those saints was San Julian, a man who was cursed to kill his own family then ostracized from the community after it came to pass.
San Julian became a saint from offering shelter to travelers, the poor, and those unable to find their way on the road. One day a leper fell into the river in front of Julian's shelter. Julian rushed to pull him out and attempted to nurse him back to health. In the morning when they both awoke, it was revealed to Julian that the leper was an angel. And at that moment, he was forgiven his sin and curse.
Many people who are with us today in this room have slept on San Julian Street in DTLA in the area known as Skid Row. Many of the people in the room have done as San Julian and offer shelter, care and love to travelers along the road of Skid Row. Today, we come to look into the mirror that they hold up to us each day, so that we may see ourselves as whole and wonderful as they see us.
Let's look.