MARK 9:30-37
IN 1964 JEAN VANIER WAS
INSPIRED TO INVITE TWO PEOPLE WITH MENTAL DISABILITIES TO LEAVE THEIR
INSTITUTION AND LIVE WITH HIM. GRADUALLY THE MOVEMENT GREW UNTIL
TODAY THERE ARE 147 COMMUNITIES IN 35 COUNTRIES ON ALL FIVE
CONTINENTS. THE MOVEMENT BEGAN AS A CATHOLIC ORGANIZATION BUT NOW
THERE ARE L”ARCHE COMMUNITIES UNDER AUSPICES OF OTHER CHRISTIAN
DENOMINATIONS SO WHAT IS L'ARCHE? IT'S MISSION IS:
TO MAKE KNOWN THE GIFTS OF
PEOPLE WITH INTELLECTUAL DISABILITIES
TO FOSTER THE DEVELOPMENT
OF COMMUNITIES THAT RESPOND TO MEMBERS' CHANGING NEEDS, AND
TO ENGAGE WITH LOCAL
CULTURES WHILE WORKING TOWARD A MORE HUMAN SOCIETY.
TO DO THIS, THEY
CREATE SMALL FAITH-BASED
COMMUNITIES OF FRIENDSHIP AND MUTUALITY BETWEEN PEOPLE OF DIFFERING
ABILITIES;
DEVELOP LIFELONG SUPPORT
SYSTEMS FOR THE BENEFIT OF ALL, ESPECIALLY THOSE WHO ARE HIGHLY
VULNERABLE DUE TO OLD AGE AND/OR MULTIPLE DISABILITIES.
HIGHLIGHT THE UNIQUE
CAPACITY OF PERSONS WITH DISABILITIES TO ENRICH RELATIONSHIPS AND TO
BUILD COMMUNITIES WHERE THE VALUES OF COMPASSION, INCLUSION AND
DIVERSITY ARE UPHELD AND LIVED BY EACH PERSON.
IN EVERY COMMUNITY THOSE
WITH DISABILITIES LIVE ALONGSIDE THOSE WHO ARE WHAT SOCIETY CALLS
NORMAL. THEY EAT TOGETHER, WORK TOGETHER, AND CREATE A COMMUNITY.
TODAY JESUS TAKES A SMALL
CHILD AND PUTS HIS ARMS AROUND IT. HE TELLS HIS DISCIPLES "WHOEVER
RECEIVES ONE CHILD SUCH AS THIS IN MY NAME, RECEIVES ME; AND WHOEVER
RECEIVES ME, RECEIVES NOT ME BUT THE ONE WHO SENT ME."
JEAN VANIER AND THE
MOVEMENT HE STARTED PUTS INTO ACTIONS WHAT JESUS SUGGESTED. IN
JESUS' TIME, ALTHOUGH CHILDREN WERE VALUED, THEY WERE NOT SEEN AS
THEY ARE TODAY; THEY DIDN'T GO TO SCHOOL, THEY WERE TOO YOUNG TO
LEARN A TRADE, AND ABOUT HALF OF THE CHILDREN WHO LIVED TO BE FIVE
WOULD BE DEAD BY THE AGE OF TEN FROM DISEASE OR ACCIDENT. IT DIDN'T
PAY TO INVEST A LOT IN A CHILD, UNLESS YOU WERE THE MOTHER OR THE
FATHER. AFTER ALL, THERE WAS VERY LITTLE CHANCE THAT YOUR INVESTMENT
WOULD BE RETURNED.
THERE ARE MANY PEOPLE WHO
ARE LITTLE CHILDREN TO US. THERE ARE THE MENTALLY DISABLED, FOR
SURE. WE'RE ALL AWARE OF PEOPLE BORN WITH MENTAL AND PHYSICAL
DISABILITIES, SOME QUITE SEVERE. BUT THERE ARE THE FRAIL ELDERLY,
WHO ARE LOSING PHYSICAL AND MENTAL POWERS AS THEY AGE; THERE ARE
THOSE WITH ALZHEIMER'S DISEASE WHOSE PERSONALITIES AND INTELLECTS ARE
SLIPPING AWAY. THERE ARE REFUGEES IN OUR MIDST WHO ARE AFRAID TO
COME OUT OF HIDING; AND OF COURSE THERE ARE CHILDREN, CHILDREN WHO
HAVE BEEN ABANDONED BY THEIR FAMILIES AND LIVE ON THE STREETS.
JEAN VANIER WAS INSPIRED
BY GOD TO FORM COMMUNITIES OF PEOPLE WHO WOULD NOT NORMALLY ASSOCIATE
TOGETHER. HE RECOGNIZED THAT PEOPLE NEED TO BE MEMBERS OF
COMMUNITIES, EVEN THOSE WHO ARE AT THE EXTREMES OF LIFE
IN THE JEWISH NURSING
HOME, IN GLENMEADOW, IN REDSTONE, IN EAST VILLAGE PLACE – AND MANY
OTHER FACILITIES IN THE AREA, THERE ARE PEOPLE WHO HUNGER FOR
COMMUNITY. IT'S ONE THING TO BE A PATIENT, OR A RESIDENT; BUT WHAT
YOU FIND IS THAT THEIR PHYSICAL NEEDS ARE TAKEN CARE OF; NOW AND THEN
A SON OR DAUGHTER VISITS; BUT AS TIME GOES BY, THEY BECOME MORE AND
MORE ISOLATED. THEY CAN'T GET TO CHURCH ANYMORE, THEY CAN'T GO
SHOPPING; THEIR FRIENDS HAVE EITHER PASSED AWAY OR ARE IN NURSING
HOMES THEMSELVES; AND THERE IS FOR THEM A GAPING HOLE WHERE COMMUNITY
SHOULD EXIST. THIS ONE HAS PARKINSONS DISEASE AND CAN'T FEED
HERSELF AS A RESULT; THAT ONE CAN'T SEE WELL ENOUGH TO READ, OR HEAR
WELL ENOUGH TO PARTICIPATE IN A CONVERSATION. THE SADDEST THING TO
ME IS TO SEE PEOPLE WHO SLEEP ALL DAY AND ALL NIGHT, WAKING UP ONLY
TO EAT. THEY HAVE NOTHING TO LIVE FOR, AND TO SLEEP ALL THE TIME IS
TO BLOCK OUT THE REALITY THAT HAS NOTHING TO OFFER THEM. THEY ARE ALL
LITTLE CHILDREN TO US; THEY CAN'T GIVE BACK ANYTHING TO THOSE WHO
REACH OUT TO THEM.
BUT EVERY HUMAN BEING
NEEDS COMMUNITY. IT'S BUILT INTO OUR NATURE. IT'S ONE OF THE
PURPOSES OF THE CHURCH, TO INVITE EVERYONE INTO A COMMUNITY WHERE
JESUS IS CENTRAL, WHERE JESUS GIVES US MEANING AND PURPOSE.
THERE'S A WONDERFUL MAN
IN OUR CHURCH WHO MAKES IT A POINT TO DROP IN ONCE OR TWICE A WEEK
JUST TO BE PRESENT TO A FEW PEOPLE WHO ARE HOUSEBOUND AND LONELY. HE
DOESN'T JUST VISIT ONCE IN AWHILE; HE DOESN'T DROP IN FOR A FEW
MINUTES AND THEN LEAVE. HE FORMS A FRIENDSHIP WITH THEM; IT IS ONE
ON ONE; IT'S REPEATED. HE'S DOING HIS PART TO INVITE THEM INTO
COMMUNITY. IT ISN'T ALL GIVING, EITHER. THE ONE WHO OFFERS
COMMUNITY WILL RECEIVE AS WELL. IF YOU GIVE SOME OF YOUR TIME TO
GENUINELY GET TO KNOW SOMEONE WHO IS A “LITTLE CHILD” YOU'LL OPEN
YOURSELF UP THEIR LIFE STORIES AND LEARN A LOT ABOUT YOURSELF AS
WELL.
SO THIS IS A GOOD SUNDAY
TO TAKE STOCK. DO YOU HAVE A LITTLE CHILD THAT YOU'VE RECEIVED? NOT
A RELATIVE – THAT'S OBLIGATION. BUT JUST ONE PERSON THAT CAN'T
GIVE ANYTHING BACK; A PERSON WHO IS SHUT IN, WHO IS
INSTITUTIONALIZED, WHO IS SLIPPING AWAY PHYSICALLY OR MENTALLY; A
PERSON WHO COULD USE THE SIMPLE PRESENCE OF ANOTHER HUMAN BEING.
JESUS IS MAKING AN
ASTOUNDING CLAIM: OUR TREATMENT OF THE LOWLY, THE “NOBODIES OF THE
WORLD, IS THE MEASUREMENT OF OUR TREATMENT OF GOD HIMSELF. AND IF
YOU'VE RECEIVED SUCH A PERSON, YOU'VE RECEIVED JESUS CHRIST AND IF
THAT IS THE CASE, YOU'VE RECEIVED THE GOD WHO SENT HIM. ISN'T THAT A
GREAT INCENTIVE?
