Jean Vanier, the founder of L’Arche and son of a former Canadian governor general, was captivated by the Sermon on the Mount that Jesus delivers in Matthew chapters 5 through 7. He opened a home for people who are developmentally challenged in Trosly-Breuil, France. I am very saddened to hear about recent revelations about how he acted with the “least of these.”
But, nevertheless, the Sermon on the Mount is a powerful teachings of Jesus—the beatitudes of Matthew 5. Blessed are the poor in spirit…blessed are those who mourn…blessed are the meek. Christians are forced to wrestle with these deep realities, to understand them. The truth is that if we really stop to think about it, we are all highly dependent on Jesus. We, as humans, are all reliant on the sustenance of God the Father in our lives.
I worked at a L’Arche home, or foyer as they call them, in Ottawa during the summer of 2008. I learned a lot about myself and others during that experience. My eyes were opened wide to the human condition. The people I worked with taught me much about my own failings as I helped them with their daily medical and social needs. It was a very enriching, unique experience.
I’m so thankful that God loves every one of His children. He has no favourites. He loves us more than we could ever imagine!
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