This is a syndicated post from Daily Meditations with Fr. Alfonse. [Read the original article...]
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The Mother of Jesus and his brothers arrived at the house. Standing outside, they sent word to Jesus and called him… But he said to them in reply, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking around at those seated in the circle he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers. For whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.”
Who are my brothers and sisters? Michael Garcia is a kind and simple man. He doesn’t look for fights. He works as a waiter in a Houston restaurant and loves what he does. But most of all, he loves the families he has met. One family in particular are regulars. They have a young son, Milo, who has Down syndrome.
Milo is five-years-old and, of course, is a little rambunctious. When Garcia saw a patron at the restaurant making fun of the child, he remained calm. But when he overheard the patron say: “Special needs kids need to be special somewhere else”, that was the last straw. Garcia politely told the person that he would not be serving him. The individual got up and left the restaurant.
We need to stand up and stand out! There is much to fear if we do. But there is even more to fear if we don’t. The Lord has made it very clear who we are in relation to each other: We are our brother’s keeper.” The Lord has made it very clear who we are in relation to Him: Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.
Recently, a young Ursuline student by the name of Kristen Beach was featured in the Texas Catholic. I know Kristen. She is a brilliant student and a radiant young lady. She loves school, but she loves kids even more. But most of all, she loves kids who have special needs. She works as a volunteer for Best Buddies, an organization that creates opportunities for children with special needs to not feel left out. She has done fantastic work with these kids. But I personally believe that her greatest accomplishment has been to get other students from Ursuline to put their heart, mind and soul into this amazing organization. As a fruit of her labor, she has won the hearts of “her kids”, her classmates and her classmates to these kids.
There are plenty of examples of teens reaching out to others and to their peers. Here’s one and here’s another.
Who are my brothers and sisters? 90% of children with Down syndrome are terminated in the United States of America. Not surprisingly, there is no evidence that suggests a lower termination rate for couples who are very well off. Only couples who are committed Christians, have much lower termination rates. Most know well who their brothers and sisters are: The socially awkward, the crippled, the sick, the lepers, the blind, the forgotten, the abandoned, the ridiculed, the hated, the lost.
Who are my brothers and sisters? It’s easy to forget the obvious. It’s easy to dismiss the people who share your last name.
Yes, while we are all working very hard in “saving the world” and highlighting “human rights” issues in various parts of the world, let’s not forget our very own parents, brothers and sisters that are home alone. Let’s not forget our very own, especially our younger siblings who are seeking love, compassion, understanding and an ear from us. Let’s not forget them my dear teenagers! Let’s not forget them my dear adults!
Although it is not recorded in Scripture, I have no doubts that once the Lord heard that his mother and brothers and sisters were outside, he immediately instructed his disciples to let them in.
The Lord has made it clear He wants us in. Have we made it clear we want Him in?
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