Love Incarnate

So I am reading Jean Vanier this aft...after a great morning of worship! And this part is so great I have to tell you, because it is about us at CV.

Jean writes "L'Arche (his organization of group homes for the mentally handicapped) is special, in the sense that we are trying to live in community with people who are mentally handicapped. Certainly we want to help them grow and reach the greatest independence possible. But before 'doing for them', we want to 'be with them'. The particular suffering of the person who is mentally handicapped, as of all marginalized people, is a feeling of being excluded, worthless and unloved. It is through everyday life in community and the love that must be incarnate in this, that handicapped people can begin to discover that they have a value, that they are loved and so are lovable." (bold and italics mine)

This is what we want to do at CV - to 'be with them' before 'doing for them'. And when we do that, they become a part of us, and we are all changed into the image of Jesus. And then together we 'be with' the next person, and the next...He is Emmanuel - God with us. May we reflect Him, every day.