In the Distressing Disguise of the Poorest of the Poor

Be with us Mary along the way, guide every step we take. Lead us to Jesus, your loving Son, come with us Mary come. No man can live as an island, journeying through life alone, since we're most loved by a Mother, Jesus gave us His own.

Oh most pure and loving heart, of my Mother and my Queen, grant that I may love Thee, love Thee daily more and more. Grant that I may love Thee, love Thee daily more and more.

Oh, the familiar songs of the Missionaries of Charity is like a homecoming to me. There is something so peaceful, so joyful, so welcoming in the heart of every Sister that I have met from Appalachia to Moscow, from Atlanta to Nairobi. And that something is actually a Someone...Jesus.

Everyone knows Mother Teresa of Calcutta. She recognized Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor, and it was her desire to give every human being the love and dignity in death that is their God given right as a soul made in His image and likeness. Her Sisters continue to minister to the least in God's kingdom. It takes enormous amounts of Grace to reach out, to touch, to embrace, to love the ones that repulse our human nature. It is only through emptying oneself and becoming filled with the Holy Spirit that we are even capable of such love.

These Sisters have done this.

And these Sisters continue to ask for this Grace daily, lest they fall back on human strength - strength that is feeble, weak, inadequate. Let them look up and see no longer us, but only Jesus, is their daily prayer.


Ania and I were given the opportunity to serve Jesus in the distressing disguise of the poorest of the poor at bible camp in Atlanta this week. These children may not appear to many to be the poorest of the poor. They have their physical needs met, but not all poverty is physical. In fact, spiritual poverty is more devastating because there are eternal consequences, and the decay of one's soul is not so obvious as a physical wasting away. Our mission is to know, love and serve Jesus who is present in each of these children. We are praying for the Grace. It is only by this same Grace that any of us have become spiritually rich.

Bible camp is long. It is hot. It is loud. The children challenge us to rely on the Grace. The closer we get to the children, however, the better we can see Jesus, and friendships begin to form.

And when we return to the Sisters' home at the end of the day, we come to the chapel to spend time with Jesus in the quieter moments. We cannot serve Jesus from our depletion. We must come and be refilled daily.

Thank you, Jesus, for inviting us to go beyond ourselves, and to learn to recognize you in those around us. Amen