What would you like to own more than anything else in the entire world? Would it be a sports car, a yacht, a beautiful mansion? What are these things worth to you? Jesus is telling us that following him and seeking the kingdom is worth even more than the thing we want most. As we learn more about the kingdom, the desire to attain it grows in us. We want to be in a place of perfect love and perfect peace, where there is no war or disease, no hatred or violence, no discrimination because of the color of our skin or the origin of our family, where people are respected and treated with dignity, and where all of us can live as sisters and brothers in Christ. What we need is what Solomon asked for: an understanding heart, so that we don’t judge others, but we love and serve one another and do what is right. And that’s not always an easy thing to do!
Last Sunday, our teens returned from our week-long mission trip in Washington D.C. And I wanted to share a little about our experience. Our theme for the week was “Bread…Broken…Shared” meaning that each of us is called to be bread for a hungry world. Each of us is called to love, to serve, and to transform. Our challenge was to enter into the lives of the people to whom we would serve, discovering their hungers and our own. Would the hunger be for food, community, justice, hope, joy, relationships, connection, compassion? It was clear that our teens experienced each one of those hungers in those we served.
Since our group was so large (we have 21 teens and 6 chaperones), we were divided into three groups. Each groups went to a different work site for the week. Our first group went to Washington Nursing Facility. This was a rehabilitation and nursing care facility. Our teens there did various tasks in the morning such as assisting with laundry, office work, etc. In the afternoon, they had a chance to meet and interact with the residents. This was very rewarding for them as they really connected with people of all ages.
Our second group went to Mary House, a facility that provides transitional housing services, shelter and support programs to homeless and struggling families, primarily immigrant and refugee parents and children. Our teens had a remarkable week there as they did outside manual labor in the mornings and worked their summer day camp in the afternoon. They had opportunities to bond and mentor the children and give them the attention and love that they needed. So many great stories came out of this work site.
Our last group went to work at Little Friends for Peace. This is a program that works to teach peace skills to children and adults to help counter the current culture of violence. Our teens worked at their Summer Peace Camp. Half our group worked with younger children, while the other half worked with older children. Our teens were able to work with these kids and teach them peace skills to help them deal with the anger that is a part of their lives. Our teens bonded with the children, and it was great to see the kids having someone to look up to and get the attention that they so desperately needed.
We learned so much during our mission trip this year. Here are the top five takeaways :
1. You cannot give what you do not have! You cannot bring Christ to others if you do not know Christ. You must first have a relationship with Jesus in order to share his love with others.
2. Charity is never convenient! Our teens learned that they need to shift their way of thinking. It’s not about me, but it’s about serving others. Sacrifice is needed, but it is so worth it!
3. Once you put a name to a face, you are ruined for life! Our teens met people who were homeless, poor and suffering. They know them by name, know their stories, and now they’re changed for life.
4. Someone has to do it – and you’re someone! We cannot sit by the curb and wait for someone else to help others. We have to be proactive and follow our baptismal calling to love and serve others.
5. Each of us can make a difference! Our teens learned that we can make a difference in this world, even if it’s only small steps. Mother Teresa said that we can do small things with great love, and that’s what matters.
The challenge that you and I have is that we find the courage to pray the prayer of Solomon: to ask the Lord to give us an understanding heart so that we can choose wisdom over riches and power and possessions; to distinguish right from wrong; to acknowledge our deficiencies yet realize our gifts and to use the gifts that we have been given; to do whatever we can in order to serve God and to serve God well; and to be bread, broken and shared for others, so that all people will experience the kingdom here on earth. That is our calling; that is our mission!
