Feb 26, 2024
"Father Damien was a priest who became famous for his willingness to serve lepers. He moved to Kalawao—a village on the island of Molokai, in Hawaii, that had been quarantined to serve as a leper colony. For 16 years, he lived in their midst. He learned to speak their language. He bandaged their wounds, embraced the bodies no one else would touch, preached to hearts that would otherwise have been left alone. He organized schools, bands, and choirs. He built homes so that the lepers could have shelter. He built 2,000 coffins by hand so that, when they died, they could be buried with dignity. Slowly, it was said, Kalawao became a place to live rather than a place to die, for Father Damien offered hope.
Father Damien was not careful about keeping his distance. He did nothing to separate himself from his people. He dipped his fingers in the poi bowl along with the patients. He shared his pipe. He did not always wash his hands after bandaging open sores. He got close. For this, the people loved him.
Then one day he stood up and began his sermon with two words: "We lepers…."
Now he wasn't just helping them. Now he was one of them. From this day forward, he wasn't just on their island; he was in their skin. First he had chosen to live as they lived; now he would die as they died. Now they were in it together.
One day God came to Earth and began his message: "We lepers…." Now he wasn't just helping us. Now he was one of us. Now he was in our skin. Now we were in it together." ~ John Ortberg, God Is Closer Than You Think
Why did Father Damian give his life in service to the people
on the island of Kalawao? He did so because that was the example
set for him...and all Christians by Jesus himself.
More then any word Jesus spoke, it was his actions of serving that
have most impacted each of us. It was Francis of Assisi who said,
"Preach the gospel at all times; if necessary, use words."
When each of us begins to model the actions of King Jesus in our
neighborhoods, our lives and our neighborhoods, literally begin to
change.
Also, there is one more biblical truth you need to be reminded of:
Jesus lives in your neighborhood; he lives in the form of that
person who needs to be helped by you, who needs to be served by
you. Jesus is the lonely kid who just needs somebody to play catch
with him. Jesus is the elderly widow who is dying of loneliness.
Jesus is that young couple who would give anything for a person
with a healthy marriage to come over and encourage them and say,
"You know what? You can make it through this. It's okay. We'll
help you."
Jesus said:
Jesus Christ is in your neighborhood, and he's waiting for you to reach out and serve him. He's waiting for you to choose to be a servant, not to serve just when it's convenient, but to serve because you are his disciple. To learn more about what this looks like in your life, give a listen to part seven of Come, Follow, Me.