Two of Brittany’s nephews came to visit this weekend.  After the usual meal at Houston’s and playtime at Audubon Park on Saturday, they came to Mass with us at St. Joan of Arc, a black parish with a new Pastor and a fantastic and prayerful Gospel Choir.

But the best part of the entire weekend came this past afternoon.  After having spent the day walking around the French Quarter, Jaden and Jorden insisted on taking yet another “nature walk” in the park across from their Aunt Mea’s house near the St. Thomas Community Development.  Your average 4 and 6 year olds would be satisfied with chasing a dog down the street or playing catch with a random tennis ball they found.  But these two… they are definitely inspired to acts of service.

  We found a plastic bag, a random Wal-Mart cart and lots of pieces of trash to pick up.  They made a game out of it: Jaden got to sit in the shopping cart and Jorden rode tummy-down on the bottom part of the cart.  Every time he saw a piece of trash he would pick it up and extend his hand above his head to give it to his brother who would then proceed to put it neatly in the bag.  They insisted on going around the entire park.  Their excitement got me and Brittany picking up trash as well!

These two, in addition to other children who continue to cross our path, compel us to be better people of faith.  In today’s Gospel, Jesus instructs his disciples:

“Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me;
and whoever receives me,
receives not me but the One who sent me.”
Mark 9:37

At a time when Jesus’s followers began to discuss their roles in the Kingdom of God, Jesus puts a child in the midst.  He teaches that the child is our example.  The child is the one we are to become.  The child is the one we are to serve.  The child has no property, no rights, no identity.  The child is the “least of these.”  The child is not independent.  In fact, the child is dependent.

Our role in social settings does not determine our holiness.  Neither does the amount of money or property we possess.  Our holiness is determined by how we receive those who cannot pay us back or cannot be in mutual relationship with us.  Our relationship with God lies in the tension of being of service to those poorer than ourselves.

Jaden and Jorden taught me what being of service to the poor means… as simple as taking responsibility for our communities by cleaning up one piece of litter at a time.  That’s where we find our humanity.  That’s where we continue to experience our dignity as human persons made in the image and likeness of God.

Take a good hard look at the people around you this week.  Who are the children God places in your midst?  What example can you learn from them?  Are you resistant to these new lessons?  What must you do to remain open to God’s ways each day?

For those of you in New Orleans, consider coming out and playing with us this coming Saturday.  JustPlay is a monthly activity in the Lower Ninth Ward targeted at increasing public activities for youth and their families.  We would love to have you.