Loving Others

 Joseph de Veuster was born in Belgium on January 3, 1840. The son of well-to-do parents, he entered the ministry and was ordained a priest in the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, HI in 1864, taking the name Father Damien.

On May 10, 1873, Father Damien traveled with Bishop Maigret and a shipload of lepers to Molokai, a leper colony. After two days Damien was willing to devote the rest of his life to the leper settlement. The bishop replied that he could stay as long as his devotion dictated. Father Damien accomplished amazing feats while residing on Molokai. Six chapels were built by 1875. He constructed a home for boys and later a home for girls. He bandaged wounds, made coffins, dug graves, led Mass every day, and so much more. In December 1884, Father Damien noticed severe blisters on his feet without the presence of pain. As he suspected, the disease was leprosy.

There are a number of community types that exist in our society. When we talk about community though, we have to recognize there are different levels of community within each of these types as well. For instance, we can have what I would call acquaintance level communities where people may know each other’s names and a few details about other people but that’s about it. There’s also what I would call friendship level or even family level communities where people are close and even involved in each other’s lives. But I think the deepest level is what one my call a radical or adherent community. One where people are so devoted to the community it becomes their lives. Some are a result of circumstances such as the leper colony in Molokai and some are formed because of interest and serve incredible purposes. To be a part of this type of community takes deep effort and sacrifice. Regardless, when we talk about building communities, especially with great levels of depth and within Christian circles, I think there’s one critical factor that must be present. That factor is love. Well no kidding, I think we all knew that fact. But I think it goes deeper and let me explain briefly. 1 Corinthians 13 is a passage I’m sure you are all familiar with. It’s the love chapter that we often associate with weddings. Let’s pick up right at verse one.

" Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, but have not love, I have become sounding brass or a clanging cymbal. And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries and all knowledge, and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, but have not love, I am nothing. And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, but have not love, it profits me nothing.

Love suffers long and is kind; love does not envy; love does not parade itself, is not puffed up; does not behave rudely, does not seek its own, is not provoked, thinks no evil; does not rejoice in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth; bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.

 Love never fails. But whether there are prophecies, they will fail; whether there are tongues, they will cease; whether there is knowledge, it will vanish away. For we know in part and we prophesy in part. But when that which is perfect has come, then that which is in part will be done away.

When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child; but when I became a man, I put away childish things. For now, we see in a mirror, dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I shall know just as I also am known.

And now abide faith, hope, love, these three; but the greatest of these is love."-1 Corinthians 13

Ok, some quick sociology. Most people will fall into one of three personality categories: visionary, ops, and marketing. All of these roles are essential and we can see how all three of these personalities can fit within these three verses. The gift of prophecy and faith for the visionary, the gift of service and making things happen for the ops, and the gift of speaking and understanding to the marketing. We need all of these roles within a community and I believe we can be doing all these things effectively without actually really loving other people. I mean think about the rest of this chapter and the qualities that are listed. Anger, rude behavior, selfishness, pride, impatience, and the list goes on. Do any of these poor attitudes or behaviors exist within your motivations or mindset within the communities you are in? Because if they do, we must honestly reconsider why we are doing what were doing. I mean we could be accomplishing amazing things, such as leading, setting goals, helping others succeed, and completing objectives. But it could all be in vain. If we don’t have love, it profits nothing. If the way we are acting isn’t what true love looks like, we are falling short.

I realize there is much that could be expounded upon but the brevity I hope reminds us of the shortness of life. Are you using the gifts you have right now in a way that is showing love? Sometimes it will cost us to do so or make us uncomfortable. But how we choose to love others will make a difference. We only get one shot at this for His glory. Father Damien died peacefully in 1889 on Molokai after 16 years of undaunted dedication to the leper colony. His likeness stands in the rotunda of the Hawaii state capitol, a hero. “I make myself a leper with the lepers to gain all to Jesus Christ.”