My journey to Guatemala led me to the hospital/orphanage dedicated to Hermano Pedro. I learned this story of a simple, humble Fransican monk for whom the orphanage was named. Born in Spain, he emigrated to Guatemala in the early 1600's. After studying, without success, to be a priest, he became a Fransican brother.
Known as the "St. Francis of the Americas", Hermano Pedro had a love for those who were ignored and abandoned by society. This included the poor, the homeless, the imprisoned, and the disabled. While not "smart enough" to master the theology required for the priesthood, Hermano Pedro was a master at the theology of living out what he believed. He began a hospital, convalescent home, school for the poor, and spent his life serving Jesus who he saw in the least of these.
Hermano Pedro is a constant challenge to me. I tend toward the intellectual, spending years investigating Scripture and the "right theology" I found there. Moving to Guatemala, that's been all well and good. The people we serve, though, could care less about theology.
Our residents and those we serve have challenged me to look less at orthodox concepts and ideas about God (right thinking). They need and want to know Jesus, to know who He is and why knowing him matters. They seek more than words. They need to actually meet him.
I have learned here, that my love must be shown before anyone will listen to my ideas. Many have heard the Sunday school lessons, or the catechism about him. Few of those we serve, though, have experienced his love in action.
That is the challenge Hermano Pedro sets before me. It is not really a challenge from him, but from the Jesus who came poor, humble and rejected by his society. Am I willing to live out daily, what I believe? Concretely in action, not just in words.
Each day this looks different. Some days it is helping a child with autism learn to communicate. Other days it is teaching a mentally challenged child to read. It might be giving a sandwich to the homeless man who come to my door. Maybe it even looks like taking time to treat the market vendor as a person with dignity, not just a functionary who I am forced to deal with.
This is the challenge of Hermano Pedro and the Jesus he followed. Am I doing what I say I believe? Am I serving my Jesus in the least of these, treating them with dignity and respect, not pity and "charity"? Am I walking the talk?
This is my challenge, and yours. How are we doing?
