The way of many in the world today is to be independent and alone. The spirit of God, however, calls us to be a community, not to be individualistic.

The ideal in the world today, for some people, is to not be dependent on anybody, to be alone, to be strong, to stand on your own two feet. But in Christian community, there is the mystical body, many parts making up one body. There is community life and fellowship with one another. In brotherhood we see that we need one another to be with and to work with.

The spirit of God calls us to be a holy community. Sometimes it is difficult to live in community, because of correction, misunderstanding, quarrels, favouritism, or competition. Differences in race and nationality and colour can also bring about division. These differences need to be mended.

Love and will that are purposeful need to be practised continually. We must repair the breaches which will come between us. We struggle everyday to restore our relationship. We must be careful of individualism which all too easily separates us. We must be careful that sins, weaknesses, feelings, or mean spiritedness do not divide us.

We need to be purposeful in deciding that we will work among the wounded, the outcast, the poor, the forgotten and rejected. We are sensitive to our brothers and sisters who are most rejected, alienated, and ridiculed. We must be present, we must be open and willing to receive them. This is the work that is required by the religious whose life and work are sacrificial. For instance, people with HIV/AIDS are hated and rejected by their own. Religious people should be most open to them, care for them, and even take them in as their own.

As devoted religious men or women to the wounded Christ, we love and accept those in the streets; deformed children are thrown out by their own, people who are scorned, looked down upon and considered useless. We openly accept them. We are here to be where Jesus is, wounded and forgotten and alone. This is the sacrificial religious life that Jesus lived. These are the people the Lord has called to be loved by those who seek to be like Him.

Religious men and women are those who seek, above all, to be like Jesus. We are poor and we desire to serve the poor. We do not want to be personally rich; we do not want to be strong and individualistic. We receive our power and strength from the Lord. Also, our strength comes from community life given to us by God.

Actually, Jesus has built an interdependence between community members, friends, and families that brings about a great strength, joy, and happiness in Missionaries of the Poor. This is a joyful matter,

Servitium dulce cum Christo crucifixo. I have found a rich brotherhood of talented and faithful men that I would not have without the religious community of vowed men. But living in a brotherhood, there is much joy and fellowship between us in prayer, work, and even playfulness.

Moreover, my fellow Christians and fellow men see the great need we brothers have in service of the poor. They give graciously and generously to our work in building the kingdom of God with the poorest of the poor and the least, most forgotten of our brothers and sisters.

Father Richard Ho Lung is founder of Missionaries of the Poor, 87 Hanover Street, PO Box 8525, Kingston CSO, Jamaica.

Tel: (876) 550-8987. Email: mopfounder81@gmail.com

Web: www.missionariesofthepoor.org