Watching my ducks, I realised how cruel the law of nature is and how it makes no room for the most vulnerable: baby ducks born with disabilities or strangers straying from their nests will never survive. The law of nature is “every person for him/herself” or “let the best win”; it’s the law of the strongest. The most vulnerable will perish and be eliminated. Only the strongest survive.

However, that is not the case with the rule that Jesus Christ teaches us: the rule of love. On the contrary, he tells us to look out for the little ones: “Let the little children come to me; do not stop them, for theirs is the kingdom of God” (Mk 10:14); “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven” (Mt 5:3); he tells us to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters (Jn 15, 13) and, in particular, those in need: “For I was hungry and you gave me to eat…” (Mt 25:35); “Truly I say to you: in as much as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25:40).

In the community

We don’t need to go far to experience this. I have been given opportunities every day in my community to embrace Christ’s law of love rather than the law of nature: allowing others to serve themselves first at the table or leaving them the best portions rather than rushing to get a good share; handing over my wages and income to the Society rather than keeping them for personal use; choosing a simple lifestyle rather than demanding comfort; sacrificing myself for the sake of others…

This is all the more true given that, sometimes, some of my confreres in the community who have taken to addictions and/or who have lost focus of their vocation as apostles. Accepting them as they are, without judging or criticising them, living with them, seeing them through the loving eyes of Jesus, and bearing the unpleasant consequences are all aspects of the mission to the most vulnerable. They also remind me of my weaknesses and vulnerabilities; and it is in a spirit of solidarity and brotherhood that we can journey together.

Outside

I don’t necessarily have to go far to encounter other vulnerable people: there are young people on our streets who manage as best they can, who “pick through” the rubbish bins in village halls, use drugs, get into fights and hurt themselves. We also have a serviceman next door who has ruined himself with drugs, dressing in plastic and sacks and sometimes frightening some of our visitors. There again, it’s all about seeing them through the eyes of Jesus, chatting with them when they ask questions, and gradually building bridges in our daily lives. The street children once returned our dog, who had run away, and I rewarded them. We involve them in our ‘salongo’ operations to collect rubbish and refuse from our street. And we reward them with some food.

Then there are the beggars who spend their days waiting for a small gesture from passers-by. Although I may not have anything to give them, at least I can say hello. There are the regulars at every Sunday Mass. I try not to always give to the same people. I welcome the smile and thanks of a little disabled lady as a blessing.

Lenten sharing

Our Lenten effort this year (2024) was boosted by the initiative of the faithful who pray with us. Their donations (money, loincloths, salt, soap) enabled us to help patients hospitalised at Fomulac and experience intense moments of shared joy. Some needy patients who could not pay their bills were discharged. It was a joy to give and to receive, divine joy, the joy of a growing kingdom.

These acts of sharing are well known to our confreres in the parishes. They are organised through Caritas services and the apostolates of the faithful. The parishes of Bukavu take it in turns to take food to prisoners in the central prison and the sick in the provincial hospital. In the parish of Katoy, distributions have been organised for internally displaced people, who are refugees in makeshift camps on the outskirts of Goma. These occasional apostolic gestures and acts of charity should always be renewed: “You will always have the poor with you” (Jn 12:8).

Other institutions

More durable structures are designed to help different categories of vulnerable people, like the Heri Kwetu Centre for the Disabled, the provincial hospital’s social service for the destitute sick, etc. Our confrere Bernard Ugeux, thanks to a network of friends and benefactors, contributes to the running of the Nyota Centre for welcoming, providing vocational training for a period of 3 to 5 years, and reintegrating vulnerable young girls who have suffered violence. In addition, he supervises a carpentry workshop in Kamituga, which provides training for young boys who are exploited in the mines. These structures depend financially on benefactors to function, but they empower people to get back on their feet and break out of their vulnerable situations, which is priceless.

However, beware of excesses! For these actions to be authentic manifestations of the Christian faith, they must be inspired by Christ’s law of love and not by natural law: how many NGOs make a living out of people’s vulnerability without really putting the vulnerable first?

By his incarnation and death, born of love on the cross, Jesus Christ, God, made himself the most vulnerable. May his example guide and inspire us!

By: Pierre Petitfour, M.Afr.