My thanks truly to Joyce and Dennis for their Kogent Komments which deserve a thoughtful reply which I will post when I have a bit more time and energy.. but to go along with Joyce's word, "incarnational," I offer another quote from Lance Nixon's article on Down's : It is from Dietrich Bonhoffer's work:
"The exclusion of the weak and insignificant, the seemingly useless people, from a Christian community may actually mean the exclusion of Christ; in the poor brother Christ is knocking at the door."
Also mentioned in the article are such persons as Henri Nouwen, a favorite author of mine, who gave up theology/academics to serve "Adam," a very brain damaged and immobile person residing at one of the "L'Arche" shelters inspired by communitarian Jean Vanier. I will be referring to Amos Yong's book, "Theology and Down syndrome; Reimagining Disability in Late Modernity,"as soon as I am able.
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The Body of Christ truly is enriched when those with Down Syndrome are among them. Holy Spirit Community, Naperville, has a great group of young people with disabilities, several with Down's who serve in liturgical ministry and other roles. Their parents raised them with great love and advocated for their inclusion in school, sports and parish community. Adam, aged 22, and Bridget, age 24,are high functioning, genuinely funny, and the most grateful young people I have ever met. They KNOW that their family and community have been there for them. What they add to the Body of Christ is a simple joy in being who they are, that is all-too-foreign to most 'normal' adults... and it is the fruit of great love and great expectations for their success in life. Faith, hope and love - and the greatest of these is love...
ReplyDeleteHOLY SPIRIT COMMUNITY!!!MY POINTS EXACTLY IN 3 LITTLE WORDS!SEE NEXT POST ON ARTICLE I.
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