As we sat around the dinner table at one of the L'Arche communities in Trosly, France, all of us-guests and staff-marveled at the love that is constantly shown in these communities, founded by Jean Vanier, for the developmentally disabled. These L'Arche communities, founded by Vanier in France in 1964 and now spread throughout the world, bring together in a loving community both those with learning disabilities and those who care for their every need. Vanier's goal was to create a community in which the disabled would be unconditionally accepted and loved by those who chose to live with them. His vision was and continues to be inspired by the Gospel of St. Matthew:

Then the king will say to those on his right, “Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.”

Then the righteous will answer him and say, “Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?”

And the king will say to them in reply, “Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers [or sisters] of mine, you did for me.” (25:34-40)

This passage from St. Matthew makes us realize that Jesus is loved and cared for whenever we care for the sick, the hungry, the homeless, and the unwanted.

But the members of the L'Arche communities who care for those who are disabled realize that they are greatly enriched by those whom society does not value, the ones whom they serve. In speaking of what is at the heart of the L'Arche Movement, Vanier says:

The mystery we discover at L'Arche is that the one who is rejected because of his [or her] handicap is the one who leads us to Jesus and transforms us.

The handicapped and the rejected become the ministers of healing for those who care for them. The L'Arche Movement challenges all of us to move beyond the outward appearances of power, status, and prestige to the inner realm of beauty that is always present in every human being and invites us to love them unconditionally.

We are also challenged in those times of darkness, depression, and seeming despair to move beyond the trust we place in our own strength and power to a place of complete trust in our loving God, so that we can be grasped by the outstretched and saving hand of Jesus. As Jesus saved Peter when Peter was afraid he was drowning because of the wind, so the Lord will grasp our hand and place us upon a dry and safe shore when we are afraid of perishing from the sufferings that afflict us. All of us-handicapped, despairing, suffering, and those burdened by life-are the “least brothers [and sisters] of” the Lord.