SEE MY PEOPLE

ATTENTION FOR THE MAN ON THE SIDE OF THE ROAD

Who are these brothers anyway? What keeps them busy? What are their dreams, their ideals? How do they give shape in their daily lives to ‘mercy’ and ‘brotherhood’ - the two core concepts in the charism of the Brothers CMM? In this column ‘See my people’ we always let one of the brothers speak.

Vincent van Gogh, The Good Samaritan, 1890.

We most probably all know it. The story from the Gospel about the Good Samaritan. I am always very fascinated by it. Especially after it started playing an important role in the revitalization of the spirituality of our Congregation and was eventually expressed in the threefold phrase: ‘seeing - being moved - taking action’. Recently I wrote a song text (Dutch melody: Mens voor de mens te zijn), based on this beautiful story.

Refrain:

Walking along the road, sighted or nearly blind. Moved by one’s fellowman, who is left behind.

Walking to Jericho: a priest of God. Man lying on the road stays in his lot. To Refrain

Then from Jerusalem comes a Levite, who looks at everything, but still is blind. To Refrain

He was Samaritan, stranger to all, cared about pains of the suffering man. To Refrain

Took care of injuries with oil and wine, provided food and bed; he would be fine. To Refrain

Who was the neighbour then, who was with him? Be like that stranger and do as he did! To Refrain Attention for the man on the side of the road. I have tried to let this be a guiding principle for my life and work. In education, I chose special education. Young people who were struggling; plagued by all kinds of learning problems. They were having a hard time in their families and growing towards a dignified existence. Refugees who had left their country because of war or other misery and were not welcome in the Netherlands.

During my stay in De Vuurhaard, the brother house where refugees were received, the brothers and the refugees organized for some forty people a weekly dinner with menus from the countries where the refugees came from. After dinner I told the guests about refugees and explained that my inspiration for working with refugees came from the story of the Good Samaritan. I also made them aware of the fact that nearly everybody must deal with ‘seeing - being moved - taking action’. And that all of us, sometimes in small ways and sometimes in big ways, are like that Samaritan, who cares about the fate of the man on the side of the road. Thus, we all can all be merciful in our own way.

Brother Ad de Kok CMM, The Netherlands

CHRISTIAN LOVE SHALL BE THE DRIVING FORCE BEHIND THE EXERCISE OF ALL AUTHORITY IN THE CONGREGATION.

(from the Rule of Life of the Brothers CMM)