St Martin de Porres

"Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep." Lk 15:6

Sheep are interesting animals. Naturally communal, if the lead sheep does not eat from feed put out for the flock, none of the sheep will eat it. More, if one wanders off too from the flock, after a while it will lie down, stop eating and drinking, and wait to be found. No wonder sheep are such a powerful image for Jesus in the gospel. While at first it might seem strange that a shepherd would leave the ninety nine in search of the one sheep that was lost, it makes perfect sense when one realizes that without a worried shepherd searching for the lost sheep, the sheep is likely to die.

St. Martin de Porres never forgot who he was. The illegitimate child of a Spanish father and a black/native American mother, Martin thought of himself as one of the lost sheep and spent his entire life caring for the poor and slaves who he treated with great tenderness. Believing no slave was worthy of entering religious life, Martin worked alongside the Dominicans for years, until the friars, unable to ignore his dedication and love for the poor, urged him to make religious profession. For the rest of his life he waited upon the poor and the lost as if they were Christ himself.

Today, ask God for Martin's eyes so that you can see everyone around you as another Christ.

Are there people for whom you naturally avoid or reject?