Yesterday was the feast day of Saint Luke, the Evangelist. A rich source of inspiration especially for those who work for social justice, Luke's gospel highlights the saving mission of Christ extended first to those most marginalized by society. At Bahay Pag-asa Youth Centers, this gospel is uniquely lived out. The young people served by the center are among the most marginalized of kids and come from some of the most economically distressed families I have ever met. And yet, they have no desire to seek sympathy or to make excuses for wrongdoing. Instead, they join with the staff each year to extend their own mission and services to the community - as volunteer gardeners, mentors to neglected youth, and even as musicians. When I ask them what they want to do with their lives, the most common answer is, "I want to help children who have problems like I had."
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