Building Bridges

Yesterday at Mary Magdalene House we built a bridge - one that will make it easier and safer to reach the second floor of the house.  I thought it was a neat metaphor for what we are doing here in Alto da Esperança.

A bridge is not much of a place in and of itself, but it connects two places that are otherwise separated by a deep divide.  Traversing that space without a bridge would be perilous and difficult if not impossible.

In this sense, Mary Magdalene House is a bridge.  It will allow the residents of Alto who are seeking a connection with God, who are seeking to learn skills they will need to develop as human beings, who are seeking refuge and calm in the midst of the difficulties and chaos that reign in the favela, to do so quickly and safely.

Beyond the metaphor of Mary Magdalene House serving as a bridge to connect the people of Alto with the spiritual, we could see our evangelical vocation as becoming ourselves bridges for others to meet Christ.  The Sovereign Pontiff even bears "bridge," in his name.

How do we become bridges for others?  Well, it is quite simple.  St. Thomas Aquinas reminds us that thought we cannot believe for someone else, or love for someone else - both of these acts depend upon the freedom of the individual - we can in fact hope for someone else.  Divine Hope is what allows us to lean on God even when we know it is impossible to succeed by ourselves, "For man it is impossible, but for God all thing are possible."  We can thus become a divine bridge for others - hoping for them in the face of seemingly impossible situations.