Jesus sat down and summoned the Twelve. “So you want first place? The take the last place. Be the servant of all.” He put a child in the middle of the room. Then, cradling the little one in his arms, he said, “Whoever embraces one of these children as I do embraces me, and far more than me – God who sent me.” (Mark 9: 35 – 37) 

Mark had just gotten off a suburban train when an older woman came up to him and asked for directions. She was supposed to meet a friend who was taking a particular bus to a particular spot near the train station. Her English was a little broken, and the instructions her friend had given were less than complete.

Mark walked with her to what he thought was the nearest bus stop, but he wasn’t sure it was the right place. He was beginning to feel he was not really helping. While they were staring at the bus stop sign and trying to figure out what to do, they saw someone crossing the street coming toward them. She was a young woman, probably in her 20s, who was living with Down syndrome. “What are you looking for?” she asked.

“This woman’s friend told her she was talking the 250 bus, but we’re not sure we’re at the right stop,” Mark said. “Oh,” the young woman said, “you want the stop around the corner. I take that bus all the time to work.” Mark had forgotten about that bus stop. They thanked the young person, and just as quickly as she appeared, she disappeared around the corner. Mark directed the older woman to where she needed to be. In a small way, he felt God had sent a messenger that day.