The real deal.

Over lunch at a conference not too long ago, a friend and I were discussing the talk we'd just heard by a Catholic Worker about the connection between the Eucharist and her community life with the poor at her house. Though it was certainly not the speaker's intention, I think we were both feeling a little humbled by our comparison of her challenging way of living the gospel and our, well, more comfortable approach. "You know," my friend said, "it's sometimes hard to figure out how to really be Christian, but the Workers certainly have one right way of doing it." I couldn't argue with that.

The same could be said of L'Arche, a collection of communities that join developmentally disabled "core members" with "assistants" who share their lives. Its founder, Jean Vanier, appears as an Expert Witness in this issue ("Humanity professor," pages 18-22). Like the poor of the Catholic Worker, the core members of L'Arche often exist on the edge of the human family, pitied for their "weakness," perhaps, or even segregated from "normal people." Rather than seeing disability, however, Vanier and the members of L'Arche see human beings hungry for relationship, who in turn offer the gift of a truly open heart and a truly human community.

This month's cover story, too, challenges any who bear the name Christian as we in the U.S. struggle with the complex reality of immigration ("These American lives," pages 12-17). The tragic stories of the paperless millions harshly labeled "illegal" can't be ignored, and it's hard to deny that the measure of any disciple is how she or he welcomes the stranger.

Of course being a Christian also means coming together in tough times, and the Catholic community of New Orleans is a case in point. Jason Berry provides a snapshot of how Catholics are struggling--and succeeding--to rise above the hurricane's flood ("New Orleans rising," pages 24-29).

As students head back to school, this special education issue offers guidance for Catholic parents of public school kids ("Going public," pages 34-36) as well as insights from Catholic campus ministry ("Continuing ed," pages 30-33). Which reminds me, passing on the faith is yet another task for us Catholic folk.

Serving the poor, welcoming the stranger, bringing those on the edge to the center, passing on what we have received--Jesus certainly left us with a long to-do list. Perhaps that's why the church gathers so many, all of us trying to live the gospel in the best way we can.

I'm still feeling a little challenged in my Catholic comfort by the likes of Vanier, the immigrants and those who serve them, parents, and those who live and work with the poor. But the fact that I'm joined with them in a church like ours keeps me going. Maybe a little of their courage and grace will rub off on me!