September 9 is the feast of St. Peter Claver. St. Peter served as a missionary on the slave ships that arrived in Colombia, South America during the 17th century. He greeted the Africans, who had already spent months in squalid conditions, with a smile and a drink of water. He met them where they were at and attended to their bodily needs with water, food, and medicine. Only then did he introduce them to Jesus Christ, who "took the form of a slave" (Phil. 2:7). His dedication and service to his brothers and sisters brought about the conversion of 300,000 Africans over the course of 33 years.
How can we meet the needs of others when leading them to Christ?
Read Philippians 2:6-11. If Jesus thus humbled Himself, how are we called to be humble in our approach with others?
