The greatest among you will be your servant. All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted. Matthew 23:11-12

Most social workers don’t last long working among the homeless. For starters, many of them have the title but not the training. It is not really their fault. The State hires a bunch of people and sends them out into the streets without any preparation. They don’t usually do anything beyond gathering names and personal information of the homeless, both adults and children. They wear a vest that says they are social workers. Furthermore, they are underpaid and work extremely long hours. Most of them do this work because they need the employment.

The job description put out by the State paints a rosy picture of reality. Actually, we can say this about almost every job description. They look wonderful on paper but everything goes downhill when we add the human element to it. The homeless, both adults and children, are not really the easiest people. They are not worse than the rest of humanity. They are just like us but live in a situation not permiting them to hide their emotional baggage. We have the the privilege of personal privacy. As a result, they don’t like people prying into their personal life. These social workers are supposed to do exactly this which makes their life even more difficult. Therefore, it is not a surprise that most of the social workers don’t last very long in this work. It is a terrible system. However, this post is not about the failure of the social services. It is about Nubia, an ingenuous social worker whom we thought wasn’t going to make through a month.

There is nothing wrong with her. To the contrary, she is a lovely person and very likable. She has a bubbly personality with an overdose of optimism. She was so optimistic that she made one wonder if she was working with all her mental faculties. I am aware that this is a terrible thing to say but these were the thoughts going through my mind. We thought that she was just a little too ingenuous for the street work. Maybe it has something to do with my own personality. I am not exactly a bubbly person nor an extrovert, therefore, I could have found her enthusiasm and optimism little overwhelming. It’s possible. However, this is not about me. It is about Nubia.

We met her about eight years ago. The social workers don’t usually interact with us. Nevertheless, Nubia is gregarious by nature and she couldn’t stop herself from connecting with us. She was always curious and observed whatever activities we did with the children. She liked the way they interacted with us and she started imitating us. Personally it was rather flattering. We colored with children and teens using coloring books which had more sophisticated and attractive designs. Nubia could not afford to buy these books and her work did not provide any funding to do activities as such. Instead, she resorted to the internet and printed out cheap and rudimentary designs meant for little children. She attempted to color these with the teens and it worked. I think the children liked doing things with her for the same reason they liked doing things with us. They sensed that we liked being with them. Nubia was different from the rest of the social workers. For her, it was more than just a job. She really loved the homeless youth. Even then, we still didn’t think she was going to last long. This time we thought that her supervisors would not tolerate someone like her. However, Nubia was stronger than we expected. She outlasted all of her colleagues. In fact, the children and teens recognized her as the most loving social worker in the streets.

The State likes to shift the social workers around which creates another problem. The homeless find it hard to develop a relationship of trust with them because of this. Perhaps this is the intention. There is an idea floating around that one can do a task effectively if they are not invested emotionally. We hardly saw Nubia for years. We almost forgot about her to be honest. Then a couple of days ago, we ran into her. She looks much calmer now. Maybe it is just because she is older. We can still the flame burning brightly in her. She was dying to share something with us. She explained that her job description is changing every week according to the whims of whoever is in-charge. For the present moment, she is responsible for finding permanent shelters for homeless adults. She frequently sees some of the children and teens we knew over the last ten years. Obviously, most of them are adults now. She shared that she was helping one of them find a permanent shelter when he asked her if she knew us. She said that he mentioned us by name. Then he got emotional and shared with her that he really appreciated the time he spent with us in the streets. He remembers all the times we colored with him. It was strange that this was the very activity that Nubia was drawn to when she saw us with the children. For us, personally, it was just an activity to do with the children. We thought that it stimulated their minds and it was good for them to engage in something peaceful. However, both Nubia and this young man saw something more profound in this simple activity. Nubia even got emotional as she shared with us this story. She said that the young man wanted us to know that he will never forget us. We asked her for the name of the young man. She couldn’t remember exactly. It wasn’t surprising since she sees so many people on a daily basis.

After our encounter with her, we were deeply encouraged. It is not that we ever doubted the value of what we do but it is still life affirming to know that someone recognizes it. I realized something about Nubia that moment. Something perhaps I overlooked over the years. I just saw her superficial nature but there is something deep and really special about her. She wasn’t as naive as I thought. She has to be pretty grounded in reality to persevere in a work where people are reduced to mere numbers. We, by comparison, have it easier. No one questions nor restricts our participation in the lives of the homeless youth whereas her efforts are constantly being undermined by those above her. Despite all these obstacles, Nubia always sees and finds goodness in everything she does. She doesn’t just identify them but seeks to imitate goodness without any hypocrisy nor falsehood. She is humble enough to recognize that she needs to learn how to serve people in this world. She does so because she finds joy in doing it. Nubia did not need to have the conversation with us. She did not need to do more than her job requires. She did not need to listen to the young man share his heart with her. She did all these things because they are good things to do. She knew intuitively that being a servant of all is the best way to live your life. Most importantly, she has a quality that I consider to be saintly. She has an infectious spirituality inspiring people to become better and loving people.

We just celebrated All Saint’s day. Usually, it is a day we remember saints whose stories are told in the traditional sense. They are stories filled with miracles and legends. Even though the intentions are to highlight the selfless dedication of these great people it creates a barrier between us and them. It makes it impossible for us to imitate them. We need to identify the saintly people who are more like us; people with the strange quirks and imperfections which all of us possess. However, despite all these human limitations, they are still able to touch people with God’s eternal love in the most profound way.

I don’t regret making a swift judgment about Nubia. It has taught me a valuable lesson. Maybe I should say it reminded me. I need constant reminders. Saints come in all shapes and forms. Sometimes they appear in places where we least expect or in people we think are too naive and optimistic. Nubia is all of these but most importantly she is a servant who wants to spread God’s love wherever she goes. She does this naturally. I still think that she is ingenuous but it doesn’t matter. She is a saint because she inspires others to become more saintly. She has inspired me. I am sure that there is a saintly person close to you too. We just have open our eyes and ears to discern their presence.

Show me the coin used for the tax. And they brought him a denarius. Then he said to them, ‘Whose head is this, and whose title?’ They answered, ‘The emperor’s.’ Then he said to them, ‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’ Matthew 22:19-21

I noticed her before we crossed the road. It would be an understatement to say her behavior was peculiar. Many would have written her off as a crack addict. Unfortunately, no one noticed her. She was invisible to those who passed her. It wasn’t deliberate. They are just doing what they do everyday. They are absorbed in their own worries and concerns. The present day technologies do not help any. Then she did something I suspected she was going to do from the beginning. She stripped off her top and walked around with her top half exposed. She was just skin and bones. No one noticed her even in this distressing state. She was truly like the character of H.G. Wells’ novel. Only difference is that people acknowledged the presence of the Invisible Man when he had his clothes on. Maybe it was her intention to gain visibility without hers. She was on the other side of the street. Although I am not sure what we would have done if we were close by. Mostly likely nothing. It is hard to respond rationally to such a strange situation. She should be somewhere where she could receive treatment and attention. Such a place doesn’t exist for someone like her. She is homeless and, therefore invisible to the concerns of the “Empire”.

We had to stay focused. There are so many things demanding our attention and we can be easily distracted. We continued on our way to meet our homeless young people. The first person we stumbled upon was Bruno. The first thing he did was to wake his dog up to let it know that we had arrived. Lala came up and greeted us. She is a healthy terrier mixed mutt, perhaps a little overweight. Bruno spoils her a lot. He was in good spirits today. He told us that he has been waiting for us all day. We found a quiet spot and sat on the floor. I am not sure when this happened but sitting on the ground has become a feat nowadays, not to mention getting up.

The children have changed location and as always we go where they are. They are presently in a place known as the Japan Town of São Paulo about a block away from where we used to meet them. The actual name of this place “Liberdade” which means “Liberty”. Sounds like a promising name but unfortunately history tells a different story. A quick research revealed that it was a place where the “unruly” slaves seeking freedom were hanged. Death was considered their final and only possible liberty. It was formerly known as the “Fields of the Gallows” before being renamed. The first Japanese immigrants settled here about a hundred years ago. Now, most of the Brazilians of Japanese descent have moved on to other areas and the tourists have invaded this place. Most of them do not realize that most of the stores are now owned by recent Chinese immigrants, not Japanese. Furthermore, it has become the ideal place for our children and teens especially for those who stay away from criminal activities. There is ample food here and they can beg without any problems.

Bruno was keen to talk about something “the emperor” is doing in the world. It was nothing new really. The “emperors” of this world are not very creative. Despite this, it doesn’t stop people from talking about the latest actions of the “Emperor”. It is the conversation topic which follows the weather. Bruno read the headlines of the newspaper. Like almost everyone, he already had formed an opinion about the matters concerned.

A few days ago, he shared with us a childhood memory, something which he rarely does. Most of our children and teens are reticent about their childhood memories. It takes years of relationship building to get to this point. Bruno grew up in an orphanage most of his life. He shared about his first day in school and how he was among the first to read. Of course, he had help but he can not remember how or who helped him. He said that he had memorized the national hymn completely by the age of 7. The Brazilian national hymn is one of the most complex national hymns I have heard and it has an awkward melody which makes one wonder what was going on in the minds of the original composers. Not many adults know all the words to the hymn. Our children and teens tend to exaggerate many things but in this instance, Bruno wasn’t making this up. We have know him for almost ten years. We can testify that this young man is extremely intelligent. He loves to write things he has observed or read in his notebook daily. He writes purely for the love of writing. We have bought tons of notebooks for him and within a month or so, he would have them filled with little notes. Unfortunately, he has been invisible all his life and no one ever paid any attention to his intelligence nor potential. Now, he begs in the streets. There was a time when he was inspired to do great things but then he realized that he will always be an invisible person in this society. The “emperor” does not see Bruno at all, let alone know all his potential. It is the not the fault of a particular “emperor”. It is just how the empires of this world function. People like Bruno are always invisible.

We told Bruno that we rather not talk about what the “emperor” is doing instead we wanted to play a game. He enthusiastically agreed. Where we sat, there are several benches and an elderly tourist was sitting and resting on one. She was curious about us but tried not to show it. I caught her eavesdropping on our conversations. Then two Chinese immigrants came by and watched us play the game. They made some comments in Mandarin to each other and were smiling. I assumed that it was something positive. Maybe they were making a joke at our expense. No harm done. As long as they got a good laugh out of it. Soon after the other children joined us. It was like the movie, “if you build it… ” The elderly woman started searching frantically for something in her handbag. Almost like a cliché, she took out a box of candy and gave it to the teens. They smiled and thanked her and then she went away.

Sometimes, these invisible people wear a tragic mask. Consequently, we are tempted to look away because it is too difficult and heart wrenching. It doesn’t have to be a homeless person. It can be a lonely neighbor. It can be people we meet in the grocery store who are a little awkward and strange. It can be someone very close to us. We can walk by these invisible people constantly without noticing them because our minds are distracted. Many times with things which have very little bearing in our daily lives. We might be listening about what the emperor is doing in the world while missing out on noticing the Kingdom of God being manifested in our reality. The Kingdom of God makes the invisible people of this world visible to us. However, we don’t see their presence merely in the tragic sense but the Spirit of God helps us go beyond the superficial and discover the beautiful face of our King present.

The elderly woman sitting at the bench saw something and she wanted to be part of it. She reached into her bag and found something to help her connect with us. She was rendering something to God. In doing so, she helped us see something beautiful present in her. It was a simple gesture but performed a miracle. It destroyed the lie that our boys are invisible.

‘Give therefore to the emperor the things that are the emperor’s, and to God the things that are God’s.’

Many times people have these words to promote the interest of the Empire. However, Jesus is setting the limits here. The empire always makes loud noises to call attention to itself. However, the concerns of the empire, more often than not, seek to strengthen the “emperor”. The small still voice of the heavenly King beckons us to do things to make a difference in the lives of people. They may not be great deeds which gain recognition of the empire. In the Kingdom of God, simple gestures, like sharing candy, go a long way. It is just enough to show someone that they are not invisible.

In the Kingdom of God, we can be valuable citizens who make significant difference in others. However, we can not do anything significant if we are constantly distracted by the voices of the empire. We have to decide to listen attentively to God’s Spirit and only then we will learn how to render to God the things that are God’s.

Then he said to his slaves, “The wedding is ready, but those invited were not worthy. Go therefore into the main streets, and invite everyone you find to the wedding banquet.” Those slaves went out into the streets and gathered all whom they found, both good and bad; so the wedding hall was filled with guests. But when the king came in to see the guests, he noticed a man there who was not wearing a wedding robe, and he said to him, “Friend, how did you get in here without a wedding robe?” And he was speechless.- Matthew 22:8-12

For a long time, I was just “Uncle” to our children and teens. Everyone who is older is “uncle” and “auntie” in the streets. This respect for older people is ingrained in them. Eventually, we became Uncle Stephen and Auntie Mary. We made the transition from being anonymous people who deserve respect to becoming someone meaningful to them. It took our children years to address us by our names. Moreover, in the recent years, they introduce me to curious passers-by as a priest. This is a new development. It is because the older youth have access to the internet and they saw a picture of me in my clericals. It just takes one to notice and soon the news spread. Now they are aware that I am a priest. They want the world to know that they have their own priest among them. However, they still address us “Uncle Stephen” and “Auntie Mary”. Sometimes the “smarter but lazier” ones call us collectively as “Uncle Mary” or “Auntie Stephen”.

I never revealed the fact that I was a priest, neither did I hide the fact. They always knew that our ministry is about knowing and sharing the person of Jesus. However, I wanted my vocation to manifest itself naturally through our relationship with the children. Unfortunately, words like “pastor” and “priest” are meaningless to our children. They never grew up in a church and now they don’t feel completely welcomed in one. Not that churches are hostile towards them. They just don’t feel like they have the right “clothes”. They feel like everyone knows that they are homeless and outsiders.

All of our children think that there is a price tag of some sort to be accepted and they can’t afford to pay it. They learned this through observation. It is the spirituality being lived out in society. We decided to make sure that they understood that we are here for them without any conditions. However, this is easier said than done. “Without conditions” means accepting the good and the bad, just like the invitation extended in the parable. In the streets, nothing is hidden. One sees bad actions committed before one’s very eyes and it often leaves a bad taste in one’s mouth. Consequently, including the bad is hard. Nevertheless, these are the ones who surprise us most of the time. The ‘good’ ones many times forget to dress properly for the banquet. They end up taking things for granted. They often think that having accepted the invitation is sufficient. This is also something that they observed in the society.

This parable is quite scandalous. Most of us can accept the first without much controversy. Usually, we read from the perspective as one who has accepted the invitation. Therefore, we imagine that these people have nothing to do with us. Unfortunately, Jesus never stops where it is convenient for us. He goes further. The last part is perhaps the most disturbing for modern ears, especially after having been taught about God’s unconditional love and acceptance. The ending to this parable seems to imply rejection. Perhaps the most polemic part of it was that the guest was rejected for not wearing the proper clothes. It sends a confusing message, especially to our homeless children.

As a young man, when I read this parable, I was a little disturbed. Clothes distinguish us from each other. People wear clothes to reflect their status. People wear certain clothes to make a statement about themselves. Some use them to show their affiliations. The children knew I was a priest because of the clothes I wore in the pictures. The poor and desolate in our context wear whatever is available and given to them. They don’t have a choice in this matter. These were the people who were invited to the banquet but one was rejected because he did not wear the right clothes. Over the years, with careful study and exposure to ancient culture and practices, I understood that the host provides the guests with the proper clothes for the banquet. It was actually part of the invitation to wear the clothes provided by the host. This way, everyone in the banquet is considered to be equal and the clothes did not separate one from another. In other words, an invitation to a banquet in those times means a participation in the household without any social barriers. The man only accepted the invitation partially and in doing so, he insulted the host in the same manner as the guests who rejected his invitation.

I have mentioned before that we moved to a new apartment. Our new neighborhood is quite strange to describe. It is not dangerous by any means. Our place is in a small residential building in the midst of micro industries and auto body shops. It is not the prettiest neighborhood but it doesn’t make it less interesting. However, it is the kind of neighborhood where our youths would not feel intimidated to visit. In fact, our first guest in our new place was Edson. He is one of the youth who is trying find a way to get out of the streets. For the past two years, he did odd jobs which helped pay his living expenses but he still had to sleep in a tent in the streets. His salary was not sufficient to pay for room and board. Recently he found a space in abandoned building where a group of squatters live. This is a common practice here in the center of this city. We have over a hundred abandoned buildings suitable to be transformed into housing but nothing has been done to that effect. Instead, poor working families group together and invade these buildings and live as squatters there. Edson doesn’t have to sleep in the streets anymore for now. He receives his correspondences at our place and uses our address whenever he applies for job. He came by to pick his mail and I invited him to enter and have coffee with us. His face lit up when I extended the invitation. He stayed for an hour or more and felt extremely comfortable in our home much to our delight.

About a month later, Edson came by again and this time Aline was with him. She is just like him in many ways. She spent many years in an orphanage and ended up in the streets. She found a place similar to Edson’s and decided to go back to school. She always loved studying. Recently, she is learning about the cold war and is curious to know what it was like living during that period. She mentioned our names to Edson in a conversation and he suggested that they should visit us. Both of them were extremely happy to be in our house. Aline could not contain her joy to just sit on our sofa and talk with us. Unbeknown to them, our friend, Elvis, yes that is his name, was on his way to our house. After he arrived, we had a household of people from completely different backgrounds. Edson and Aline were initially shy with Elvis but it didn’t take long for them to overcome this. Soon, experiences and encounters were shared and everyone was feeling that they had something concrete and meaningful to share with each other.

Edson had to leave early because he had to work. He works the graveyard shift. Aline is going to night school. Elvis remained behind. Before leaving, we invited them to come on another day when we can all share a meal together. Aline was especially happy with this. She told us that she wants us to visit her at her place. She assured us that she is a good cook and we don’t doubt her. After they left, Elvis found out that they were both once homeless and now squatters. No one would have known this if they came to our house that day. It is because they wore the right “clothes”. They did not come into our house as homeless people. They came because they are our friends and brother and sister. They left their former “garments” outside knowing that in this household they can be one with us. This was the desire of the Host in the parable. He invites us to participate in His household. However, those who refuse to become part of his household and insist on holding onto the their “old garments” of status in this world will never understand the true nature of the invitation. All are invited but only a few understand what it means to be invited. Over the years, many teens and youths from the streets have come to our house. They usually feel insecure and self conscious. Edson and Aline felt at home. We hope many more will come. We have an intuitive feeling that these two will spread the news of the invitation to the others.

‘What do you think? A man had two sons; he went to the first and said, “Son, go and work in the vineyard today.” He answered, “I will not”; but later he changed his mind and went. The father went to the second and said the same; and he answered, “I go, sir”; but he did not go. Which of the two did the will of his father?’ They said, ‘The first.’ Jesus said to them, ‘Truly I tell you, the tax-collectors and the prostitutes are going into the kingdom of God ahead of you.’ Matthew 21:28-31

Betty was unsure about woman’s ordination. Although she was a deep thinker on matters spiritual, her convictions on this subject were not theologically motivated. By her own admissions, she just did not feel comfortable with the idea. Obviously, this was some time ago when the local Anglican diocese was getting ready to ordain its first woman priest. The potential candidate had preached on several occasions in our parish and Betty really liked her. She believed that she would make an excellent priest. It would simplistic to say that Betty was being hypocritical. I would never say that about her. She was a very coherent person. On the day of this seminarian’s ordination, Betty was unable to attend due to distance and health. She handed me a gift for this candidate on her behalf. Betty lived on a limited income but saved up to give this person a costly stole. The seminarian never knew that Betty had reservations about her ordination. All she knew was this elderly missionary was very supportive and loving and always desired her success as a priest.

Betty has left an indelible mark in our lives. I talked about her so often that all my friends feel like they know her. She passed away ten years ago. Before we returned to Brazil this time, she told us firmly that we need to receive our instructions from the Holy Spirit; wise words which always remain with me. She came as a missionary to Brazil on the year that I was born. She hated it the moment she came here. She told her husband that she was not going to stay for more than two weeks but ended up spending the rest of her life here. Her ashes together with her husband’s are scattered in the church’s grounds where I first served as an ordained minister. She never claimed to be a theologian nor expert in liturgical matters but she taught me how to preach an interesting sermon and perform my liturgical duties. She was a person who always said “Yes” even though many times her first answer was “No”. Owing to the fact that she always listened to the Holy Spirit. People who listen to the Holy Spirit come in all shapes and forms. They are people who act in obedience but sometimes they might be compelled to say, “No” for unknown reasons. Eventually, something motivates them to go out into the world and say Yes to God. Without a doubt, Betty was this kind of person. Everyone who met her will acknowledge it. Consequently, she continues to live in us even though she had left this life a long time ago. It is because she invested in something which rust can’t destroy and thieves can’t steal. She gave herself to something eternal and it lives forever in us.

The Pharisees lived in a world of doctrines and traditions. They believed that these were based on the wisdom of sound religious teachers and helped them live their lives in harmony with the Law. In their eyes, Jesus violated not only these things but they believed that He was an enemy of the Law of God. His actions were not on par with their theories. They wanted to know who or what gave Him the authority to act in this manner. It is easy for us to judge the Pharisees and say that they were hard hearted people who refused to see and listen to the gospel. In reality, we are more like the Pharisees than Jesus. Naturally all of us like to imagine that we follow Jesus in these matters. However, the truth is there is a Pharisee living in all of us. I don’t mean that we are deliberately hypocritical neither were the Pharisees. I would say that we are inconsistent or incoherent. The problem is this mindset entraps us in a bubble of traditions and doctrines that it deprives of a genuine understanding of God’s Law.

“For I desire steadfast love and not sacrifice, the knowledge of God rather than burnt offerings.” Hosea 6:6

The Pharisees created a world in their minds where people are divided the into two groups, one deserving of God’s Love and the other of punishment. This simplistic view of life was so important to them because it justified their hostile actions and attitudes towards their unsavory neighbors. Nevertheless, it is a world which doesn’t exist except in their heads. Jesus, on the other hand, engaged in the real world where people are complex personalities. He didn’t divide people into categories but treated them as individuals. He listened and understood them as individual people who were trying to find their way in this broken world. Jesus interpreted the Law in the context of this world and brought forth the message of the good news. Jesus understood that the essence of the Law is mercy, compassion and a true knowledge of God. This knowledge is none other than what was succinctly expressed by one of His disciples, “God is Love.”

In our ministry, we have to constantly fight the Pharisees in us. We go to the streets carrying our baggage of values and doctrines which we believe hold the world together. Clearly, this is just an illusion. We could have remained in this illusionary world by limiting our engagement with life to people who share our similar doctrines and traditions. The Pharisees did this and it was these convictions which motivated them to instigate the eventual trial and death of our Lord. Therefore, it is not just a question of holding onto our opinions here. Being insistent in certain things can lead to our own self destruction. However, there are many things in us so ingrained that they are hard to discard. Thankfully, for our own understanding of God’s love and salvation, God called us to minister to our children and teens.

A teenage girl challenged all our ideas about good and proper parenting. We found her attitude to be so disturbing that it hindered us from having a relationship with her. She was a mother to a young toddler but hardly gave him any attention. Instead she would abandon her child to her grandmother’s care who is also homeless. Then she would spend most of her time with the other children, many times sniffing paint thinner. There were so many doctrines that we believed to be important and precious being violated by this young girl. We were even upset with the grandmother for enabling such behavior. Consequently, it took us some years to warm up to this girl and her mother. Yes, it was a question of years.

The young child became seriously ill and was hospitalized. The grandmother asked us for prayers. This simple incident opened our eyes to see something we had overlooked previously. The girl and her mother really loved the child as best as they could. They come from a different reality and did not have the privilege and experience we had to know how to care for the child the way we would. The grandmother was abandoned as a child. The mother was born into homelessness. For them, ensuring the young toddler is never abandoned or alone is a hundred percent more than what they have ever received. The grandmother told us much later that she believes that her young daughter will eventually grow into her role as a mother. The girl was too young to have her first child. She was only 14 but it has happened. The grandmother dealt with the situation with love and compassion. She did not judge her daughter based on doctrines or theories. According to the wisdom of Betty, the grandmother received her instructions from the Spirit.

The seminarian never learned that Betty was unsure about woman’s ordination. Frankly speaking, no one knew about it. Betty did not deny the fact that she was brought up with certain doctrines and traditions which made it difficult to accept certain things. However, she was a person who engaged in the world. She opened her heart to people of all sorts and conditions. She listened to the voice of the Spirit and acted accordingly. The Spirit is present in our midst to reveal the person of Jesus. Jesus came to show love, compassion and mercy to everyone including those of us who recognize that we are nothing but sinners lost in this world. Until we recognize this of ourselves, we will never be able to recognize the authority of Jesus. Our hearts and minds were closed to the instructions of Jesus. Betty found a way to overcome this. She listened to the Voice of the Spirit and it gave the strength to say “Yes” despite her initial “No”. Thank you, Betty.

But he replied to one of them, “Friend, I am doing you no wrong; did you not agree with me for the usual daily wage? Take what belongs to you and go; I choose to give to this last the same as I give to you. Am I not allowed to do what I choose with what belongs to me? Or are you envious because I am generous?” So the last will be first, and the first will be last. Matthew 20:13-16

We were playing a game of Uno and Taina was losing all the rounds. Sabrina, on the contrary, was dominating the game completely. Then, to the surprise of everyone, Taina made a comeback and ended up winning the entire game. Sabrina laughed and remarked, “you see the last shall be first.” For some reason, these words resonated strongly with me at that moment. It was not just the fact that they were from the gospels. I was surprised how they came out of Sabrina so naturally. She must have pondered them at one point in her life. She is not someone who grew up in a church. She did not even have a proper family. They rejected her at a young age. She was always the last in life. These words must have comforted her. They are truly purveyors of the good news for her. Sabrina recognizes this truth even in the simplest things like a game of Uno. She lost the game but knowing that someone whom she loved would share in her joy was much more important. She was happy that the last came in first.

Unfortunately, this is not always the case. Most of the time, people are bitter and angry when the last becomes first unless they are the ones benefitting from being the last.

Jesus, in this parable, is addressing a sin not talked about very often. Most likely, it is such a common sin. Whatever conditions in life we find ourselves, this sin is ever present. Perhaps this is the reason why we don’t consider it to be a sin. We tend to think something that everyone does is normal. Jesus often confronts what is so called “normal sin” in each of us in his parables. We, on the hand, feel very comfortable challenging the sins of others but avoid our own discrepancies. It is time to address this sin; the sin of envy, but you cannot address envy without talking about covetousness. They belong together.

This sin is not about desiring what our neighbors possess. It is more about desiring what we do not have. Sometimes we desire something that we do not need but just because someone else has it. Envy also makes us disgruntled when someone possesses the same things we have. In our context, the youth who engage in thievery do not do it because they need the money. Even those who use drugs don’t need money to buy them. Many times the youth tell us that it is easier for them to get drugs for free than food. Food, clothes, and drugs can be obtained without committing any crime. A vast majority of the children and teens do not engage in criminal activities. They survive fairly well just by begging and the older ones do odd jobs here and there to get what they need or want. Those who steal do it because they succumb to the devious pleasure of depriving people of things which they themselves do not possess. However, by no means am I saying that these youths are especially diabolic. I would say that they are more like the rest of humanity.

Politicians recognize this attitude in people and make use of it to their advantage. They stir up hatred and displeasure in vast majority of people claiming that the “last” in our society are getting special benefits which they don’t deserve. Even though a vast majority of the people don’t need these benefits, it upsets them that the “last” are receiving them. People get envious that certain groups want the same rights as them, or that the younger generation has a better life than they did. Naturally, all these attitudes are disguised in reasonable arguments appearing virtuous to those who harbor such sentiments. Just like in the parable, the first laborers had some good arguments. They were there first and worked hard all day long. Logically, they deserved more than the last. I have used this argument several times myself in the depth of my heart but never openly. I know deep down that there is something intrinsically wrong with it. There is something deeper and diabolic hiding behind all these arguments. This is so dangerous that we need to constantly exorcise it from our lives.

A not-so famous theologian, Jacques Ellul, once argued that all the Ten Commandments serve to protect us against one sin which is covetousness. This was considered a controversial statement, unfortunately, only by a small section of the Christian community. In order to recognize the weight of this statement, we have to recognize the sin. Like I mentioned before, it is not something commonly addressed. Nevertheless, it is present in our souls just as it was in the souls of our first parents, Adam and Eve. All it took was a serpent to quicken it. The first humans coveted God’s power. They were convinced that they deserved more although they were lacking in nothing. Tradition also tells us that the sin of the fallen angel was covetousness. He was convinced that he deserved more although he was considered the most beautiful angel. We always think that we deserve more than what is given to us. Most likely we will never admit this openly, at least, I wouldn’t. Covetousness is something that everyone harbors but rarely anyone admits to having such sentiments.

In reality, none of us deserve anything. Everything we have is a gift. Some of us received more but we definitely don’t deserve it. Others received less and they don’t deserve it either. Until we recognize this, we will never be satisfied. We will never be happy. We will never understand the grace and generosity of God. We won’t be able to look beyond ourselves. Bitterness and hatred will dominate our hearts and minds. By no means, I am saying that we should not seek to better our lives or fight for our rights. This is the not the issue addressed in the parable. The issue is covetous, or rather, thinking that God is obliged to give us more than what we have.

Sabrina is not immune to this sin. She took pleasure in the victory of her friend. However, this attitude is not restricted to a game. She is deeply aware of those who are last. Once we saw her give some food to a homeless adult in the streets. She was hungry and she got some food from a passerby. In the streets, homeless adults bear the weight of society’s disdain more heavily than the youth. People are not so generous with them. Sabrina noticed a hungry homeless adult and shared her food with him. However, she coveted things too. Momentarily, she gave in to this sin. She dated a boy who robbed people mercilessly. He would steal the gold chains from elderly women, something which is prohibited by the local gang. Unfortunately, he did not care and Sabrina dated him for a while. She enjoyed the things she received from his spoils. However, there came a day when she could not turn a blind eye to the victims. Her identification with the last was so strong that she could not overlook the cruelty of the crime. She ended the relationship and found a way to get out of the streets. She has been gone for a while but she has definitely left a strong mark in us.

The sin of envy is strong in us. However, it can be overcome. Jesus did not just address the issue without leaving us without an answer. A casual reading of the gospel will give us the answer. Jesus always identified with the last. He spent time with the last. His disciples were from the groups that were considered the last. In the temple, when all eyes were on the first, Jesus noticed a widow giving a small but precious offering. Even at the Cross, Jesus took the path of the last. He could have appealed to power and authority to save Himself from the all humiliation and degradation but He chose the path which the last of this world tread.

The way to overcome this dangerous sin of envy is not to feed it. The best way to starve it is to walk the path Jesus has shown us. We don’t have to give up everything to serve the poor or the last of this world. We can start by recognizing that we don’t deserve the things we have. Then we can move forward to understand how we can use these things we have to participate in God’s generosity and love. I am convinced that this will help us to understand and rejoice in the words, “the last will be first” and we won’t be upset that “the first will be last” because none of us deserve to be first nor last.

Then his lord summoned him and said to him, “You wicked slave! I forgave you all that debt because you pleaded with me. Should you not have had mercy on your fellow-slave, as I had mercy on you?” And in anger his lord handed him over to be tortured until he should pay his entire debt. So my heavenly Father will also do to every one of you, if you do not forgive your brother or sister from your heart. Matthew 18:32-35

Bruna did not speak to us for a whole year, maybe even more than that. By then, the issue which triggered everything seemed trivial and irrelevant. It was over something banal to start off with but apparently not for her. It was because of a letter, which was a good thing in itself. Someone from Florida wrote to her on her birthday. I was reading it to her and was a little annoyed that she was sniffing paint thinner while listening. I asked her to put it away. Unexpectedly, she grabbed the letter from my hand and stuffed it into her bag and gave me the silent treatment for a year. She spoke to Mary once in a while. However, since we are a package deal, eventually she avoided us altogether. Another teen told me that she held a grudge with him over something trivial for years. Finally, one day she came over and started talking to us as if nothing had happened. She tried to act as if everything was back to normal. She continues to be affectionate with us. However, we know that we cannot be her true friend. There is a barrier between us. Our relationship can never go beyond the superficial.

Some might say that Bruna acted like a spoiled or pampered child. Her life tells a different story. It is not different from the many in the streets. Her childhood was one of neglect and abandonment. She spent some time in a Catholic convent. I would say that it was most probably the best period of her life. She went to school there. She claims that she even studied Latin. I am not sure about that. However, I think she was exposed to many possibilities there. It was perhaps the richest moment of her life. Unfortunately, it did not last. No one knows why. She will never tell anyone the truth about it. We see her often in the streets but her loneliness and isolation are more noticeable now. There is no one easy solution for her predicament and suffering. However, forgiveness can be the first step in the path of healing.

The parable of the unforgiving servant from the above gospel text is quite disturbing in many levels. However, the most troubling part is the end when Jesus says that we are subjected to punishment and torment if we do not forgive from our heart. It almost sounds as if Jesus is resorting to fear mongering to convince us to toe the line. It might seem that way but we need to interpret the words of Jesus according to His personhood. Jesus never uses fear as a teaching tool. Our leaders, political and religious, use fear as an effective means of controlling people. However, Jesus was never like the authorities of this world. Jesus confronted reality as it presents itself. It is impossible for us to understand God’s grace and love if we refuse to forgive someone. Consequently, we subject ourselves to the pain and torment which comes with being unforgiving. Bruna’s little problem with us was not due to the trivial matter which triggered it. It is something deeper. It is rooted in her traumatic past. There is no way we can undo this in her life. However, she can be free from it if she forgives from her heart. It is not going resolve everything but it will open her heart to receive and perceive wonderful and beautiful things.

It would be easy for me from the outside to tell Bruna that she should forgive. I have never experienced the things she had experienced. From a young age, she was convinced that being homeless was better than all the alternatives life had offered to her. I have never been in such a position. I had many more options and living and sleeping in the streets was never one. For me personally, forgiveness, many times, is merely a question of “let bygones be bygones”, however, for our children and teens, it is forgiving people who have damaged and ruined their whole lives. They awaiting for some sort of justice; not because they seek revenge. They desire it because they want the world or the universe to recognize that they are innocent victims. Some might say something disparaging like this is a victim mentality. Besides adding insult to injury, this statement does not provide any productive nor creative insight. Our children want to be healed and they believe that perhaps some sort of justice might be the beginning of it.

We do not have to be homeless like our children and teens to appreciate this. We want some sort of justice when we see or hear about something which has upset the personal order of our lives. We want justice so that things can go back to normal or restore our sense of order. In this world, we are taught that the only way justice can be fulfilled is through some sort of punitive measure where the offender is forced to recognize the error of one’s ways. Sometimes we bring our idea of forgiveness within this framework. At best, we say that we will only forgive if the offending party is remorseful and repentant; at worse, we want them to suffer for the consequence for their actions. However, the gospel is proposing something completely different. Jesus forgave all those who wronged Him even when they were mocking Him while He did this. He did not wait for them to repent or be remorseful. He forgave them and asked God not to hold them accountable for the murder of God Incarnate. There can not be anything worse than this crime. However, Jesus came to establish justice in this world. It is different from the punitive justice as the world offers. Definitely, it is more effective. For starters, it truly heals the victims and restores their dignity. Punitive justice just creates more victims and despair. However, I am not advocating that we abolish the penal system or anything like that. Those are completely different issues and deserve their own discussions. I am saying here is that Jesus is our example and He forgives unconditionally.

Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. Matthew 5:6

Forgiving someone does not mean that we stop seeking justice. It does not mean that we stop acknowledging the wrong which has been done to us. It means that we put aside the world’s way of dealing with injustice and embrace the New Life Jesus is offering to us. The purpose of justice is to restore and heal. Being unforgiving keeps us captive in the situation which robbed us of our peace and stability. The parable of the servant is a tragic tale which happens much too frequently in society. It happens with families. It destroys lifelong friendships. Worse of all, it destroys us. It prevents us from living a full life. It hinders us from receiving salvation and the biblical meaning of salvation is healing.

Once a homeless youth asked me if I would be able to forgive someone who tries to destroy my life. He told me that honestly he was not sure if he could do it. I thought about it. I told him that our nature is to protect ourselves even if it means harming the person who tries to hurt us. However, I have to decide to forgive if I want to live my life fully. I was honest with him. I told him that I do not know how I would act at the precise moment but I do want to forgive. The boy was surprised. He thought that everyone wants revenge to right a wrong done to them. He is right. In many situations, we can be justified feeling this way. However, it is not going to bring healing to our lives. It will bring a series of sickness and eventually death but never joy and fulfillment.

I thought about his question more. Then I remembered many years ago, perhaps nine years ago, a crazed woman doused gasoline on me and tried to set me on fire. The woman did not know what she was doing. She was having a psychotic episode and this happened while we were with the children in the streets. I saw her the next day in her normal state and she smiled at me and said that I had nice hair, completely oblivious to the fact that she tried to burn it off the day before. It was quite a joy to be able to say to her, “Thank you” without feeling hatred nor anger towards her. These feelings would have eaten away in my soul and fed the demon called hatred who is lurking somewhere in the depths of my being. Forgiveness has freed me from this demon but it is not a one time event. It is a lifestyle. This demon keeps trying to pop out but I have to remind myself that forgiveness is the way to understand and appreciate the depth of salvation. In the past few weeks, this reminder came in very handy.

Jesus said, “If another member of the church sins against you, go and point out the fault when the two of you are alone. If the member listens to you, you have regained that one. But if you are not listened to, take one or two others along with you, so that every word may be confirmed by the evidence of two or three witnesses. If the member refuses to listen to them, tell it to the church; and if the offender refuses to listen even to the church, let such a one be to you as a Gentile and a tax-collector.” Matthew 18:15-17

This text is particularly hard to interpret for our daily lives. We might be tempted to think that it pertains solely to the hierarchy of the institutional church. It also seems to allude to an antiquated idea of excommunication. Once upon a time, it was an effective practice. The one disciplined automatically became an outcast without a community nor a home. Today, if someone were to suffer excommunication from a church, one just simply has to cross the street and join another church without any problems. Most of the time, they would be welcomed with open arms in their new church. However, if we could step away from these disturbing and ungracious images of history and look at these verses from the perspective of love, we find something relevant and practical in them. No doubt it requires us first to change a little bit of our mindset. We need to think differently about the word, “church”.

The main reason we go to church is because we want to recognize and acknowledge the presence of Jesus in our daily lives. This is really the primary purpose. If our community engages in other activities beside this primary task, then it fails its vocation. Recently, we spoke with one of homeless youth, Rone, who always gives a part of the money he receives to the church. It is a practice which he has kept for many years. However, he is very particular about the church where he contributes. He likes a certain church because, according to him, they talk about God. He added that there are many churches which hold church meetings but only few celebrate Jesus. From this, I understand that celebrating Jesus meant sensing a connection with Him. Maybe this young man might have a different meaning for it. However, I have an inkling that we are on the same page.

As we grow in our understanding of Him, we realize that we can see Him clearer in different places and persons outside the walls of the church building. This does not mean that we are outside the church. It means that we need to return to the biblical concept of church, more importantly, the one which Jesus talked about.

“For where two or three are gathered in my name, I am there among them.” Matthew 18:20

At least, this is true for me personally. In the streets among the homeless children and teens, we have discovered a new form of church life. There is no church membership nor a regular worship service or any form of liturgy that would identify us as a church in the traditional sense. We have a stripped down version of the Body of Christ. It is one based strictly on relationships. The young people are free to come and talk with us. They are also free to ignore us. When someone approaches us whatever they have done or continue to do is irrelevant. They have come to join us. They come to seek a relationship with us. This is the nature of our church in the streets. The only bond that holds us together as a tiny congregation is love. This is where the problem lies.

When we choose to love, we are allowing ourselves to be open and vulnerable. We are allowing the other person to enter into our lives and have a place of abode in our hearts. Consequently, we are exposing ourselves to the possibilities of being hurt and rejected, not to mention, being disappointed and frustrated. All these things are part and parcel of being the Light and Salt of the World. It is not about standing up for principles and doctrines but it is the willingness to love and risk being hurt. Unfortunately, the possibility of being hurt and rejected is high. Sometimes we cast our pearls to swines and then they turn around and attempt to destroy us. Our Lord Himself suffered these consequences. The challenge is how do we deal with those who choose to leave and refuse to be part of the fold. I believe that Jesus is addressing this question. It is not a punitive measure but it is about loving those who reject our love.

Jesus has given us much to reflect on in the gospel reading above. A superficial reading might suggest that the whole process is very humiliating for the rebellious person. These verses are not meant to humiliate those who offend or sin against us. It is meant for us to discover whether the person really sinned against us or just did something which is offensive to our sensibilities. Our moral sensibilities are not the gospel. They are and can be influenced by various factors. They might be influenced by the culture we live in and come from. In our ministry, we discover that there are many things which disturb us but they are not essential to the gospel message. One example is the constant use of drugs among our children and teens. We find this disturbing not simply because it is wrong but mainly because we are programed by society to do so. I do think that these drugs are harmful but this is not the point here. We also tend to overlook things that Jesus said were harmful to the souls like slander, greed, and envy. We give different names to these things so that we can quietly approve these behaviors. Take greed for example, we transform it into a virtue by calling it being ambitious. We like to isolate certain “sins” and justify others. Jesus asked us to have witnesses to help us discern whether an offense is truly a sin or just our personal prejudice. However, even this is not full proof. I believe this why Jesus tells to do the most difficult thing and often times we do not realize what He is asking of us. He admonishes us to treat the person who offended us like a Gentile or a Tax collector.

As Christians, Jesus is our role model and the example to base our lives on. If we do not follow His footsteps, then we are not His followers but mere members of an institution. Jesus treated tax collectors exceptionally well. He opened Himself up to them. He dined with them. He loved them with extra care. In fact, the parable of the Good Shepherd and the Prodigal Son was an argument for His special affection towards tax collectors. As for Gentiles, we have limited examples in the gospels. We just reflected on the Syrophoenician woman who won an argument with Jesus. We have the Centurion whose faith Jesus praised. Then the beautiful story about the demon possessed man in the city of Gerasenes where the swines committed mass suicide. Jesus went out of His way to heal this man. The Pharisees always found it disturbing that Jesus gave Himself to these people without restriction. He spent more time with them than the religious authorities. He was more patient with the tax collectors than with the Pharisees and Scribes. When Jesus told us to treat the person who offended us like a Gentile or tax collector, He meant that we treat them with much love and compassion. It is not a permission to reject and despise. It is not about being punitive but a call to be more like Him to them. This is, most likely, the most difficult thing in this passage.

Perhaps I can share a story here to show how this gospel text played out in our ministry in the streets. The problem is that there are too many stories, unfortunately. There are many teens and children who once had deep relationship with us and now they avoid us. It is not that there was a disagreement between us. It is the fact that they sense in their hearts that the things they are doing are shameful. We never pointed it out to them. It wasn’t necessary. However, Jesus tells us to treat them like Gentiles and Tax collector. They need the extra care, compassion, patience and love. Hopefully, one day all these will give them the courage to return to the fold. I am not sure if it will happen to be honest. Real life is never like the fairy tales. Nevertheless, it does not change how we should treat them. This is what Jesus wants us to do and He is our perfect example for a living a life of Love.

And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, ‘God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you.’ But Jesus turned and said to Peter, ‘Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling-block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things.’ Then Jesus told his disciples, ‘If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it.’ Matthew 16:22-25

Poor Peter. I can totally sympathize with him. His words were seasoned with good intentions. One could say that Jesus’ reaction was a little harsh. Maybe it was necessary. Peter and the disciples had to learn that the world’s ways of achieving things has nothing to do with the Kingdom of God. According to the world, Peter was right. The Messiah is supposed to be the greatest King among kings and not to die a shameful death. The whole episode is very similar to the temptations of Jesus in the desert. The devil through Peter was proposing an alternate way of establishing God’s Kingdom; suggesting that He considers other possible means of doing things. Jesus had to be harsh and curt with Peter. There was no room for negotiating with the deceptive ways of the devil. Nevertheless, Peter must have felt crushed.

At first Jesus told him that he was going to be the rock upon which the church would be built. In the Acts of the Apostles, Peter became the rock for the church. His leadership helped the disciples cross ethnic boundaries and paved the way for the inclusion of the Gentiles. Peter was elevated to a status of a leader and then. Jesus addressed him as Satan.

“It is great men, potential saints, not little men, who become those who are readiest to kill for it” C.S. Lewis, Reflections on the Psalms.

Violence and murder and all kinds of atrocities are committed in the Name of God all the time. We may say that these are really evil people who use religion as a guise for their evil intentions. However, this is not always true. They start with saintly intentions and then the values of this age slowly slip in and contaminate their souls. This is why a harsh rebuke was necessary. It was essential that Peter and the disciples did not contaminate their souls with the world. If not, they would become salt that has lost its saltiness and essentially be worthless to humanity.

According to Jesus, Satan is someone who sets his mind on human things. This is quite a curious thing. After all, aren’t we all humans and therefore, prone to think about human things naturally? Our homeless children living in the streets have these needs too. Sometimes, they impel them to steal and use drugs and in some cases, they allow themselves to be exploited. They do not resort to crime to buy bread. Food is one of the easiest things to get. Most people will give food willingly to someone who begs for it. Crime is committed by our children and teens to fulfill their need for recognition. It is the only way they become visible in society. It is the deep rooted desire of every human being to be acknowledged as a member of a society whether it is positive or negative.

We are social animals. We have a natural instinct to belong to a group. The homeless youth are not any different. They will do anything to belong to a group. One can say that their use of drugs is not entirely due to addiction but mainly motivated by the need to belong to a group. Incidentally, all our teens and children who have left the streets have abandoned cocaine or other hard drugs without any difficulty. Almost none of them attend any special treatment program. However, they find it difficult to leave the group to which they once belonged. Therefore, we can understand why Peter thought all the talk about death was horrifying. It is the ultimate separation from every social group. He wanted the Kingdom of Jesus to be recognized and acknowledged by everyone. He desired that it would become the most powerful among others. He was willing to use whatever means necessary to achieve this. He even promised to do so on several occasions and went as far as to cut off the ear of a person whom he deemed as a threat. Peter was not all talk. He was a man of action. Jesus had to stop him before he got started.

Jesus came to establish an eternal Kingdom whose values are not compatible with the limited mindset of this temporal world. This creates more problems for us. We are of this world whether we like it or not, we think and act like people who live in this reality. Perhaps the first step is for us to recognize this. When we acknowledge Jesus as our Christ it doesn’t mean we are automatically free from the mindset of this world. Peter wasn’t and He needed a harsh rebuke to be reminded of this fact. Sometimes, maybe more often than not, we need to have strong rebukes to be reminded that our minds need to be transformed.

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God—what is good and acceptable and perfect.” Romans 12:2

The world is constantly bombarding us with its values; perhaps now more than ever with each technological innovation. Our minds are never free from its diabolic influence. Recently, our conversation with Bruno touched on the subject of generosity. I don’t know how we got there but this is how things are in the streets. We cannot control the subjects that come up. I shared about a famous singer who died not too long ago. This man was quite a curious person. He once used to sing raunchy songs and many times his lyrics were extremely explicit. Later on in his career, he changed his style and, nevertheless, he maintained formidable success with his music. When he died, it was revealed that he had become a devout Christian over the years. Many people came forth and shared that he helped them financially when they were in dire straits. He paid for someone’s surgery and helped a widowed woman among many things. However, he always told these people that he did not want them to disclose his generosity to anyone. He told them that Jesus said that our left hand should not know what the right hand is doing when it comes to acts of love. After his death, these people decided to go public. Bruno thought that it was strange and even bad that he did not want anyone to know about his good works. I was a little taken aback. I thought that the singers desire to be anonymous would impress him. Then I understood. Bruno’s understanding of life comes from his interactions with people. He formulates his ethics through his conversations with them. Every time an organization comes to the streets to do charitable work whether it is a church or some other institution, tons of photos are taken and their acts are filmed. Then images appear in the social media. They claim that this serves to motivate others to do the same. There are a range of reasons for their publicity. However, there are the words of Jesus and we need to do something about them. I am not saying that we should stop all this but we need to consider the words of Jesus. The Kingdom of God is not established through the means of the world. We cannot ignore how the Christ lived in this world and think that we can improve on the spread of His message by using our worldly methods. We might be just walking into the snares of the devil. The worst of it was that Bruno thought that there was something wrong with this singer’s attitude. It was so foreign to his reality that something Jesus said appears to be wrong. It is not Bruno’s ethic which is corrupted but he has not seen the values of the Messiah lived out in concrete form.

Maybe Bruno’s reaction is a rebuke from the Holy Spirit. It opened my eyes. Peter went on to become a saint who suffered many other rebukes on the way. The most amazing thing about Peter is that he listened each time. He did not leave Jesus because he was called Satan. I can not see this term as anything but an offensive one. However, Peter knew Jesus had the words of Eternal Life (John 6:68). He endured the harsh words of Jesus because he knew that they had Life. The question is whether we are able to listen and endure the rebukes which come our way. I guess we have to be convinced like Peter that the words of Jesus have eternal Life. Only then, we will be willing to listen to the rebukes to renew our minds and be transformed in the way of our thinking.

Jesus said to them, ‘But who do you say that I am?’ Simon Peter answered, ‘You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.’ And Jesus answered him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah! For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my Father in heaven.’ Matthew 16:15-17

In Jesus’ time, there were many who were considered to be miracle workers, healers, prophets, and even messiahs. Some were charlatans but many were sincere. They even paid for their convictions with their lives. Many who followed Jesus around and witnessed His acts and listened to His teachings believed that He was one of these. Probably they thought he was one of the best but He wasn’t the Christ for them.

In today’s world, we still have miracle workers, we call them scientists. They have done incredible work. They can take mountains and move them into the ocean. They are also like sages. They can explain the mysteries and marvels of the universe. We have our healers. These are doctors, therapists, and surgeons. They have saved millions from sickness, disease and self-destruction. Even the preachers who claim to heal the sick and lame in a supernatural manner rush themselves to the hospital to be attended by these modern healers when they themselves are sick. We have our modern prophets, too. These come in all shapes and forms. Most of them have something relevant and concrete to say and we should listen to them with much discernment, naturally. Of course, we have our messiahs, too. The government, the school and the church are vying for this role in society. Many believe that a certain politician or better still, political ideology, or an educational system will save humanity from its downward spiral.

Among all these, the question of Jesus is asked of us; “Who do you say I am?” Or in other words, what role does Jesus play in our lives?

The problem with this question is that we are liable to give a conventional answer. Most of us have been catechized in the church. We know the right and proper answer to give. Jesus was expecting something beyond a simple right or wrong answer. He deliberately chose the location to do it; in a district named after the authoritative power of the reigning empire. Some historians say that it was customary for them to have an image of the emperor in these regions. The Roman Empire was perhaps the most excellent empire at that period. The Caesar was considered and identified himself as the savior for the world. Many Roman citizens were convinced that the empire was the best and most wisest thing to happen to the world. Even the Jewish authorities wanted to be keep things as they are because they were satisfied with the arrangement. Apparently, there was no real need for the Messiah at that moment. The Crucifixion made this attitude quite evident.

Jesus asked this question in the midst of the glory and splendor of what the world offered. Our Lord was the complete opposite of the powers and authorities of His society. This is true today, too. He is completely the opposite of everything we consider to be successful, even in religious circles. He asked his disciples if they were able to see something different in Him. This was not a question posed to the masses. It was asked of disciples who had seen Jesus in all His vulnerable moments. They had seen Him hungry and thirsty, lonely and feeling abandoned, angry and frustrated. They had seen Him run and hide when the Pharisees wanted to arrest Him. Something the world would have perceived as fear but the disciples knew better. Jesus operated on different values. They knew Him more intimately than any of us could ever know Him. They followed Him without knowing how all this was going to end. Obviously all the disciples had different reasons for following Jesus. James and John saw it as their opportunity to be great. Others might have seen something to help them get out of their mundane lives. Judas had his reasons too, which we will never know. Peter was the only one who had the audacity to confess that He was and is the Christ.

The problem is that this title has been trivialized today. Many use this term as if it is the surname of our Lord. Many do not know its true meaning even in religious circles. However, Peter knew the full implication of this term. The Christ was the finality of all things essential for life. There was no need to wait for anything else or anyone else to reveal the Truth. As St Paul later expressed this same idea more succinctly in his letter,

“Christ is all and in all.” (Col. 3:11)

Just to bring this verse into context, it was proclaimed in the context of a debate where the inclusion of other peoples was disputed. Paul reminded that Christ was sufficient and there was no need to make any more demands to include people. This was Paul’s most intimate understanding of the meaning of Christ. We should not forget that when he was a Pharisee, he initiated the persecution of the followers of Jesus because they were going to include Gentiles into the fold. Paul met the Christ and realized that He sufficed and there was no longer anything else needed.

Many follow Jesus for various reasons. However, He cannot be our Christ unless our souls are touched by the Holy Spirit. There are no doctrines, liturgy nor rituals to achieve this. The “Christ” of Jesus cannot be safeguarded by the church. It belongs eternally to Jesus and only can be made alive in our hearts by the Holy Spirit. It doesn’t mean that once we have this realization we automatically become saints. Peter went from being nominated “Pope”, as the Roman Catholic tradition believes, to being called “Satan”. There is a danger of those who discover the Christ to confuse their union with His Spirit as an exclusive right to His movements. The greatest of our saints in the Christian tradition were aware of this. This is why in their writings we often read about their deep self awareness of their weaknesses. This is not self condemnation. Maybe it was in some cases but more often than not, it was a deep awareness that their spiritual fervor could become something diabolical if it was not seasoned with wisdom and humility.

Peter embarked on a journey where he discovered what it meant to recognize Jesus as Christ. He was the one who bravely led the first church to step out of the confines of Judaism and open the doors of fellowship to the Gentiles. He opened himself to listen to the Holy Spirit even when it meant leaving behind the traditions of his ancestors. Peter allowed the reality of Christ to grow in Him. He was not perfect by any means but we can see perfectly how he lived his life for the Christ.

We are often asked what we do for the children and teens in the streets. We do a lot of different things for different individuals. However, the truth is whatever we do is not going to change their situation and circumstance radically. Most of them will always be homeless or at least living at the borders of homelessness all their lives. Maybe a few might find a way out. These are the exceptions. Most of our children will have children who will end up living in the streets like them. We have seen three generations in homeless situations. This may sound like a tragic and hopeless situation for many because it is. It is best to face reality because we cannot discover the true message of the gospel unless we confront it.

It is in these circumstances that we hear Jesus asking us, “But who do you say I am?” The answer cannot be formulated in mere words. It is a lifestyle. If we say that Jesus is Christ, then there is no need to wait for anyone or anything else to happen. He is the finality of all things necessary to live a full and good life. Of course, there are political and social battles to be fought. I am not denying this. However, none of these battles can change the lives of our homeless children and teens. None of these victories can bring hope and peace in their hearts. The only thing can bring meaning to their existence is knowing in their most intimate being that Jesus is Christ. This is entirely the work of the Holy Spirit. We are here to testify that He is indeed Christ even in the most desperate and hopeless situation. It is not easy to say this in the midst of their circumstances. It might seem inadequate and even a little embarrassing. There are some who think that this is too spiritual and not practical enough. People who think this do not understand what it means to say Jesus is Christ. It means engaging tough situations without waiting for anyone or anything else to happen. It means having the courage to be the Light of Love even in the darkest places where hatred strives. It is not shrugging our responsibilities but Christ gives the courage to assume them completely. Peter paved the way for us. In this way, he is truly the rock of our church. He had the courage to proclaim Jesus as Christ. He showed us that regardless of what confronts us, Jesus suffices because He is truly the One and Only Christ.

But she came and knelt before him, saying, ‘Lord, help me.’ Jesus answered, ‘It is not fair to take the children’s food and throw it to the dogs.’ She said, ‘Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters’ table.’ Then Jesus answered her, ‘Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish.’ And her daughter was healed instantly. Matthew 15:25-28

Last week I wrote about a traumatic moment we experienced or rather, I shared about the emotional and spiritual aftermath. On our walk home after the fact, we were talking and processing our feelings and thoughts. To add insult to injury to an already bad day, it started to rain unexpectedly. Of course, we were without our umbrellas. The closest place with a shelter was an old cinema which has been converted into one of those prosperity gospel churches. They have a gift shop at one side and a woman stood outside its entrance selling cakes and coffee to church attendees or any passerby. There was an awning just above her and we stood under it waiting for the storm to pass.

A crack addict came up to the woman and asked if he could have a piece of cake. She did not reply to him but just shook her head to say no. The young man apologized for asking and just said that he was hungry. I was looking at this young man. He had a kind and friendly face. He did not look as bad as the other crack addicts. Most of the addicts are so lost in their own world that they lack the necessary social etiquette to interact with those outside their context. This young man was different. He did not insist when the woman refused to give him cake and was good natured about it. The woman was making a living. I suppose that she could not afford to give everyone free food although I think she could have been more pleasant about it. Momentarily, I forgot about all bad things which had happened and thought about buying something for this young fellow. I searched through my pockets to see if I had any change. Just then, the young man asked us if we could buy a piece of cake. He really looked hungry. I asked the lady how much the cake cost. Thankfully we had enough for it and a little more. I asked her to give him a piece. Strangely, she responded curtly saying that she only accepted cash payments. For some reason she was annoyed with us. The young man thanked us and starting devouring the cake. I asked him if he wanted a cup of coffee too. He nodded. We had the exact change for coffee and cake. Another crack addict arrived and asked if we could buy him a cake too. I told him that I did not have enough money for him. The young man divided his piece of cake and shared it with the newcomer. Then he took a sip from his coffee and gave the rest to this man. Before leaving, he thanked us again and went to a corner to sit down. The rain slowly subsided and we made our way home. Darkness and chaos tried to dominate our minds but we saw the powerful presence of Light prevailing.

Many judge the crack addicts by what they put into their bodies. They are deemed as thieves and criminals because of their addictions. In our personal experience living in close proximity where these poor souls hang out, I have never encountered nor seen any criminal act perpetrated by them. I am not saying that they are safe. They are unpredictable because of their mental state. They need help. More importantly, they need a heavy dose of love and compassion, not judgement and condemnation. The acts of violence we have seen and this time experienced were always committed by people who would be welcomed with open arms in any given church. Crack addicts and homeless people are not usually deterred from entering any church but they would not be welcomed in the same sense. If we are honest, we always feel a little unease with the presence of someone who doesn’t fit our idea of a “normal” attendee even when our spiritual sensibilities tell us that we should accept everyone and anyone. Most of us just ignore these feelings, sometimes pretending they don’t exist. In other times, we can even justify them. However, our Lord is different. He confronts them, not just in others but even in Himself.

The woman in the gospel story was a person who caused uneasiness among her Jewish neighbors. She was an outsider despite the fact that she lived among them and spoke their language. She had different dietary habits which they considered to be unclean. In other words, she was the “crack addict” of her society. People like her were often referred pejoratively as dogs because these animals eat anything. Dogs, in Jesus’ society, were tolerated vermin. Tolerated only because they provided some sort of protection to those who fed them. However, they were still vermin and people preferred if they did not exist altogether. Some preachers commit the sin of anachronism by saying that Jesus referred to her affectionally as “little dog”. Calling someone a dog in Jesus’ society was always an insult and never a term of endearment.

It could be argued that Jesus was being rude or racist or we could say that he was a complete human being. Our confessional creed reminds us that Jesus was fully human as well as divine. We tend to imagine that He was fully superhuman like the fantastic superheroes which seem to be the theme of every movie made presently. The problem of this mindset is that Jesus becomes a mere figure for us to admire and not imitate. However, the greatest form of worship is imitation. Someone said this and I can’t recall who. We can only imitate someone who is like us and faces the same challenges. Jesus shows the way to overcome some of the greatest barriers in humanity in order to build strong and eternal relationships. One of many dreadful traits which we, humans, possess is prejudice. We unconsciously inherit this from the community and society to which we belong. No one is free from it. It is not just about hating a person for whatever reason. Sometimes the more common way our prejudice is manifested is when we completely ignore certain people. In fact, this is the most common and worst form of prejudice. It was perfectly normal to overlook people like this Canaanite woman in Jesus’ society. There were historical and cultural and religious justifications for doing so. All these arguments were summarized in the term, “dog”. She was considered to be a like dog. Therefore, she did not deserve a place at the table with the children.

The disciples wanted Jesus to send her away. She was a nuisance and not contributing anything important to their cause. Instead, Jesus was open to her even though all the prejudices of his society informed him that she wasn’t worth his time. He did not treat her in a condescending manner. He argued with her. He believed that she was worth His time and energy. Jesus genuinely wanted to know her opinion. Consequently, this woman became the only person in the gospels to ever win an argument with Jesus.

“Even dogs eat the crumbs that fall from the Master’s table.”

This was her winning statement. For modern ears, it seems to be one wroth with self-loathing and low self esteem. One can always wonder why Jesus did not address this. There is a tragic element to this story. Unfortunately it is part of reality till today. All our modern sciences cannot solve it. It is something deep and profound. It is spiritual. When someone who has spent their whole life being called and treated like an outsider or second class citizen, they eventually accept this role just as a means of survival. No one coming from the outside will convince them that they are any different. This is true for our homeless children and youths too. Sadly, they believe and have accepted that they are discardable people. If we told them otherwise, they won’t believe us. However, this does not mean that they cannot overcome these lies. They can and will but not by persuasive arguments. There was something in this Canaanite woman informing her that she was worthy of receiving something from Jesus. Our Lord named it. It was her faith. This was more powerful than all the lies which she had heard in the past. It was more powerful than all the insults hurled at her person. Her faith gave her the confidence that she was worthy of God’s grace.

Jesus acknowledged this faith in this woman. Not by condescending to cliches and saying that she was worthy. He listened to her and acknowledged the Light of faith to shine brightly. It still shines today. Her response captivated the heart of the liturgical founder of the Anglican Church, Thomas Cranmer, who wrote the Prayer of Humble Access. It was the prayer which captivated my heart when I first stepped into the Anglican Church as a young teen. It’s role has evolved in my spirituality throughout the years. It used to be something personal and now I see it as the victory of faith over all the obstacles placed before us. I saw this faith in the young man as he shared his cake with his fellow addict. He was plagued by an illness but it did not hinder him from sharing love. We recognized his faith through his act of love and it restored our faith in humanity.