Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17:15-19

This year has been an unusual year to say the least. We wish that things could have been better. We hoped that everything would go back to normal as soon as possible; whatever normal means. However, this is not going to happen for a while. Maybe it will never be the same. Perhaps it is time to let go of what we think of as “normal times” and open our eyes to see what is unfolding before us. I don’t want anyone to think that I am implying that we should look at the bright side of the situation. I am implying that we should be grateful for the mere fact that we are alive. It is good to be alive. However, we must not forget that we are part of a community. Many have lost loved ones due to this disease; does this mean that they have nothing to be thankful for this year? As human beings, we need to press on as difficult as things seem. Sometimes being able to be sincerely grateful helps us release the past so that we can face the future. It helps to know that the same person who gives the strength to do this is going to be with us in the face of all the challenges that lie ahead.

The story above from the gospels tells us about ten people whose lives changed drastically because of an ailment. Nine were desperate to get back to normalcy and they got what they wanted and forget about the One who healed them. They tried to go back to something that perhaps no longer existed. In doing so, they failed to understand the something new which had happened to them. Only one realized something has drastically changed. He went back to the One who ushered in this new beginning in his Life. Being thankful is not only about appreciating what we have. It is about acknowledging that no matter what changes we have endured, may they be good or bad, they bring something new to our lives. This does not suggest that new is always good. In fact, it is indifferent and occurs regardless of whether we want it or not. God, on the hand, is present always. He is the constant, never changing no matter what we experience in Life. Sometimes we might make a deity out of our past and forget that all our false gods will eventually whither away. If we are adamant about wanting to go back to things they were, we might end bowing down at the altar of a false god. The leper from Samaria went back to thank Jesus because he realized that even though he was a foreigner and unworthy of Jesus’ mercy, Jesus healed him. The rest thought that Jesus was just there to serve and help them get back to normal. They did not see the need to be grateful.

Life for us this year has changed drastically. We are slowly beginning to establish some regularity in our lives. However, this might change again in a few months. There is no certainty. It is not the time to make concrete plans and hope that God will work according to our plans. We cannot force God to make this world a stable place. In fact, there is ample evidence in the Bible revealing that this reality is slowly deteriorating towards chaos. However, this is not a reason for us to despair. We need to see our world for what it is in order for us not to put our our hopes in it. However, beyond this chaos, there is a Light shining through and guiding us to find our path through the darkness. This Light is our contact, our Logos. The good news is that this Light is Love, as revealed to us through Jesus. Therefore, we are assured that this Light also brings healing to our souls. We need not to fear chaos anymore, albeit, we might dread it.

Giving thanks during this time helps us see beyond what it before us. It connects us to the one person that never changes in our lives. It is the one person that our children and teens have held onto through the radical changes in their lives. They have much to teach us about living our lives in these times. We are accustomed to everything being predictable. They, on the hand, survive when everything is volatile. It is no wonder that they are able to handle this situation better than us. For them, this pandemic is just one more thing in their long list of dangers that life dishes out to them. Regardless of this, they are always thankful to God for being there for them. Some might say that this is just wishful thinking or their desperation that makes them believe this. It doesn’t matter why they are grateful. The fact is that they have strength to face whatever that confronts them through their gratitude to the One whom they believe has sustained them. For this reason alone, we need to look deep within our ourselves and recognize God’s divine presence in our lives even in the worst moments of our lives this year. It is not about looking at the bright side of life. It is about recognizing His constant faithfulness which is always with us even when we are doubtful about how things will unfold in the future.

For to all those who have, more will be given, and they will have an abundance; but from those who have nothing, even what they have will be taken away. As for this worthless slave, throw him into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Matthew 25:29-30

These are harsh words, especially for those of us who were brought up in the Protestant tradition. For years, we have heard the phrase, “saved by grace alone”. Now, it seems like Jesus is alluding to works. If we even dare to go a little further, it almost appears to have a hint of meritocracy; another word which has taken on a political character in recent times. The tricky part is how we are going to interpret this rather disturbing parable. We could ignore it. This is an option. We can reduce this gospel reading to one about discovering our gifts. I have done it before. However, since then, my circumstances have changed radically. Now I read these texts with our youths in the streets. They are considered as the poorest of the poor by society. Although, even among the homeless, there are is a social hierarchy. However, this is a conversation for another time. Presently, we have our plate full with these disturbing words. The homeless have nothing in the eyes of the world. Jesus says that even the little these have will taken away from them.

Jesus also used a word that goes against everything we say about God in church or outside of it. We assert that everyone is precious to God. Jesus begs to differ. He calls the servant worthless. Not only this, he is cast out, not for being a sinner but for just not doing anything with what was entrusted to him. Again, it is problematic to read these verses with our children and teens. They are considered worthless by many. Here Jesus appears to be on the side of these judgmental people, or is he really? We have to consider carefully how we interpret these words because they will reveal our own personal values. The things which we consider to be our treasures in this world will determine how we use our given gifts. Therefore we need to tread very carefully before saying anything about these verses. Yet, we have to be brave to confront these harsh words because they contain the gospel. They help us penetrate the wonderful mysteries of God’s love.

The world is always telling us stories about people who so-called “pulled themselves up by their bootstraps.” Maybe there are many who are aficionados of these biographies. They can be inspiring and encouraging. Nevertheless, they contain a fundamental flaw. They fail to recognize that no one is born with nothing. Being born poor does not mean that we are born with nothing. All of us are born with an equal zest for life and desire to learn and discover everything around us. Unfortunately, not all of us are given the opportunity to develop these natural desires within us. Some are born in fertile ground and others need to work a little harder to hold on to what is given to them. Apparently, this is not really relevant in Jesus’ eyes. He did not say that the one who had more was a better person than the other two who were given less. Unfortunately, it is just the way things work out in the world. We make a value judgment based on the quantitive possession of each person. There might be a tendency to read this in the light of material possession. Even though the text deals specifically with money, we must not forget that it is parable. It uses an everyday situation or item to symbolize something deeper than the eye can see. Those who have much in this world may not necessary be considered highly in the Kingdom of God. To the contrary, they might be the very ones who have nothing and eventually lose everything they have. Jesus made this clear in several occasions as in this verse from Matthew.

“For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?” Matthew 16:26

This world considers certain kind of people to have plenty but Jesus considered them to have nothing at all. Therefore we need a different pair of glasses to read this text. As for our children and teens in the streets, it is important to remind them that even though they maybe categorized as the poorest of the poor, it doesn’t mean that God hasn’t entrusted much to them.
Most likely, those who have much in the Kingdom of God may not look too impressive in eyes of many. In this world, we are impressed with countless things that may have very little to do with the standards of success in the God’s eyes. On the same point, we should not import this world’s standard of success or failure into our reading of the scripture. The words of Jesus should transform our minds and not give us fuel to conform them to the mindset of this world.

Sometimes I am concerned that whenever I write about our encounters with children and teens, I am presenting a romanticized idea of our homeless youth. I think that it is important to note that our youth just happened to homeless. In other words, they are just the same as anyone else in the world. Some are nice and some are…not so pleasant. Just like your neighbor or anyone you might run into at the grocery store or in the parking lot. The difference is that their situation does not afford them the luxury of hiding behind the niceties. In other words, what you see is what you get. This is why I use the word, “encounter”. We meet and talk with the youth regularly but it is very rare to have an encounter. It is the moment when there is an openness which helps us to construct something eternal between us. It cannot be forced. It happens naturally. Over the years, we found that some of the youth have the ability to open up more easily than others. They have a tendency to connect with people more profoundly than others. For us, these youth have been given much. I mention with a great frequency certain names in my blog posts like Felipe, Bruno, Daniel, Gabriel and many more. These young people are always open and able to transmit something profound to our souls. They give us a certain joy which cannot be described in mere words. The closest thing I can say without turning into a cliche is that they give us a sense of life. On the contrary, I have been to shopping malls where people have access to money to splurge on anything they desire and yet they walk by hundreds of people without ever noticing the existence of the other. There is just a lot of activity but very little life.

Wallace recently got a hold of an old cell phone. He called me one night to say, “Bon Soir”. He met a French speaking person in the streets and the man taught him some French words. He wanted to practice them with me. He was laughing on the phone as he desperately tried to get the pronunciation right. Then he said that he just wanted to share this simple thing that he learned. He missed us and can’t wait for us to do things like before the pandemic. His simple call brought much life to our souls. He definitely has a lot to give and each time he comes in contact with someone, he shares what he has received with them. This is why those who have much will always receive more because they know how to bring joy and life to others.

“Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.” Matthew 5:12

Fame, fame, fatal fame
It can play hideous tricks on the brain
But still I’d rather be famous
Than righteous or holy,
any day, any day, any day*- The Smiths

I can completely understand. I don’t want to be righteous and holy either. Then again, I’d rather not be famous. It is not because I am humble. Being famous seems to be a chore. Perhaps I am too lazy for fame. As for being “righteous and holy”, it is not what it seems to be. Today, there are many people who claim to be on a holy cause and their actions are righteous. More often than not, they don’t seem like people we want to emulate. There seems to be a lack of compassion and grace in their actions. Thankfully, there is another way. Being “saintly” is available to us. It remains uncontaminated with negative images. Saints never considered themselves to be righteous or holy. Quite the opposite, they always thought that they were far from it. Maybe this is what makes them saintly. They are more accessible. However, we are drawn to saints not because of their piety. They are attractive to us because they show us doors which we never knew were open to us.

I know that the Roman Catholic Church has rigorous rules before anyone can be promoted to sainthood. It is almost as if one has to have receive a license to be considered an official saint.
However, in practice, people recognize others as saints without the necessity of ecclesiastical approval. Brazilian history reveals many saints who never had official recognition. Regardless of this, these saints have left their mark in the lives of many people. The present Anglican bishop of São Paulo shared with me that his grandfather was taught how to read and write by a man named Antonio Conselheiro. For many in the world, this name means nothing but this simple teacher turned mystic caused problems to the newly formed Republican Government of Brazil in the late 19th century. They sent a fleet of armies against a man who never once encouraged violence nor rebellion. He was just a mystic who traveled around the poorest regions of the northeast of Brazil where hunger and extreme poverty reigned. Not to mention the ominous presence of dangerous bandits who brutally maimed and mercilessly slaughtered people for the little that they had. They were known as cangaceiros.

The people must have felt that God had forsaken them. The land was infertile and hunger was rampant. Children died before they could speak. Parents buried their young without time to mourn. Ruthless landowners made unreasonable demands, impossible to fulfill. Everything was working against the survival of this tired and miserable people. Then a young man appeared and went around the impoverished villages giving people the gift of literacy. He spoke about the Christian faith in a manner which common people understood. His presence brought joy to the people. Soon people followed him around even though he did not want to start a sect nor be a religious leader. The people organized themselves around this person and he taught them from the Bible. The Catholic priests opposed him but some eventually joined his community. People brought their limited resources together and then suddenly everyone had enough to eat. The most surprising thing was that this simple man did something that the brutal arm of Law could not do. His lifestyle convinced the bandits to lay down their arms and join his community. Throughout this time, Antonio Conselheiro never assumed the role of a religious leader. He was a man who dedicated to prayer and fasting. He never gained anything from his community. The people felt that this man brought God closer to them. They saw God’s grace shining through him. Unfortunately, the newly founded republic did not like the idea of autonomous communities. They sent their troops to destroy this community and a war ensured which ended with the massacre of half of the inhabitants of this community called Canudos. Antonio Conselheiro fasted and prayed for it to end. In the end, he died as a consequence of his rigorous spiritual practices. Today, he considered a saint. He brought hope to a people in a land where hopelessness reigned. He opened the doors for people who never knew that they had a chance of being part of something God was doing in this world. My friend, the bishop, would not be where he is today if this young man did not reach out to his grandfather. Historians today are still baffled at this strange phenomenon. Antonio Conselheiro did not have the personality or the desire to be a great leader. They don’t understand how he managed to influence people to unite and even resist the forces trying to destroy them. I don’t believe that they will never understand this man. This world does not understand saints. In a way, they are not to be studied. They just appear in our lives to help us see something better and greater that what meets the eye.

I know that many Protestants have a hard time comprehending the idea of saints. I guess that they were a little confused with the way they are presented. I agreed. Saints are transformed into someone “holy and righteous”. This does not do justice to the saints themselves. Most of them did what they loved. They were not trying to be someone special or better than others. They loved God and they allowed God’s love to shine through what they did. Antonio Conselheiro loved to teach people and God’s love permeated through the way he taught people. His words opened the minds of people who had been taught that their world was limited and hopeless.

God puts saints in our lives. Sometimes we might not realize their presence because we have preconceived ideas what saints should look like. We mistakenly look at “righteous and holy” people and think that they are saints. These people tend to tell what is wrong with this world. Saintly people show us what is beautiful and real in this world. They bring hope in a hopeless situation. We need to keep our hearts open to these saints in this world. We live in a strange time where everything seems dark and hopeless. I quoted above from a song by a band, the Smiths. Those who know of them might wonder at this bizarre choice. I must admit that it is quite unusual. However, the song does not end there. The next line says something profound, maybe said in a humorous way,

“But sometimes I feel most fulfilled
Making Christmas cards with the mentally ill.”

Maybe for the composer of this song, God’s saint was the mentally ill person. In fact, if most historical saints underwent the scrutiny of a psychoanalyst today, I am sure that they would have earned a diagnosis or two. Like I mentioned before, the world will never understand saints. However, we are not of this world. We are to be attentive to these people who opened our eyes to see a reality that is hopeful and beautiful in this world. In other words, the presence of God dwelling among us. For us, our saints are the children and teens. I am not saying this in a manner to end this reflection with a sentimental touch. I am saying this because during this time of pandemic and political uncertainty, a brief conversation with our children and teens brings Light and Joy into our souls. For that moment, we realize that no matter what happens, we can still find God’s presence in our midst in the lives of saints that God places among us.

* This name of this song is “Frankly, Mr Shankly“