“Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.” And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” Luke 3:9-11

Daniel was a little concerned about Mary. He wanted to know if she was gaining weight again. Mary had some health problems last year and lost a lot of weight. Thankfully, she is back to normal but hasn’t quite gained the weight back yet. Some of the children and teens are a little worried. No matter what we tell them, they think that we are hiding something. Daniel reiterated that he wants Mary to be well like before because he wants us around for a long time. He is a very serious young man and not prone to flattery. He was not saying it to be nice nor sweet. We have known him since he was 11 and now he is 19. Just recently, he is beginning to reveal more of his inner self. He then said something curious. He said that one day it will be his turn to take care of us. He wants to reciprocate.

This is the second time he has said something to this extent. When I saw him earlier, I asked him why he had not gone home to see his mother. A couple of days ago, he shared that he was planning to spend the month of December at home. We are well into the month and he still has not done it. There are some changes in his family situation. His parents got separated and his mother has been coming around to the streets more frequently, trying to convince her sons to go home. The problem is both Daniel and his brother, Dreyson, have spent almost ten years in the streets and during this time no one from the family had come looking for them. They have constructed their world without the presence of their family. Thankfully, not all is lost. There is hope that healing and reconciliation will occur but it will take time. For now, we are encouraging Daniel to spend as much time as possible with his mother. He still harbors strong affections for her. He is also someone with a strong sense of responsibility. If he is convinced that his mother needs him at home, I believe that he will leave everything behind and help her.

He claimed that he could not go home until he had some clothes. Initially, I thought that he was just making up an excuse. I pointed out that he was wearing a nice t-shirt and a clean pair of shorts. There was nothing stopping him from going home the way he was dressed. Then I realized that I was making the mistake of imagining his situation to be like mine when I was his age. There was always a wardrobe of my clothes in my parent’s house at that time but Daniel comes from a different reality. The clothes on his body are the only ones he has. His mother cannot afford to buy him clothes nor has the space to keep his old clothes. Furthermore, Daniel has grown from a tiny scrawny kid to a lanky young man. None of the clothes he had when he was living with his mother will fit him now. I think that his mother can find ways to feed him but this is about all that she can do for now. One day, his older sister came to get the brothers to go home. They had to spend an hour begging in order to get the money to pay for their fare home. Neither his sister nor his mother could afford to pay their way home.

I told him that if clothes were the issue, then I could buy some at the thrift store for him. It was at this moment he smiled and said,“We really appreciate everything you do for us! We don’t say it enough but we are really grateful.” He wanted to play a game of Uno instead. After a while, he asked if we could buy something warm for him to wear as it was getting a little chilly. There is a thrift shop in a church nearby and we went there. I guess for Daniel playing the game together before going to the thrift store meant something. He didn’t want me to think that he just wanted me to buy clothes for me. He wants to spend time with me.

Daniel is one of the many who have said that one day they want to reciprocate. It is a natural response. When we feel loved, we want to respond by giving back. When John the Baptist asked the people to bear fruits, he wasn’t referring to earning our salvation through works. He was actually saying that those who are touched by Love will respond in Love. However, this cannot be reduced to a mere doctrinal concept. It is something that transforms the way we interact with the world.

Our Lord came to usher a New Creation founded on the eternal Agape (unconditional love of God). The most significant sign of this love is that it always reproduces in actions and words. It is never static nor limited by any circumstance nor situation. The eternal agape consumes our souls and compels us to share it with those around us. The people asked John how to go about bearing fruits. The answer reveals to us practical ways to share the Love we received but they are baby steps. They are just the beginning and not the end. They open the door to the New Creation.

I shared with Daniel that we would not be here if we had not encountered the eternal Agape first. It is this Love which sustains us here. I explained to Daniel that every encounter we have with them is an encounter with eternal love. Each time we avail ourselves to love our neighbor, we open our hearts and minds to be transformed by the Unconditional Love of God. Daniel had availed himself to us many times. Therefore, he had already reciprocated. Love in the New Creation is not an exchange between two parties. It is opening our hearts to be touched by the Eternal Agape.

We got to the thrift shop and he wanted a windbreaker. It was getting a little chilly. It cost me less than three dollars but in return I had a wonderful conversation enriching my soul. John’s advice is worth following. It brings fruits which we will carry with us for eternity.