In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. All went to their own towns to be registered. Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn. Luke 2:1-7

Sometimes it is interesting to read or hear the tourist’s impressions about the place where we meet our children and teens. I have mentioned countless times that a majestic Cathedral sits in the center where all the homeless people sleep in the square surrounding it. It is a major tourist attraction (the Cathedral, not the homeless people). The surrounding square derives its name from this monument. “This Church is gorgeous but it is a pity that it is ruined by the presence of the homeless people.” This is one of the more frequent comments from the tourists. It is not said with malicious intent. The overwhelming presence of people sleeping in tents and homeless children playing without any adult supervision plus the countless adults in various stages of inebriation does mar the charm of the place if you are coming solely for tourism.

We have not stepped into the Cathedral for years. Truth be known, I find it a little cold and impersonal. The interior is dark and is permeated with a melancholic atmosphere. This is just my opinion. It is by no means a judgment on the priests nor the congregation. It is just the aura of the building. Since we are not here for tourism, we find the homeless people more fascinating.

Most people just look at them collectively as the ‘homeless”. However, there are many different groups represented. They are all homeless but not all the same. There is the transgender group. They have endured much rejection in their lives and now in the streets they are part of a bizarre community. There are the old alcoholics as the children call them. They are not in the streets because of booze. They drink to forget their misery. If one has several hours to spend and infinite patience, they will relate to you their sad tale. Of course, we have our children and teens. I have by no means exhausted my list but I think the point is made. All these diverse homeless individuals have a story to tell but very few people are interested in them. Their experiences will never be recorded in any history book, neither will their existence be acknowledged. Nevertheless, they are part of this city which does not recognize them. Many tourists come for the official tour which includes the majestic history of the Cathedral and its construction. It is a sanitized history devoid of human sufferings and failures. Perhaps the actual church building is melancholic because it laments the exclusion of the homeless who are very much part of the Kingdom of God, the symbol which the Cathedral represents.

The evangelist Luke starts his account of the first Christmas but there is a twist. He begins the gospel like any historical account with the rulers and their important mandates taking the center stage. Then, suddenly, these things slip into irrelevance. A very young woman pregnant out-of wedlock takes the center stage. Despite Joseph’s noble attempts to protect her from shame, we know that the gossip is virtually impossible to deter. The people in those times are just like us. The difference is that we have better technology to despatch calumnious news. In any case, she would have been a person whom society would rather forget than to remember two thousand years after. Nevertheless, she is a primary figure in the history of the Kingdom of God.

God had access to all peoples in the world but He wanted to celebrate the birth of his chosen One with shepherds. Another group of insignificant people not featured in the regular history books. God’s invitation list is void of the local rulers and prominent citizens. The location of the festivity is the last place one expects a king to be born. Of course, everyone knows this story well enough. We have heard it countless times. I do not need to repeat it here. The point is that the Kingdom of God is not found where we expect or would like it to be. We cannot build a beautiful Cathedral and expect the Son of Man to be restricted within its boundaries. God brought his special guests to the square where our Cathedral sits. The tourists are impressed with the symbol but they fail to recognize the actual Kingdom of God present. However, something strange and beautiful happens during the Christmas season. There is an increase of more visitors to the square but not to visit the Cathedral. They come to visit those who sleep outside of it. They bring food and presents. They come especially to spread some joy to these people. It is strange that throughout the year they walk past this place without making eye contact with the homeless. Suddenly, during this season, they remember them.

Some say that it’s blatant hypocrisy. Besides being an unfortunate way of looking at things, I also find it dull and lazy. Being hypocrites is part of our human nature. We do not need a special season to express it. It is present throughout the year. All of us succumb to hypocrisy in some shape or form. Being coherent is a dream that is not yet a reality for anyone who is alive. However, to dwell on the negative aspect of this is to be the same as the tourists who visit the Cathedral and lament the presence of the Kingdom.

During this time, the vast majority of people are open to the presence of Agape in our lives. Christmas is the celebration of God’s unconditional Love being expressed in flesh and blood. Needless to say, we know that the day of Christmas is a mere symbol. Jesus was not born on this specific day but God works with us where we are spiritually. This time we are open to recognize the eternal Love which sustains our existence. We realize that this love needs to be shared and it cannot be contained in its symbols. Consequently, it is the time when people want to step out of the sanitized version of the Kingdom of God and seek the actual Kingdom. It is a time when people are prone to put aside their differences and just enjoy the person. Our children and teens are always influenced by the season. Usually they consider forgiving their families for the things that they have done or omitted to do and seek some sort of reconciliation. Usually everything falls apart the day after Christmas but miracles still occur. There is always hope that the people will be open to the power of Agape after the season.

This week I was in the streets and saw Bruno reading a book on movies. It was a beautiful book and looked expensive. He was obviously very pleased with it and could not wait to show it off to me. He has been begging outside a bank for two years now. The staff had their annual Christmas party and without Bruno’s knowledge they included his name in the gift exchange. The bank manager bought him the book. She talks with him regularly whenever she comes to have a smoke. The rest of the staff also had a little gifts for him. Even though he was not an employee, he has become part of their lives. They decided that this time of the year, they would acknowledge the love they sense for him. They come from two extremes and yet there is a special kind of Love which is able to overcome boundaries and social differences. It does not originate from either party. It came into this world two thousand years ago through a little child born in a stable. At least once a year the world is reminded that is a Love greater than all our failures and hypocrisy and maybe one day, this love will take full possession of our souls. This is our hope and prayer always.

God bless and have a Blessed Christmas.