Abraham said, “Child, remember that during your lifetime you received your good things, and Lazarus in like manner evil things; but now he is comforted here, and you are in agony.” Luke 16:25

I think the subject was about hell, or maybe, it was the afterlife. I can not remember. Whenever we have Janaina over for lunch, our conversations never stay in one place. It has been years since we had her over for lunch. Two or three years, I think. Before that, she was here at least once a week. I always found her to have a curious and perceptive mind. She shared that she feels like she can share her thoughts and doubts with us freely without being judged. We are forever grateful for this. Eventually this parable came up in our conversation. At that time, I was not aware that it was going to appear again in our Sunday lectionary. She mentioned that she heard pastors use it to describe the nature of hell or the afterlife. Poor Lazarus is always getting left out. He was neglected in the parable by the rich man and now even in the interpretation of this text, religious leaders are paying more attention to the pretext than on the actual protagonist. People should always be our focus! There were two significant figures in this parable. They have something important to say to us today but it was almost time to go the streets. Janaina was planning to join us today. It was her first time after many many years. She said that she was a little nervous. It was strange to hear this.

As we stepped out of our building, many Lazarus of various degrees were waiting for us. I think this parable is closer to our reality in many ways. Thankfully, none of them had sores nor were dying of hunger. It was strange that Jesus was quite specific about the details in this one. He even gave his character a name unlike his other parables. It is possible that he knew a beggar named Lazarus, someone who the rest of the world would neglect. Sad to say, we have seen beggars with open wounds and other gory details that I am going to skip for the sake of decency. Many times, we avoided such people not because of a sense of superiority. It is just too distressing. In our context, most of them are people whom the city terms collectively as crack addicts. It sounds like they are a bizarre tribe of people. They have names too. They are people. I look away sometimes despite knowing all this. I don’t think that the rich man was a mean cold hearted person. Jesus never said this about him. Perhaps he is just like us. He did not want to think about the distressing things which existed in the world. He wanted to be in a place where he was safe from everything which made him feel uncomfortable. In the end, it ended up robbing him of his life.

Finally, we got to where we usually meet the young people. We have been experiencing unusual cold weather recently. Consequently, many of our children have been staying in their hiding place for longer period of times. It is usually warm there. I don’t blame them. We warned Janaina that she might not meet anyone today. No matter what happens it is good for us to be there waiting for them just in case someone ventures out. Sometimes hunger drives them out. It gives us an opportunity to get them something to eat. We sat and waited. Suddenly, a huge number of teens approached us. Many familiar faces but some new as well. They came over and gave us a hug. Usually the homeless youth are not so expressive with their affections. I suspected that maybe the police were watching them and they wanted to be close to us to feel safe. The police usually don’t bother them when they are with us. There were no one watching them. It was true affection. Shame on me, I thought to myself. They sat next to us and started talking. A little girl, Anna, who is third generation homeless, sat next to me. I asked her if she wanted to color. She said, “not even a bit!” It was quite amusing to hear her say this. I took out a book and started coloring, hoping to entice her to do the same. She didn’t take the bait. Instead, she watched me do it and then she rested her head on my arms. Perhaps she just wanted affection from an adult.

For some strange reasons, we were surrounded by girls with variations of the same name. There was another Ana. She has never spoken to us before. She is about 13 maybe even less. She sat and started coloring with us. She was particularly interested in Mary. Janaina sat there listening to the conversations of the other kids. It was quite amazing. Everyone wanted to talk with us or be near us today. This doesn’t usually happen. Most of them did not even notice Janaina except for Ana Paula, our third “Ana”. She is a little person. We have known her since she was a young child. I don’t believe this girl has ever lived in a house before. Her mother is homeless too. Her physical condition made it impossible for people not to take notice of her. Thankfully, no one teases or makes fun of her. Among the homeless, there is a tenderness towards people with different physical conditions. Ana Paula is very serious and interacts with us on occasions. I think she likes us but is a little reserved showing her affections. Janaina intrigued her. Finally she stood up and asked how we met her. This is a curious question. No one has asked us this before whenever a friend comes with us to the streets albeit not a frequent occurrence. We asked Janaina if we could share her story. Permission was given.

We told Ana Paula that we met Janaina in the streets in 1994 when she was about eleven years old. Back then, she was one of the children that we came to meet in the streets. My most vivid memory of her was eating a Christmas dinner together in the streets organized by Franciscan friars. It was a small and quiet affair. For some reason, most of the homeless were not around in that area where we had the meal. There were just a small group maybe thirty. It made the meal even cozier. We sat and talked together for hours. It was beautiful; an eternal moment if I could add. Janaina remembers that meal too. Thankfully, when she turned 23 or so, she decided that it was time for her to move on. She struggled for many years to find some stability. She got married and her first child helped her to decide once and for all that the streets was no longer an option. However, she still has many friends who are like family to her still living in the streets. In her heart, they will always be precious to her. Today, Janaina is a dear friend to us. We cannot imagine our lives without her presence. She brings so much light and joy to our lives. Ana Paula listened but didn’t say anything.

As we got up to leave, Janaina reached out and hugged Ana Paula. Later we had a cup of coffee together and she asked if she could go to the streets again with us. It is important for her not to forget her “family” in the streets. I know some people might think that the others will look at her and have hope for themselves. In reality, it does not work that way. They might be fascinated that she was once from the streets. Then it just ends there. They do not make the connection to with their own personal struggles. Janaina knows this. She has been there. However, she wants to go the streets because she realizes that it does not take much to bring joy and love to these children. In the parable, Jesus said that Lazarus just wanted the crumbs which fell from the rich man’s table. He did not expect the rich man to adopt him or buy him a nice house. He just wanted a little attention and consideration. Janaina wants to give more than crumbs.

We went back to our comfortable home later on that night. We ate our meals. It was cold outside and even colder in our homes. Homes in São Paulo don’t have heat nor running hot water. Nevertheless it could be worse. We looked out of the window and there were quite a few sleeping in the streets with just blankets to keep themselves warm.

It is quite an uncomfortable parable.

And I tell you, make friends for yourselves by means of dishonest wealth so that when it is gone they may welcome you into the eternal homes. Whoever is faithful in a very little is faithful also in much, and whoever is dishonest in a very little is dishonest also in much. Luke16:8-10

I have heard preachers say, “Money is good servant but an evil master.” These words are suppose to make us feel a little comfortable with possessing money. However, they are at odds with the words of Jesus. I do not blame preachers for saying this. St Paul said the love of money is the root of all evil. Some might breathe a sigh of relief, thinking as long as they do not love money it is fine to have much of it. The problem is money is a god as Jesus puts it. It does not comply to the role of being a servant nor a mere tool. It is a god and wants to have complete control of its subjects.

In Jesus’ time, money did not have the kind of influence which it does in our present reality. We are living in times where economy is the driving force of our ethics and wars. Even all the controversies related to the recent pandemic can be traced back to the economic situation. There was a different attitude towards wealth in Jesus’ world. People accepted wealth and poverty as determined conditions each one was born into in this world, not unlike the doctrine of the caste system in India. Hinduism did not invent it but merely formalized it. However, soon it became apparent that money can liberate us from the harsh social conditions imposed upon us. We discovered that nobody is condemned to the state in which they were born. Money gave us opportunities to overcome things which religion for centuries failed to do. We can even say that it helped to conquer racism, albeit superficially. People change their attitudes when they see that they can gain much from the people they secretly despise.

Needless to say, money has done much to lift people out of misery and pain. Besides it is something palpable and it provides for our needs and desires in a tangible manner. Sometimes people read the harsh sayings of Jesus of abandoning families and friends for the Kingdom of God, they feel that these demands are unreasonable. However, if a job offer comes up with a great paycheck, they will drop everything and move to some distant and remote place in a heartbeat. Many would agree that this is a wise and reasonable thing to do. This is the problem. Money brings a lot of positive things in our lives. We willingly allow it to creep and dominate every aspect of our being without any resistance. Jesus is warning us that this is an unrighteous presence in our lives. It is a warning that not everything that leads to something apparently better is good for our souls.

The homeless are not any different. They are not immune to the influences of money. Our homeless young people love having it. The young children steal not because they need something for their immediate needs. There are countless of homeless children and teens who have all their needs met without any money exchanged. However, those who engage in crime like the feel of holding money in their hands. They like to say, “This is mine to do as I please!”

There is a young boy named Lucas. I am not sure if he is even ten years old. He is so tiny and adorable that no one would realize that he is actually one of the biggest thieves in the center. He is extremely fast. He can grab a gold chain from the neck of an unsuspecting victim and disappear without a trace. He likes to carry his cash in a way that everyone can see that he is loaded. However, he hardly buys anything for himself. He likes to treat the older teens who do not rob nor engage in any criminal activities. I have seen him buy food and treats for Erica and Kawanna. Lucas suffers from some form of autism. Often times he walks by us without noticing our presence. He is very limited in the way he interacts with people. One thing he has he figured out, money is a good way to connect with people. In a strange way, Lucas uses his dishonest money in a better way than most of his victims would have. Nevertheless, this does not make it righteous money in any shape or form.

And I said: “Woe is me! I am lost, for I am a man of unclean lips, and I live among a people of unclean lips; yet my eyes have seen the King, the LORD of hosts!” Isaiah 6:5

The prophet had a glimpse of the holiness of God and realized that he was nothing but a fruit of an unrighteous society and consequently, an unrighteous person himself. This is the very opposite of the spirituality of the Pharisees. They see themselves as the custodians of holiness in this world. We cannot appreciate the abundant life which Jesus gives to use freely unless we perceive ourselves and the world like the prophet did. We have to acknowledge that we are part and parcel of a system promoting unrighteousness in this world. Our attitudes on what is right and wrong are inevitably tainted too. Our little and adorable friend, Lucas, believes that he is being righteous. Perhaps he imagines himself as a Robin Hood. Despite all our romanticism, Robin Hood perpetuates unrighteousness present in this world.

Money is a fruit of this world and a bad tree cannot produce good fruit. However, we need money to survive in this world. We also need money to do good in this world. Jesus understands this perfectly. He was financial supported by wealthy women in his society as the gospel of Luke informs us. We also know that Jesus never handled money. Judas did it for him and we know how that story ends.

Jesus shows us a better way to deal with this dangerous element in our everyday life. It does not mean all of us have to be like the rich young ruler. I believe that was something specific for that young man. However, we have countless examples of saints which mark our liturgical calendar who have followed this example. Even so, this is not something Jesus demands of everyone. He tells here to use our money to gain friends. Money, in our capitalistic society, is used as a form of communication. In a business, an employer wants to show appreciation for his staff, he or she gives them a raise. Words, in this situation, do not really cut it. Money does it best. It is the same in different aspects of society. Money is used as a means of expressing gratitude and appreciation in our times. In other words, the money we have in our hands can be used to bless others in a deeper way. However, if we think that by giving we will receive something in return, then we are perpetuating the unrighteous economy of Mammon. The Kingdom of God operates on the foundation of unconditional love. Sometimes we can give and not even receive a “Thank you” like the countless times Jesus never received a word of gratitude for healing people. Nevertheless, it did not stop Jesus from healing.

Jesus advises us to make friends. However, it is possible to give tons of money away without any relationship. Many do it to gain a name for themselves.

What does it profit them if they gain the whole world, but lose or forfeit themselves? Luke 9:25

Jesus advises us to use our money to build bridges of friendship. Each time we gain a friend, we gain our humanity. However, this does not mean mammon is not a dangerous thing. We have to be careful that we do not help someone in a way that they become servants of this dreadful god. We need a lot of wisdom with this. It is not an easy task. Nothing is easy when it comes to money. However, we need to get rid of it in a way that we become truly rich with friendships that will remain with us for eternity.

Godspeed on your quest to rid yourself of this unrighteous presence. Please pray for us to do the same and say a special prayer for Lucas.

Now all the tax-collectors and sinners were coming near to listen to him. And the Pharisees and the scribes were grumbling and saying, ‘This fellow welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ Luke 15:1-2

Wilton asked me what our plans were for Christmas. It might seem too early in the year to be asking about such questions. Well, we always say that and then before we know it, it’s Christmas time again. In Brazil, there is nothing happening from now till Christmas. Neither Halloween nor Thanksgiving is celebrated. Therefore, it is not really strange to talk about the year end’s plans during this time of the year. Wilton spent most of his teenage life in the juvenile detention center and then, he spent four years in regular prison system for robbery. Lots of things changed for him since then. He was determined to walk on the straight and narrow. At first, it was tough. He worked in every job available. Finally he found a job as a stone mason and now he is working full time. He managed to get his younger brother, Wallace, off the streets permanently. Now, they have a roof above their heads after spending almost their whole infancy and teenage life homeless. However, all their closest friends are still here. They have been the closest thing to family for them. They make sure that they come by once in a while to ensure the rest that they have not forgotten where their roots so to speak. Consequently, we are part of this whole group. It was all hugs and gratitude when they saw us. I have to admit that we savored every moment of it. Things are going as planned for them. This is really a miracle seeing that the whole country is slowly slipping into depression. These brothers learned to survive on very little since young. For them, it is a great joy to leave homelessness behind. This year Wilton wants to have a special Christmas. He wanted to know our plans for the season. Here in Brazil, it is usually a family affair and he wants us to be part of his celebration. He is really giving us something special.

To be honest, initially I wasn’t too keen about it. It has nothing to do with the brothers. The fact is that they live quite a distance away from where we live. In this city, the poorest of the poor have two options for shelter. They can occupy an abandoned building here in the old center where we live and become squatters. Most of our older youth are doing this like Erica and Kawanna. However, this is usually temporary and unstable. The local government can send troops of police to evict the people anytime. It is quite a frequent occurrence except recently. This is, after all, the election year. The other option is to rent a small house, constructed haphazardly without any safety concerns, in the outskirts of the city which is what Wilton and Wallace are doing. The location is usually in an area where public transport is practically inexistent. One can expect a journey of two to three hours to get there from where we live. Most of the poor spend at least four hours a day on average in public transport getting to and from from work. I feel exhausted just thinking about it. I would rather if they came to the center and we would happily take them out for a meal. We will be willing to pay for their way here too. However, they don’t want us to host them. They both have jobs now and finally they can give back something to us. Despite how I felt, I told Wilton that we will celebrate Christmas together.

I remember once we visited a family in the favelas (the people living there prefer the term “community” as favelas is used many times in a derogative manner). We used to visit them because they were fun and lovely people. It had nothing to do with our ministry. We became friends through a chance encounter and we ended up going to their place weekly. One day a lady from the community commented that we must really love Brazil to be with them. Perceiving my confusion, she clarified that we chose to be in her community which is the last place anyone would want to visit. In reality, we were there because we never experienced such hospitality from anyone else in Brazil. The same year, we invited all of them to our home for Christmas. At first, we were worried that they might feel a little intimidated. We were pleasantly surprised to see how comfortable they felt in our home. Moreover, they came bearing gifts. Before the night was done, they even helped with the dishes. We benefitted more from their visit than they did. It was one of our most special Christmases. One that neither moth nor rust can destroy nor anyone can ever steal from us.

The Pharisees would never understand any of this. Their religious convictions blinded them from seeing the humanity in the other. Jesus did not eat with the tax collectors because He was doing ministry. He actually saw them as friends and people whom He loved. In those days, sharing a meal is an intimate affair. They ate with hands and with common cups; perhaps a scene of terror for the modern germaphobes. One has to be very comfortable to be in such close and intimate settings with another. The Pharisees could not believe that Jesus would share meals with those whom they considered despicable. Their religion did not help them overcome their hatred. The faith of Jesus is one which overcomes hatred with love.

Now, Wilton and Wallace are people we love and therefore, sharing a meal with them is not a challenge for us. Jesus did not just break bread with pleasant people. He did it with people who were truly difficult and bordering on despicable, well, at least from my perspective. I need to ask myself who are the people I find it most difficult to share with a meal. I am going to refrain from listing them here. The fact is that this gospel passage challenges me to confront my own personal prejudices. I don’t like people who like the Pharisees but I don’t want my personal dislike of them to transform me into one of them. I know this sounds little confusing even for myself. Maybe Jesus can help here. It is clearly evident in the gospels who His primary enemies were but on many occasions, Jesus broke bread with them too. He did not avoid them just because they despised Him. However, He did not do this in order to convert them. He saw humanity in them despite all their hatred and jealousy towards Him. This is perhaps one of the most difficult things in our faith. Moreover, the recognition of this weakness is going to save our souls. It will keep us from succumbing to the sin of the Pharisee. We are not better than them. We are just like them and only the life and example of our Lord can save us from our personal prejudices and self-righteousness.

Welcome those who are weak in faith, but not for the purpose of quarreling over opinions. Some believe in eating anything, while the weak eat only vegetables. Romans 14:1-2

This is not restricted to dietary disagreements nor a tool against vegans. It is a counsel on living together. The whole epistle of Romans is about people who are discovering how to listen to our faith and live in a practical way like Jesus. There are many things which attempt to separate us in this world. Those who are strong in their faith will dwell on the things that bring us together instead of what separates us. It is not about avoiding the crucial issues. It is about loving the person. Issues come and go but love lasts forever.

I love Wilton and Wallace and most of our children and teens in the streets. There are some who are difficult. They are there to remind me that I still have a long journey ahead of me before I can become anything like our Lord, Jesus. He was and is open to dine with anyone. He never did it as an obligation nor as a ministerial strategy. He did it because He truly enjoyed people as people. This is the abundant life He came to give. He showed us how to enjoy our lives by loving all those He puts in our path even the ones who are difficult to love.

There are no easy answers here. We just have Jesus as our primary example and model.