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.