In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: to you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, who is the Messiah,[a] the Lord. This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.’ – Luke 2:8-12

Only God knows how many times Gabriel has tried to get a job. Unfortunately, it never sticks. His most recent endeavor was in a restaurant lasting for just a week. Nevertheless, it is his dream to find a regular job and be just a regular person. For him, this simply means not being homeless. It is a simple ambition. Before this restaurant job, he tried working as trash pickup person. He lasted for a week or two in that job. Then he ventured out to do some odd jobs which did not quite work out either.

Gabriel has been sleeping in the streets since he was 10 and he turns 23 this year. Everything he knows about life is based on his experience being homeless. No one taught him the lessons we learned through the implicit example of our parents or other adults in our lives; things such as working a regular job or how to behave socially in a work environment. A steady adult presence is missing in their lives. Despite these challenges, Gabriel keeps trying and maybe one day he will make it. Unfortunately, everything points to the fact that he might never make it.

Sadly, there are many like Gabriel and these are the ones we minister to on a regular basis. We have done things with them which are usually reserved for family members; we help them get their documents and register for military service. Brazil has conscripted military service. However, our teens are never enlisted. We even help them get their documents for employment. Deep down inside, we hope that one day they have gainful employment. However, we are beginning to see how rare this is. It seems like their condition of homelessness may become a permanent state.

I should be sharing a message of hope and joy instead of painting this dreary scenario. In reality, our ministry has helped us to have a profound understanding of the meaning of joy and peace promised in the Christmas message. There was a time I found it strange singing the cheerful Christmas carols when everything around us seemed to be bleak. For the past ten years, we have interacted with children and youth who have had everything precious they know stripped from them at a young age. There is not much of a future for any of them. Yet, every time we are with them, there is strong sense of hope and joy and this sense does not depend on the circumstances or situation in which we find ourselves. It comes from something deeper that words cannot express and gives us the assurance that the Divine Child is in our midst.

Unto us a Child is born. …and he is named Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.

The first ones to hear the news of the birth of this child were the shepherds. They were just people who stayed and slept in the fields with their sheep. They did not hold a prestigious place in society but they were the first to know about the greatest news for all humanity. Suddenly these nobodies became somebodies due to the message of faith they received. Nevertheless, their status in the world did not change. They remained nobodies. In spite of this, they participated in the very first Christmas and saw the hope of humanity in the form of a vulnerable child. Their simple faith opened their eyes and ears to see things which many were unable to understand. The religious leaders and the royal court did not appreciate the presence of the little child. They were satisfied with their place in this world and chose not to listen to their faith for the fear of losing what they had. The shepherds had nothing of value to cling onto. Perhaps this helped them to be more sensitive to the voice of faith. They were open to discover new things because the old did not have a place for them.

Our children and youth in the streets have this faith too, albeit not all of them. Those who do have something concrete to say about the hope which they sense in the person of Jesus. They have a deep sense of hope and joy even though they know they may always be homeless. Many imagine being homeless as the worst possible thing in life and rightly so. I am one of them. Therefore, I found it hard to believe that these homeless youth could have peace and joy. Initially, I thought that they were eluding reality. Then I realized that they are more in touch with reality than I am. They may not be able to express it in a sophisticated way, but they are engaged with it. They may not understand all the social issues involved. However, they have simple faith. I cannot deny that there is genuine joy and hope present whenever we are together with them. We can see that their faith is real. The way they express it is different from us. It is easy for me to sing of joy and peace when I have a comfortable place to lay my head. I live my faith from a comfortable place. There is nothing wrong with this but it is important to know that the gospel is the gospel even in the worst possible situation. Our youth discovered their faith in the Divine Child when feeling abandoned and alone in this world. They know something about the Baby Jesus that we will never know.

Their social condition makes them hesitate or even be embarrassed to talk about their faith. However, it is the foundation giving them courage to face all the obstacles life has thrown at them. In the eyes of the world, they will remain irrelevant people who crowd the streets with their presence. For us, they remind us that this Infant Saviour has the power to bring hope and joy in ways which we can never imagine.The problem is that they have been so downtrodden that they think what they have received through their faith might be irrelevant for the rest of the world. A major part of our ministry is helping some children and youth share their faith encounters with the Divine Child with us. They have stories, powerful stories of faith. Whenever a person shares a story, they have a place in the heart and soul of those who listen to them.

Hopefully, this Christmas, our hearts and minds will be attentive to listen to the “shepherds” in our own community or families and allow their stories to reveal something beautiful and significant about this precious Child who has transformed our lives forever.