“You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.” Matthew 5: 14-16

Someone put up a picture of the place where we meet the children. I didn’t recognize it at first. Everything looked perfect in it. The colors were gorgeous. The Cathedral stood majestical in the background surrounded by palm trees with people scurrying to their activities. It was a serene but lifeless photograph. Everything that did not please the eye of the photographer was carefully removed. The homeless people that congregated in the square were carefully eradicated from the scenery. There was no sign of the countless children and their pets in it. The poor people sell their simple wares to make enough money to eat. They were not given a role in this picture. The picture spotlighted things that society wants and those who actually call this square their only home were evicted from the picture. The world does not have the Light but it only carries a spotlight to shine on things it thinks are important. In the end, it produces an image that is void of life and love.

The reality that the picture avoided greeted as we returned to the streets after a month of absence. The first thing that greeted us was the chaos. There was movement and noise everywhere. There are shoe shiners. People selling things that no one really needs or wants. Preachers yelling at the top of their voice about a God who constantly wants to send someone to hell. Homeless people sprawled about almost everywhere. Mentally-ill people having arguments with themselves or their imaginary enemies. People pulling their recycle carts filled with card boxes. It is not postcard scenery but we love it here, the mess and all. We don’t want a whitewashed image of this place. It is what it is and the gospel is still powerful here. This is all that matters. Where the gospel is alive, there is life. Most people just see darkness and chaos here. However, we are called to be His Light. We are to shine so that the world can see that there is true Life in Praça da Sé.

These were things going through my mind and they were interrupted when a homeless man whom I did not find familiar looked up at me and said, “How are you, Long-haired?” I have a nickname in the streets. Only those who belong here have a nickname. I am part of this environment now. It is God’s gift to me. I smiled at him and acknowledged his presence. Then some of the children came to hug us but not all of them. We have varying degrees of friendship with the children. The new ones are still getting to know us. Maybe our brief absence caused a momentary lapse of memory on their part. It is okay. We are here to stay. Time will eventually build the necessary bridges. These children came here looking for something. They don’t know exactly what they are looking for at the moment. However, the Light will eventually reveal their true heart’s desire. The ones who are close to us asked about our trip. Well, they did not really know what to ask for exactly because they have no notion or concept what it means to take a trip abroad. We brought some simple souvenirs. Something small, just enough for them to know that we thought about them.

Erica and Kawana came up and hugged us. This is something recent. The girls are usually more reserved. However, it seemed like we managed to gain their trust. They have opened up a space in their hearts for us. Danyel saw us and came up to give us a long hug. We sat down and talked for a long time. He told us that he was trying to stay in a shelter. He was thinking about enrolling in a school although he wasn’t too keen about it. Something is going on in his mind. He is going through that time where he is considering about his future. I jokingly asked him if he missed us. He responded without any hesitation, “This is why I immediately came to you when I saw you. I haven’t seen you for a while.” It was nice to be missed. It was good for us to be back. This is the place where we see things clearly. It is the place of the Light. Its warmth comforts our souls. It brings joy and love into our lives.

Pedro finally summed the courage to approach us. He says that he is 10 years old. I don’t see why he would lie about his age. However, he looks like he is 8. He is physically underdeveloped. He has seen us a few times. Today, he wanted to talk with us. He asked us if we were coming to the streets everyday again. I said yes. Then, he told us that he wanted to do something with us one day. It was his way of saying that I want to have a relationship with us. Maybe not today but someday. It is okay. The Light is always shining. He will be able to find his way through the darkness. For today, he allowed his Light to shine into our souls.

One of the major drug dealers in the area walked passed us with his very pregnant wife. He was wearing shorts and pulling a string attached to a big toy truck. Definitely not the kind of image of someone like him that is represented in the movies. No one asked about his truck. He was pulling it around just like any other kid. Maybe he bought it for someone. Nevertheless, it just gave a us glimpse of this young man’s spirit. He was a child lost in the world of crime and hopelessness. He found a truck. Maybe he is hoping that his unborn child would have the childhood that he never had. Hopefully, the child will be able to guide him to the Light to find his way out of hopelessness.

Being the Light in Praça da Sé (The Square of The Cathedral) means not being afraid to face all the harsh reality of life represented in this place. The world thinks that this place would be beautiful if it wasn’t for the people who make this place their home. However, the Light shines brightly so that the world can see the beauty in these people that society overlooks. So much is revealed when the true Light shines. Perhaps somethings are painful when exposed. However, it is necessary to examine the wounds and rejections in the Light. It is the first step for the healing process. For this, we need salt. I believe that this too is a role Jesus has graciously bestowed upon all who choose to follow Him. With the salt nearby, the Light becomes the good news for those who are weary and heavy laden. Salt and Light are essential ingredients to draw a beautiful picture of those who are often overlooked and evicted out of sterile postal card images of cities.

Simeon took the infant Jesus in his arms and praised God, saying,
“Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word; for my eyes have seen your salvation,which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples,a light for revelation to the Gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.”
Luke 2 :28-32

There was also a prophet, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was of a great age, having lived with her husband seven years after her marriage, then as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the temple but worshiped there with fasting and prayer night and day. Luke 2:36-37

Our present bishop once told us that you know you are called to serve in a particular place when you can see Jesus clearly in the everyday things, or rather, things or acts that people usually overlook. I remember these words as if they were spoken today. Back then, I was at a point of decision. I could return to the ministry to the homeless children or remain in Florida as a parish priest. I enjoyed being a priest. I served in the ministry for 7 years. I had many precious and beautiful moments sharing people’s most joyous as well as vulnerable moments. I felt a strong connection with the divine each time the Eucharist was celebrated. I loved preaching, it gave me an opportunity to reflect on the things God was doing in our midst. I enjoyed the hours we spent together in our Bible studies. All these gracious episodes sustained me weekly. However, I could not see God in the day to day things of parish life. Sometimes I dreaded them. Most of the time, my soul was restless. On the other hand, I don’t mind doing the most ordinary and mundane things in the streets everyday; like sitting in the hot sun or cold weather waiting for the children and teens, waiting hours without any interactions with the children and even walking to the place where work. I sense the presence of our Lord in all of these things.

The prophets Simeon and Anna are the main characters of the gospel reading above, albeit, the narrative is essentially about the Presentation of Jesus. Anna was a widow who could have remarried and raised a family like most women in her time. If she had done this, she would have been just as fulfilled her role in society like women in her time. However, she chose a different path. She decided to spend her life in the temple to pray and wait for hope to manifest itself. She placed herself in the ideal place to see this. It does not make her superior or any better than the women who chose a common life. Ana chose what she chose to do because it helped her see God clearly in her life.

Simeon was a prophet whose only claim to fame are resumed in 3 verses in the New Testament. We don’t know anything about him beyond this beautiful hymn. His prophesy was understood and appreciated by only two people, Mary and Joseph. The same could be said of Ana’s prophetic ministry. They spend their whole lives to prophesy to just two people. Maybe others around heard their words but it did not have the desired effect as it did with the Holy Family. The world would not understand this. For it, their lives would be considered wasted. However, it made perfect sense for Simeon and Ana. The ways of God are completely contrary to the mindset of this world.

Some days, nothing happens. We don’t consider these days as wasted. We never consider anything as wasted or lost time when we are in the streets. Every moment can be and is used by God to communicate something to us and sometimes even to the children. Every day is a step towards discovering something special about the gospel of our Lord even on bad days when something tragic or disturbing happens. Honestly, I never felt this way in any place except in the streets while sitting on the ground that should have been cleaned several months ago. In our recent visit to Florida, some kind people told us that we are special people. This could be read in many ways. Maybe they think we are special because we are crazy. Maybe they think we are saintly. They said it with a smile; I hoping the latter is their intent.

Anna and Simeon, however, would have rejected such compliments. Therefore, it is only right for us to do the same. I don’t mean to say that we consider ourselves their equals. We rather think of them as our role models. Whereas we are grateful for people for their high consideration of us but it would be wrong of us to accept their compliments. We walk in the path that these evangelical prophets have opened for us. We share their conviction. Ana and Simeon acted in self-interest. However, they were not selfish. They had a burning desire to see God act in their midst. This came from God. The gospel tells us both prophets were sensitive to the voice of the Holy Spirit. They allowed the Holy Spirit to modify their desires and values. They realize that their earthly desires cannot fulfill them instead they embraced the things of the Spirit and found fulfillment.

Likewise, we are here for self-interest too. We are seeking fulfillment. The voice of the Spirit has told us that it has something to do with the homeless children and teens. Our children and teens also listen to the Spirit. This is why they are in the streets. God chooses the strangest places to manifest Himself. However, there is difference between us and the children. They have a hard time trying to discern the gentle voice of the Holy Spirit. I am not implying that we know how to listen to God’s voice clearly. Discerning His voice is not a technique that one can master. The Holy Spirit speaks freely but often times softly. If we are unaware of His desire to communicate to us, we might not know to listen. Our children don’t believe that God wants to speak to them. We have the assurance that the Word of God is always present among the little ones of this world. It was our honor to announce to our children that God desires to speak them and has spoken to them many times. They hear His voice and sometimes they get confused.

An older teen told us that once she attempted to rob a woman immediately after she was released from the juvenile detention center. It was something that she has always done. As she was robbing this poor fear-stricken woman who frantically handed her wallet and cell phone to her, something happened to the teen. Suddenly, she felt a strange sensation in her spirit. She felt a strong repulsion for her criminal actions. She handed back everything to her surprised victim and told her that she changed her mind. The woman was confused and left the scene. We will never know the things that went through the woman’s mind. We asked the teen what happened. What made her feel such repulse for her actions? She said maybe she just matured. However, if maturity can summon virtue in people, then this world will be in a better shape than it finds itself. For us, it seems clear that this young woman heard the voice of the Holy Spirit. She is beginning to change her ways or least she wants to find a better way for her life. She doesn’t realize that she is responding to the voice of God. We believe that it is our privilege to help her in the coming years to discern and follow the Voice of God.

Mother Mary had been hearing God’s voice for years regarding Jesus. There must have been times when she doubted it. The prophets Anna and Simeon did not say anything that she did not know already. They just helped to confirm it. In a way, this is the only thing we can do for these children. We are in a place where we know for sure God speaks to us. Out of this assurance, we can only confirm what God is already speaking to the hearts of our children and teens. I believe that the things we hear from the Holy Spirit also confirm what many of our readers have been hearing from the soft and gentle voice of God.

As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishermen. And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Matthew 4:18-19

These were experienced fishermen. They did not choose this line of work. It chose them. In Jesus’ time, people worked in the profession of their families. It was the only thing they needed to know. Jesus invited them to “fish” for people. The familiar term did not fool them. Jesus was inviting them to do something completely different and a little risky. They fished for food. It provided them with a livelihood. However, being fishers of people was not a lucrative alternative back then. The gospel tells us that they left everything and followed Him without any hesitation. I often thought what I would do if I was in their position. I imagine that I would have just disregarded Jesus as a madman and continued with my task. This would be the most ordinary thing to do. The disciples were ordinary people just like us. Yet, they were able to do this extra-ordinary thing. It is something that I never understood until we started our ministry with the homeless children and teens. They gave us an insight into the hearts and mind of these disciples. Most importantly, they challenged us to confront some things within ourselves.

Once upon a time, our homeless children and teens had a home. They lived with their families. They lived in a neighborhood, albeit, an extremely poor one. As children, they were not necessarily aware of their social status. Besides, they did not have a choice in the matter. They were born into poverty. It is what they have always known. One day, they decided to leave behind everything and step into the unknown. They stepped away from what was comfortable into something that was harsh and hostile. Compared to the streets, anything with a roof and walls could be considered comfortable. At least, this is from our middle class perspective. Our children saw things differently. They did not want comfort. They did not want security. They desired something that they were not receiving at home. All they wanted was to be someone. In their homes, unfortunately they were nobody. No one desired to be with them. No one wanted to be with them. They suffered an identity crisis. They were not sure if their lives mattered to anyone or anybody. They chose to leave their homes in search of themselves. The only place that would receive them was the streets. It was the best option available to them as hard as it is for us to understand this.

It would be inaccurate to say that physical or sexual abuse drove them to the streets. There are some who suffered these things but they are in the minority. Most of our children and teens were just neglected. It wasn’t because their parents were irresponsible or indifferent. To the contrary, most of their parents did the best they could. They themselves were subjected to neglect and abject poverty as children. Most of them had to toil hours in the streets, recycling trash or even begging to put food on the table. Usually they would be too exhausted to spare any time for their children. Once a young teen, Gabriel, told me half jokingly that he was helping his family by living in the streets. They have one less mouth to feed.

This tragic circumstance is not new. It has been going on for hundreds of years. Homeless children and teens have been a reality in Brazilian society for decades. These are the poorest of the poor. No one really cares for them. No one really cares what they think or feel.

No political nor religious leader in Jesus’ time cared about the fishermen. They were insignificant or nobodies. If our children were to read this gospel that we heard today, they would be happy. Jesus chose His disciples among people just like them. When Jesus called them, these young fishermen were ready for something new. They were ready for meaningful life. Our children can appreciate this.

I realize that I found it hard to understand how the first disciples were willing abandon everything because I was happy where I am. This is not necessarily a good thing. It means that I am comfortable with the way things are in this world. Jesus is offering us something new in this world. We cannot receive the new unless we are willing to let go of the old. I realized that I liked the old too much to risk letting go of it. The first disciples of Jesus had to release the nets before they could become fishers of people.
Our children would love to fish for people like the first disciples. This is why they came to the streets. They want to have people close to them all the time. They want to talk with them. They want to be loved by people. For them, money, food, material properties do not mean anything. They value connection with someone above anything else. They want at least one person to recognize their presence and their absence. They desire at least one person to be always waiting for them. They have spent many years waiting for someone to love them. They have waited patiently in the streets and finally cast out their nets and brought us into their fold.

For some time, we thought that we needed to do something for these children and teens to help them secure a better future. However, they have taught us that this is not what they desire from us. They are wiser than us. They know that they belong to the poorest of the poor. The jobs that are available to them will never get them out of their social status. They know that life is going to be struggle for them. However, the thing they fear the most is to struggle alone.

They desire one thing from us which is the only thing we can give them. They want us to struggle with them. They want us to be with them when they apply for their jobs. They want us to be help them learn about their surroundings. They want us to be their guide when they have children of their own. They want to be fishers of people who would remain with them and most importantly love them.

What does it mean to be a fisher of people? It is a curious thing. It is hard to explain. Perhaps, Jesus would be best one to give us a hint. He connected people from all walks of life; people that society would disregard and ignore. He brings them together in a mysterious way and uses them to reveal to each other the deep and wonderful things of God. I have realized after serving almost everyday in the streets for more than six years, our primary calling is not to solve the social problems of our children, even though we do address them but they are more complex than what we could handle. Our calling is simpler and more powerful. It is allowing God to draw us closer to people whom we never associate with in a normal circumstance and discover together with them the mystery and power of God’s love. Perhaps you can join us and together fish for people who will enrich our understanding and knowledge of God’s abundant love.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”-Matthew 25:35-36

There was an ancient Chinese emperor who commissioned an artist in his court to draw a picture of a rooster. The artist told him that he would need a long time to do it. He needed to understand the nature of the animal before he expressed it on paper. A year passed and the emperor reminded the artist of his request. The artist responded that he studied the rooster and was only now beginning to get past its superficial nature but he still needed much time to penetrate into its depth. This interaction went on for several years. Finally, after ten years, the artist produced a painting of the rooster and it opened the world for the emperor beyond the animal. It brought the emperor in contact with the very Creator of all things. *

The emperor was a wise man who trusted the artist in what he was doing. The artist was a saintly man who knew that even something so common as a rooster possesses something deeper than what the eye can see. Most of us present here need help to be wise and saintly. The gospel reading above is the help that Jesus provides us. He is showing us how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ or in other words, the salvation of Christ. Salvation, after all, is God’s love. We cannot reduce it to a mere pass to escape hell. It is a journey in discovering the richness of God’s love for all humanity.

The Hungry, The Thirsty, The Naked, The Strangers or Abandoned, and the Imprisoned are the ones Jesus calls us to contemplate. A superficial approach would be to think that God is calling us to do charitable works. This is a tendency of human beings, perhaps as modern people. We want to have instant solutions. We read this text and think by dedicating one day a week to some philanthropic work, then we have paid our dues. We would have secured our place among the sheep. I hope that I don’t offend anyone here by saying this. There might someone here who volunteers to do some philanthropic work. There is nothing wrong with doing this. However, Jesus is calling us to do something deeper. He is asking us to see beyond the social status of these little ones. God is calling us to contemplate their very essence to the point that the Holy Spirit opens our eyes to see Jesus manifested in a powerful way. If we are patient and wise, we will be able to penetrate through the superficial and see the essence of the person whom God has put in our lives. We will be able to see Jesus. Not because the person who suffers all these predicaments is saintly. It doesn’t take long for us to discover that they are not saintly. Usually our first contact will suffice.

The Acts of the Apostles tell us that the Holy Spirit was poured on all peoples. This event changes the way we understand salvation in this world. It means that the Spirit of Jesus is present in all peoples. However, not everyone recognizes the tender presence of the Lord in their lives. As Christians, it is our task to seek His face in those who are hungry, thirsty, naked, sick or imprisoned. It doesn’t happen instantly. It happens in God’s time which means it takes a long time before we can see His face clearly.
Why just these people and not others? Well, the meaning of salvation is healing. Jesus told us that it is the sick that need healing and not those who perceive themselves to be well. However, when we begin to reflect and seek the face of Jesus in these little ones, we will discover that we too need healing.

Some people say that we should not have favorites when dealing with children. They are right. Nevertheless, we have our favorite. His name is Daniel. We have known him since he was ten and he will turn 17 this year. He and his brother came to the streets together and they have been sleeping there ever since. Not too long ago, a tragic incident in the streets left all of us distraught and little lost. The day after this incident, Daniel approached us. He was a little bit more pensive than usual. He asked me if we thought that he was a good person. I told him that we never doubted it. He wasn’t convinced. He wanted to know how we can think this of him when obviously everyone in society thinks other wise.

Daniel wanted us to paint a picture of him. After all, we have many years to contemplate on our subject. His goodness is seen in the little he does for those around him. He is always there to bring joy to those who mourn. He is always there to give comfort to those who feel lonely and lost. He always sees the best in others. One day, he even acknowledged the source of his personal goodness. He told a lady who accused him of stealing something that he would never do such a thing because God dwells in His heart. This was the picture I presented to Daniel. He sensed that it wasn’t a superficial representation because we noticed these things that he did without thinking about it. They came naturally to him. He asked for my prayers and he wanted God to forgive his sins and continue to guide him.

Daniel has brought much healing in our lives and also to those who read about our artistic presentation of him in our blogs. We couldn’t have given a genuine picture of Daniel to him if we did not know who or what to look for in him. Thankfully, Jesus showed us a way. He pointed out that He is always present in these little ones and our salvation lies in discovering His living presence in them.

Salvation is not a ticket out of condemnation. It is about changing the way we see the world. In a concrete way, it opens our world. It helps us discover the Creator of all beings present in everyone. However, Jesus seems to have a preference in manifesting Himself in those who considered unworthy in our society. As Christians, we are called to paint the picture of Jesus in the lives of these little ones. However, it takes time. We have been going to the streets almost daily for more than six years. We can safely say that we are now able to have a glimpse beyond the superficial. Hopefully, we will be able go deeper soon. One day, we will paint a picture that will help us all to see the salvation of our Lord manifested in the lives of the children and teens we call friends in the streets.

* I read this parable in sermon by Paul Tillich titled,”Nature Mourns for a Lost Good.”

When Jesus turned and saw the disciples of John following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him, “Rabbi”, “where are you staying?” He said to them, “Come and see.” They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day.-John 1: 38-39

It is a strange request. Only the gospel of John mentions this peculiar event. Normally I would have skipped past this part and focused on something else. However, we do minister to homeless children and teens. The homeless disciples of John wanted to see where Jesus lived. Sounds like something our children would ask of us.

We have been told often times that the Church is a House of God. I grew up in the church my whole life and never questioned it. However, churches and cathedrals are look more like extravagant palaces than any place our Lord chose to stay in the gospels. Christmas is still fresh in our memory. We read and even sang hymns about His birth in a manger. When questioned, Jesus made it clear that he was little to offer far as accommodations.
“Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay His head.”- Matthew 8:20

From the company He kept to the places He visited, Jesus always chose places that would make the average person a little uncomfortable. The home that the Church attempts to offer Jesus in its buildings seems to domesticate Him rather than giving Him an appropriate home; not unlike what the Hebrew people attempted to do in the Old Testament when they constructed the Temple. However, our Lord is His own Master. He lives where He desires to dwell. Therefore, it leaves a great challenge for us as modern Christians to discover where Jesus dwells in our cities or neighborhoods. Rest assured that Jesus never hides from us. He always made it clear where His preferred place is in this world. He is constantly inviting us to go and visit with Him.

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.”-Matthew 25:35-36

Jesus always dwells among those who are hungry, thirsty, strangers or abandoned, the naked and sick and imprisoned regardless of their crimes. He doesn’t visit them. He makes His home among those whom we tend to forget or ignore and maybe even feel a little uncomfortable being around for a multitude of reasons.

We have been going to streets almost daily for more than six years. We have to admit that there are still many things that disturb us. The dirt, the unhygienic places where people sleep, the lack of bathroom facilities, not to mention the violence and the sight of very young children being left alone to fend for themselves. I am not sure that we want to get used to these things. This is where Jesus lives in a real and concrete manner. We go to the streets everyday to visit Jesus.

Our homeless children are not necessarily hungry. They are usually fed with leftovers from the restaurants. They are not naked nor sick usually. However, they are always strangers in their own city. They are always invisible. They sense this rejection strongly. Of all the things they suffered, this is the one thing that cuts deep into their souls. Their crimes and sometimes aggressive begging are attempts to assert their presence. Consequently, their negative actions make them even more despised but they prefer this than not being acknowledged at all. Jesus sets His home among them because He wants to recognize their presence. Our children also sense His presence there. They have been subjected to rejection and neglect from the day that they were born and yet, they do not harbor hatred and bitterness in their hearts. This is because Jesus dwells among them. Where our Lord is present, He brings healing to broken souls.

There are many churches and cathedrals in our city. Unfortunately, they haven’t brought much healing to those who are abandoned and perhaps not even to those who frequent their buildings. Many have even joined the voices of hatred towards the very poor. Perhaps, it is time to question everything we learn about Jesus within the walls of these churches. It doesn’t mean that we need to stop attending churches. It is just time for us to challenge the idea of confining God in one place. We have to engage in the task of going out and discovering the preferred dwelling place of Jesus.

Where Jesus is present, there is always healing. Some may think that they do not need any healing. Then for these people, remaining confined within the walls of the church will suffice. However, there are those whose souls yearn for a deeper understanding and meaning in this life. There are those who feel that they have eyes and yet do not see clearly and ears and yet do not hear intelligibly. If you are that person, then it is time to seek out where Jesus lives in your city. He is calling you to be with Him.

We have been visiting Jesus among in the homeless children and teens for more than six years. Jesus has received us with love. He has brought healing to our souls. We are beginning to understand the depth of His Love for us through the children and teens. However, now the time has come for us to take the next step. We have to reciprocate. We have to invite Jesus to our house; not in the spiritual sense. We have been meeting Jesus in a real sense through the children. It was time us to invite Jesus manifested in the children to our home. We were a little nervous.

The past year, we have heard and seen Jesus through Felipe many times. It only makes sense that he should be the first to come to our home. We have known him for six years. We have accompanied the changes in his life from living directionless in the streets to become a father. We were worried about inviting him. The contrast between our homes is great. He and his partner together with four very young children squat in a small room in an abandoned building. His home is infested with scorpions and cockroaches. All this sounds horrifying for us, however, for Felipe, these are signs of his own personal achievements. Something that he is truly grateful to God. We wanted to invite him to our home but we were worried. We thought perhaps he might feel uncomfortable in our home. We thought perhaps he might think that our home was luxurious and that he might not be able relate to us after his visit.

We meet with him weekly near in a library to talk; sometimes about his struggles and sometimes just about life in general. One day a storm interrupted our conversation. There was hardly any place to take shelter but our apartment was nearby. We asked him if he wanted to go there instead. He gladly accepted our invitation. When he entered our apartment, he was completely impressed even though it was in a mess. I have to admit that we tend to lean a bit on untidy side. Felipe did not care. He saw my houseplants and was curious about them. He wanted to know if he cultivate plants too. He talked and shared about things as if he was in the streets. In other words, he felt at home in our home. Then we realized that Jesus felt comfortable in our home and it was worthy of His visit. Now the doors are opened. We have discovered the joy of having the Lord in our home. Now, our ministry has a path from the streets to the doors of our home.

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?”- Matthew 3:13-14

Sometimes the most familiar events in the gospel are the hardest to interpret. The Baptism of our Lord is a good example. It is hard to make a genuine connection with this particular event to our everyday life. It seems virtually impossible to understand why this event would be relevant to homeless children and teens. Perhaps the key is John the Baptist. He might the person who can help us extract deep spiritual truths from this sacred moment in Jesus’ life. John the Baptist had been preparing his whole life for this moment. For him, the Baptism of Jesus changed the world in a concrete manner. Perhaps this change is not visible for everyone. It is something visible only for those who feel disoriented and unsatisfied with this world. People who have said, “No” to all that this world has to offer.

“Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey.”- Matthew 3:4

The gospel of Matthew is the only one to reveal John’s strange fashion sense and bizarre diet. Some scholars say that he was mimicking certain prophets. Perhaps this is true. However, the people who listened to him were not scholars. They were mere commoners. They listened to this man who was completely out of place in his society. His message brought hope to their souls. They identified with him in a deep spiritual sense. They shared his awkwardness in this world.
Our children and teens in the streets are not unlike John’s disciples. Some of them even dress almost like him. They use dirty cotton blankets and donated clothes. They do not follow any fashion of their society. John’s diet was based on what was available to him. Our children only eat what is available to them. John was lived His life this way because He said, “No” to the world. He did not want to belong to this world with all its standards and values. People think that our children are homeless because they are extremely poor. This is only part of the story. The city of São Paulo has millions people who live in extreme poverty but not all of them are homeless. Our children are fed up with all the false promises that the world has offered them and they are homeless because they said, “no” to all the lies that the world proffered to them. In a way, they have more in common with John than we do. They would have embraced John the Baptist as one of them. Maybe they might read the story of Jesus’ baptism and find it to be exciting and relevant. Of all the religious leaders and authorities in His time, Jesus came to the most awkward person in his society to be baptized. It says one thing concretely. Jesus identified with John and his ministry to those who are maladjusted in society.
The story of John doesn’t end here. Before he dies, the gospel narrates one final interaction between John and Jesus. John was imprisoned. Everything was falling apart for him. Death was imminent. John began to wonder if Jesus really was initiating something new in his midst. He needed help to discern Jesus’ actions in this world. He sent his disciples to ask Jesus a pivotal question, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” (Matthew 11:3)

This is a fair question! Some can interpret it as a moment of doubt in John’s life. Perhaps. Dealing with doubts is very much part of living out our faith. In a way, our questions and doubts help us to live a more authentic life of faith in this world.
A few days before Christmas, we got a letter in the mail. Some of the older teens use our address to receive correspondence. We were handed a letter for Renan Vitor Lopes. Once again, we were reminded of the brutal murder of this young life in the streets. The first image that came to my mind when I saw Renan’s name on the letter wasn’t his tragic death. It was actually the day when we spent with him trying to help him register for a job. It is a complicated bureaucratic process in Brazil and it took us the whole day to do it. Renan did not mind. He was quite cheerful throughout day. He was about 18 but emotionally about ten. He spent most of his life in the streets and it had stunted his emotional development. He did not have the opportunity to be a child in the streets. However, when he was with us, he was playful and silly like a little child. We had a delightful time with him. It was a day where we were like his parents and he was like our son. It remains one of our most precious memories. Renan is no more because of hatred.
We received this letter during the season of Christmas when everything is supposed to be cheerful and festive. However, a simple letter confronted us with a harsh reality of this cruel world. Christmas and even this short season of Epiphany where we find ourselves cannot be fully appreciated unless we confront the chaos and darkness that prevails in this world. We need to bring all this chaos and injustice before the Incarnate God and ask Him the question that John asked, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” Because all the hymns we sing seem to say that He is the One.
Jesus gave John a simple answer.
“Go and tell John what you hear and see: the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them.” – Matthew 11:4-5
The gospel never tells us how John reacted to Jesus’ answer. Perhaps it is not important. The answer is really for all of us who want to live our faith in this world. We live in a reality that is constantly trying to convince to look at the chaos and hopelessness that surrounds us. It seems to take pleasure in the darkness and the deeds of the darkness. However, something powerful happened at the Baptism of Jesus. The Kingdom of Light was established in this dark world. Its presence continues to be strong and powerful in our midst even though we might be able to see it clearly. Perhaps we are looking for the wrong things. Maybe we are looking for it in the wrong places. Jesus’ answer to John holds the key for those who want to discover the Kingdom of God initiated at the baptism of our Lord. Jesus tells John and us where to look for His Kingdom of Light. Its light shines brightly in this world but we need to turn away from the shadows and see its radiance. It is present among those whom the world has considered inadequate, defective or disposable. These are the ones who will help us understand if Jesus really is the Messiah or whether we should wait for another.
The day after Renan’s passing, we went to the streets to be with the children. Our hearts were heavy. We wanted some sort of justice. We hoped that the perpetrator of this heinous crime would be judged or punished in some way. However, when we arrived in the streets, we were greeted with the Light. The children and teens lived in a more realistic place than us. They knew that this unjust system is unable to love and care for those whom it considers to be outcasts. Our children knew that there is no justice for them in this world. Instead, they looked to us. They did not want us to do any great feat. They wanted to see our tears and sorrow for the loss of one of their brethren. This brought comfort to their hearts. I told them about the overwhelming response I received from people like yourselves whose hearts were torn to hear such horrific news. They smiled. They knew that even though they were rejected by this world, there was a Kingdom where their lives were valued and treasured. Hatred and Violence tried to wound their souls but the Incarnate King brought healing to their lives. They were reminded once again that they might be abandoned by society and their families but God is their father in the midst. He sends His children from away to comfort and remind them that His Kingdom will always be in their midst. In this Kingdom, they will always be full citizens. This was all they wanted to know and we, including all the social workers and those who mourned the death of Renan, were living proof that Jesus was in the midst of them.
Jesus used the children to answer the question we asked him. The same one that John asked, “Are you the One or are we to wait for someone else?” The answer was clear and astounding, “Yes! He is the One.” I hope that you are able to hear it too.

All things come of thee, O LORD, and of thine own have we given thee. –
1 Chronicle 29: 14.

O taste and see that the Lord is good: blessed is the man that trusteth in him.-Pslam 34:8

On this special day I want to give thanks specifically for a teenage girl that I most likely won’t be writing about for the next coming months. She is not someone that we have any close ties with it at the present moment. In fact, it is hard to imagine being her friend at this present moment. This is precisely why I am writing about her. She is a symbol of the good things God has been doing in our life. I would say that this is the greatest miracle that we experienced in our ministry here. Teens and children that we thought would be least likely to become our friends end up playing a valuable role in our lives. It is not unlike the first miracle of turning water into wine. Perhaps, this would be the best way to describe it. We want to give thanks to God for turning all our water relationships into fine wine.

Her name is Angelina, at least, this is what we think. It is almost impossible to get a clear answer from her. She is always mad at someone or something. There is always a crisis. She makes sure that everyone knows it with her loud ear piercing complaints. However, we are not entirely sure if this is an attention seeking mechanism. Let’s just say that she is absolutely bonkers. This was my first reaction. Her behavior is so bizarre that all of us including the children and teens just stand there and watch her antics. She thinks that everything is crisis. Most likely, this has been a reality for her all her life. We can see her scars clearly. They are displayed before the world. In many places, she would be shunned. People would be afraid to deal with her. However, the children and teens are not like the world. They made room for her. They are sensitive to her pain. It is not easy for them because she is truly an awkward person. Nevertheless, they share an affinity with her pain. It is clear that her life has been a life of abuse and neglect so much so that she is unable to have a decent conversation with anyone. The children have accepted her for who she is. On the other hand, we are still learning to do this. Mary asked me what I thought about her. I don’t have an opinion because it is hard to say something concretely about someone I don’t understand. Regardless of this, one thing is for sure. It is possible that one day she will become very dear to us. For this, I want to give thanks.

It is not wishful thinking. It has happened before. When we first Alex, he was a strange and awkward person. He would never acknowledged our presence or even answered our questions. We used to think that he was impossible. Things have changed. He is one of our dearest teens. Nowadays, we can hear him yelling out our names a mile away. He has a habit of calling us, “Aunty Mary” collectively. He has had a hard time saying my name spontaneously. My name is not a common name in Brazil. Recently, there is another girl that we never imagined that would be our friend. Her name is Erica. She met her when we first came back to this ministry more than six years ago. She was the first child we visited in a juvenile detention center. Then, she was a closed and proud young girl. She did not believe that she needed anyone’s help. Even after she was released from the center, she would hardly speak to us. It has been five years since she had a decent conversation with us. Now, she is 19. Recently, she has been coming to us asking questions about our relationships. She is curious about our lives and wanted to know what we did when we are free and who cooks in the home. We never knew that she bothered about our existence. Today in particular, we spent the whole day with her. She wanted us to accompany her to get some documents. She did everything on her own but she just wanted some adults with her. At the end of the day, we actually confessed to each other that we never imagined a spending a day with Erica and then saying that it was a wonderful and fruitful day. It was something that we never thought would ever happen.

Angelina seems like a person that would never be able to have a friendship with us. This is why I want to give thanks for her life. I know that one day she will be someone dear to us. She is “water” to us now but Jesus is going to open our eyes and see that she is really wine. He has done these countless of times. Each time we taste the fruits of His miracle, we cannot help but we amazed that He has saved the best for last.

I give thanks for everyone that God sends to us; no matter how broken or bonkers they may appear to us, they are God’s special gifts. No matter what the circumstances are, nothing can change this fact. They are special gifts from God. Sometimes we need God to do a miracle in our hearts to see that the water is really wine.

And when they came to the place which is called The Skull, there they crucified him, and the criminals, one on the right and one on the left. And Jesus said, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” And they cast lots to divide his garments. And the people stood by, watching; but the rulers scoffed at him, saying, “He saved others; let him save himself, if he is the Christ of God, his Chosen One!” The soldiers also mocked him, coming up and offering him vinegar, and saying, “If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!” There was also an inscription over him, “This is the King of the Jews.” – Luke 23:33-38

There was a manifestation here in support for the President. They believe that he is chosen by God to be their leader. They demanded that he institute a military dictatorship. They thought that more power was needed to bring the country back to its Christian roots. They are convinced that they are doing all this for Christ the King. However, Jesus never sought the support of the politicians or the military to impose His Kingdom. On the contrary, they were the ones who crucified him. It would be strange to think that those who hated Him enough to murder would be His allies today. Of course, there was Pontius Pilate. He was the best of the lot at Jesus’ trial. He might have made a weak attempt to save him but he was too afraid to the right thing. He could be considered the best of the politicians at that time. Even then, history tells us that he was a cruel man. Nevertheless, none of them hindered Jesus from establishing His throne. He was glorified between criminals. The politicians and religious authorities did not understand His Kingdom then and even now. His kingdom is unlike that of the world. He has no use for the authorities of this world to establish His throne. He manifests Himself in the places the rich and the powerful of this world avoid. He is exalted as King among criminals, forgotten people and rejected women. His Kingdom is truly not of this world. Therefore, it is wise for us on this Blessed Sunday dedicated to honor Christ the King to remind ourselves once again, to look for our Lord in places where He is always welcomed.

I saw a simple gesture which I have seen countless of times. I never paid much attention to it. Hundreds walk by the front of the Cathedral and make the sign of the Cross. Sometimes they will stand at the main entrance and make a gesture of reverence. Hundreds do this everyday but only one young person caught my attention. He was a homeless transvestite, probably a former prostitute. He knows that he cannot enter the church without subjecting himself to scrutiny. He would be considered an outsider on many accounts. All this didn’t stop him from reverencing the One person who still accepted him. He was bowing before Christ the King. Only this King knows his struggles and loneliness. Only He knows the rejection and pain of this young person. For most of us, we only know this young person from what he shows to the world. We never know his tears and yearnings. However, this young person has a King who knows him even better than he knows himself. He knows that he is loved by this King and this is why he stopped and bowed before Him.

I saw him a few weeks ago. This was the last time we sat on the steps of the Cathedral. It has served as our waiting place for the children. Things have changed since then. We have stopped waiting for the children and teens. Now, they have invited us to be with them in their place. They beckoned us to come to where they meet with their group. It has been a year since we waited for this moment. We did not want to impose ourselves on them. We wanted them to invite us to be part of them. The tragic death of Renan opened the door for them to approach us. They came to us one by one. Now, we have new names to learn. There are some who under twelve. There are even toddlers with their young teenage mothers. Most of them have young innocent faces but unfortunately many had their innocence stripped away from them at a very young age. Now, they are weary of the world. Some of the teenage girls that started doing activities with us. The girls are always the toughest ones. They take the longest time to open up. There were so many new names that we can’t remember them all. It has been almost a year long since we had this problem. One young teen asked us what was our focus in the streets. She is a quite perceptive young woman and asks thought provoking questions. If she didn’t smile, she would look very intimidating. Her past had demanded her to put forth a tough exterior. It has helped her survive all these years. Fortunately, she wore a smile for us. It was the first thing we noticed about her. It was her way of saying that she wanted to open up to us. We did not leave her question hanging in the air. We told her that we help young people living in the streets to discover the one thing that is needful for them to find peace in their lives. We help them to ask the necessary questions and even walk with them in their search for it. She consented and added that many people don’t understand that they are in the streets not because they want to be here. It is because they are looking for something but no one really knows what. She has been coming up to us ever since this first encounter.

The one needful thing is right there in the place where they eat and sleep in the streets. At least, the symbol is present there. The Cathedral sits towering above all of us. It is the symbolic throne of Christ. However, it is hidden from them. The children and teens come to the street looking for someone who would take them seriously. Someone who would listen to their pleas and sufferings. Someone who would give them the strength to move forward in their lives. They want to meet the King of Kings in the streets. However, his symbols have been kidnapped by authorities and placed somewhere which is not accessible to the people whom He loves. They have made him a friend of corrupt and selfish leaders. Nevertheless, the gospel reading tells us that Jesus was enthroned among thieves. He was among the poorest of the poor, he was among the most despised people of society. He also warned us that only those who serve the least of his brethren can enter the Kingdom of God. Owing to the fact that he dwells among them. This is where Christ the King of the gospels sets His throne. The church and authorities can create a version of Him that fits their image. However, it cannot change the Truth that Jesus was born in a manger, He lived without a home, He died among thieves and He revealed His resurrected self to women who were considered second class citizens. He prefers to be in a place that is not tarnished with gold and silver. Christ the King is King to those who are rejected or ignored in our society. This is the gospel image of the King. If we want to bring Christianity back to the forefront, then we need to be present where the King is found.

The young teenage girl told us that she was in the streets looking for something. We are here for the same reason. In fact, we are here because we know that we will find what we are looking for. This is the difference between us. The children sometimes lose hope. They think that there might be nothing at all for them here. They need us to remind them that Christ is indeed here. We need them to remind us that Christ is enthroned among them. He is the only reason why we are all here together. He is the only reason why you are reading this too. We are looking for Christ the King ! And He is always present among the least of his brethren.

“Two men went up to the temple to pray, one a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee, standing by himself, was praying thus, ‘God, I thank you that I am not like other people: thieves, rogues, adulterers, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week; I give a tenth of all my income.’ But the tax collector, standing far off, would not even look up to heaven, but was beating his breast and saying, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner!’” Then Jesus said, “I tell you, this man went down to his home justified rather than the other; for all who exalt themselves will be humbled, but all who humble themselves will be exalted.” Luke 18:10-14

Whenever I have read this parable, I pictured myself as the tax collector. I know that I am not the only one. No one wants to imagine themselves to be the antagonist. We always picture ourselves in the role of the one who comes out victoriously in these stories. It is human nature. We always tend to think that we are better than others even if it is secretly in our deepest thoughts. This is the function of parables. It exposes who we are. The fact is we have as much in common with the Pharisee as with the tax collector. We are not one or the other. We are both the Pharisee and the tax collector. We start out as the tax collector and then we forget and eventually become the Pharisee. The latter is the one who forgot where he came from or who he is. This parable is a warning to our souls not to forget where we came from.

We almost forget these names. No one has mentioned them for a long time. We had no reason to talk about them until last week. Some one wrote all their names on separate pieces of paper and below each name was written, “Present!” One name struck out for us. It was Mateus. His death and murder was similar to that of Renan who was strangely missing from the list. After all, it was his recent murder that prompted the memory of the children and teens who were taken prematurely from us. Maybe they still could not accept the fact that he is no longer among us. We used to sit and watch Renan with his childish mannerisms. Now we miss his erratic and childish behaviors. We saw a young man dressed like him and just for moment, our hearts forgot that he was killed in a brutal manner. No one has accepted that he is no longer with us.

Mateus* and Renan were very similar in life, well at least to us. It wasn’t love at first sight in both cases. We grew to love them. They were very immature for their age. They have bodies that did not reflect their emotional state. They were very childlike in their behavior and easily amused like children. They gradually became part of our lives. Both suffered brutal death. Both suffered hate-filled blows to their heads that ended their time with us. In both cases, the people who committed this heinous crime believed that they were better than their victims. They believed that Mateus and Renan did not deserve to be treated like human beings. However, they were very human to us. They were our brothers, friends and sons. They did not expect much from others. They just wanted to be loved by God and those around them. Whenever they did not feel this Love, they used drugs to help them deal with the emptiness. They carried in their hearts a deep rooted pain that only God knew and rightfully; He is the only One who can judge them.

We sat among the children and waited for them to come to us one by one. After this tragic incident, we know that they would want to talk. They wanted to tell us their connection with what happened and their thoughts about Renan. Danyel came up and sat with us for a while. We told him to avoid this place for a while. The person who murdered once might be tempted to do it again. He agreed. We wanted him to know that he is very precious to us and we don’t want anything evil to happen to him. Danyel then asked us why we thought so highly of him. He continued to say that he did not think that he was not a good person. He believed that he was always doing things that brought harm to himself and he doesn’t think that he helps anyone in the streets. We told him that whenever we see him, we see a kindhearted young man who wants to do what is right. He is always loving towards the others. He never desires anything evil to anyone even to those who did harm to him. He always refused to engage in any activity that hurts another person. Besides, there are things we do in a given circumstances because we need to survive. Danyel uses drugs to endure the harshness of living in the streets. Our answer brought some comfort to him. He then asked me to say a prayer for him. It was the first time he has done this. I asked him if there was anything specific he wanted to ask God. He replied, with any hesitance, “Pray to God to forgive me for my sins.”

It was a beautiful moment that we needed. Danyel and the other children weren’t thinking about revenge for the brutal killing of their brother in the streets. They were thinking about their relationship with God and each other. They realized that there are many who believe that they are not worth a penny. In a way, our presence and your prayers have helped them to know in their hearts that there are some people who like them. We can identify with their emptiness and loneliness. We look at them and we see ourselves in them. We are not better than them. In fact, we are not better than the one who murdered Renan. We don’t understand why people would do such a wicked thing. We are angry with them. We may think that they are people who have succumbed to the evil that is present in this world. Nevertheless, we are not better than them. This does not mean that we are just like them. No, this is not true too. We should stop trying to figure out the actions of others. It is beyond our capacity. We are only capable to know who we are before God. Just like Danyel, he wasn’t comparing himself with anyone else. He just felt strongly that he wasn’t living his life according to what God desires of him. He wants God to forgive him and help him. Danyel doesn’t realize that God has always been listening to him and thinking the best of him like Jesus did of the tax collector.

And as the lepers went, they were made clean. Then one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud voice. He prostrated himself at Jesus’ feet and thanked him. And he was a Samaritan. Then Jesus asked, “Were not ten made clean? But the other nine, where are they? Was none of them found to return and give praise to God except this foreigner?” Then he said to him, “Get up and go on your way; your faith has made you well.” Luke 17: 14b-19

We always spot Prince first. It’s a sign that Alex is somewhere around. Prince is his latest canine friend. He hasn’t had much luck with dogs for the last few years. Thankfully, the last one did not die on him. Someone stole it from him. It is still tragic but the lesser of the two evils. It was a police officer who took his dog. We don’t know the details and decided to leave it at that. However, it doesn’t take long for Alex to get a new dog. In reality, they find him. It is the strangest thing. He attracts lost dogs, especially the ones that are independent. They voluntarily attach themselves to him. It is more like the adopt him. They take care of themselves and protect him at night.

As expected, Alex showed up but he was visibly upset. He shook our hands and told us that he is not in the right frame of mind to sit and talk with us at this present moment. Someone had upset him. He was very angry. He told us that he will come back when he feels more settled. Both Prince and Alex took off leaving us alone at the steps. We were a little surprised. Not with the fact that he was upset. Our children are always upset over something. However, Alex was able to express how he felt. He has come a long way. It is amazing that this is the same young teenager that we met about six years when he was barely thirteen.

Alex was a severely neglected child. He was always different from the other children. He almost behaved like he suffered from autism or Asperger’s syndrome. He hardly smiled and he never responded when asked him a question. He was completely oblivious to all social cues. He did not even know how to have a basic interaction with a regular person. Most people brushed him off as a rude child. Even the other homeless teens thought that he was strange. We initially felt the same way about him. He was definitely one of the most difficult boys in the streets. He never showed any gratitude whenever you did anything for him. He thought people were a means to an end. He lived off begging which did not help him change his views about people, initially.

Once he had a toothache that was making him extremely miserable. He asked for our help. We took him to the public health clinic but no one attended to his needs. He was homeless and the health care practitioners are not the most compassionate people. They tend to neglect the homeless population because they don’t like the way they smell or dress or for other trivial reasons. After several failed attempts trying to get service, we decided to pay for a private dentist out of our own pocket. It was quite expensive but the young man was in pain. We made an appointment at a private dental clinic. The dentist told us that Alex needed to extract two teeth which was going to cost more. She was not going to give us any discount even though Alex was homeless. Such is life. We agree to pay for the whole treatment. Everything went swiftly. She extracted both his teeth in less than ten minutes and Alex came out of the room smiling. His pain was gone. Then he just walked out of the clinic without saying thank you or even goodbye. He just walked away. Thankfully we have grown accustomed to his strange behavior. Nevertheless, we were still a little offended.

This was a few years ago. Alex gradually changed. He began to smile more. He started feeling comfortable talking to people. He was still awkward but people were patient with him. Eventually, he developed a habit of expressing appreciation and gratitude. At first, it was a mere formality. He did not really mean it, or least, it did not make any difference to him. He was saying these things more as a means to an end. Then, something started changing in him. He began to enjoy saying these things because he liked the response he got. People started talking to him more. He started developing a social life apart from the homeless youths among the business owners and store attendants in the city center. The security staff of the stores where he begged started treating him with affection. Sometimes they would even keep an eye on his things when he used the bathroom. Consequently, Alex became one of the most successful homeless teens. His bags were full of food and chocolates even though he doesn’t seem to like them. On his birthday, people would buy him a cake and give him presents. Alex learned something else. He learned to give what he received. He became aware of those who suffer. He was extremely sensitive to people who had physical challenges. I saw in several occasions helping homeless adults or giving them some of his food. He even wanted to buy special cards for the people with whom he corresponds from the States. We had to convince that it wasn’t necessary but he still insists. Alex has changed but he is still different from the rest. Now, the difference is not his awkwardness but his sense of gratitude. He has a genuine appreciation for the people God has put in His life. He still has a long way to go. All the neglect he suffered doesn’t go away so easily. However, he has found a way the road to healing.

When I read the above gospel story about the grateful leper, I saw Alex’s face immediately. He was once like the other nine who just walked away. Back then, he did not know that you don’t take people for granted. He did not have anyone in his early life to teach him this simple fact. Now, Alex has discovered that people like him for who he is. He is becoming to feel more like a genuine human being with a definite place in this world. As a result of this self-discovery, he has become more grateful. He says “thank you” not because it is the socially acceptable thing to say. He says it because he is grateful that his humanity is being restored each time someone shows him love even in the smallest way.

It is amazing that Alex is able to acknowledge how he feels today. He found the words to say, “I won’t be good company right now.” Even in this simple act, he has shown us that he believes that we deserve his best behavior. This is definitely a powerful transformation. For those who don’t know him, they might think that we are making too much of a simple gesture. However, we have seen him when he first came to the streets, we can hear angels singing and praising God because this young man has discovered something that he once lost. He has found the joy of living. We are glad that we are here to testify to this wonderful transformation. There is still a long journey ahead and we don’t mind it. We are truly grateful for what we have seen so far.