Then Jesus was led up by the Spirit into the wilderness to be tempted by the devil. (Matthew 4:1)

Pedro is new to the streets. We hardly know anything about him. In fact, no one knows much about him except that he comes from a Brazilian state in the Northeast furthest away from São Paulo. No one knows how he ended up in this city. At first, we thought he was only seven years old. He is the smallest boy among our children here. However, he always insisted that he is 10. It seems to be the truth. No one can deny that he makes up for his small stature with his larger-than-life personality. He found acceptance among the children and teens almost immediately. He is quite a charmer. However, today, he did something wrong. The older teens were trying to explain to him how things work in the streets. He wasn’t listening. Besides, he was not the least bit remorseful for his actions. Nevertheless he regretted being caught for his actions. He had caused a scene in the Cathedral. No one knows exactly what happened. The church’s security guard was clearly upset. He complained to the other teens about it. They like and respect him. He has always been kind to them. I asked one of the older teens what happened. She just shook her head and said, “Pedro thinks is above the Law and he can do what he wants. He has to learn that not everything is permissible here.” She is right.

Pedro like most of our children and teens ran away from an environment where they felt oppressed and restricted. In the streets, all these previous restrictions and abuses are suspended. In fact, everything changes in this place. All the rules and norms of society are not applicable here.If a casual passerby were to sit and observe this place for a moment, he would conclude that this place where we minister to the children is an urban wilderness. Children can do adult things without any restriction or prohibition. Pedro thinks this is great. He is taking full advantage of the situation. He is free but soon he will learn that he is not free to do what he wants. There are new sets of rules for his new reality. He has to learn them soon if he wants to survive in this wilderness.

Jesus chose to go the wilderness for different reasons. He went to confront the devil there. Recently, we had a discussion over this particular text with our friends over coffee. They wanted to know if this encounter was literally or figurative. I told them that the story is not about the reality of the devil, but about confronting all the things that he represents. The devil is a depiction of our human desire to usurp godhood from God Himself. We want to do this by domesticating Him; by using the gifts He bestowed upon us for our own special advancement and by manipulating Him to become our servant. All of us have this desire. Sometimes we ignore it. Sometimes we justify it with pious arguments. Sometimes we think that this is our right to have this desire. Whatever it is, we need to confront it in order to understand the gospel. Jesus went to the wilderness to do this.

Jesus was taken away from his family, friends and everything that was familiar to him. He was stripped of everything that made him who he was. Then He fasted for forty days. His physical strength was almost depleted. He was alone in a frightful place. Emotionally he must have felt vulnerable and abandoned. The only person present with him was the devil trying to convince Him that He deserved better than this.

The word, “temptation”, has been banalized especially in our present times. Maybe it was always like that. The word conjures up images of being seduced to do something naughty or prohibited.However, in this gospel story, the devil tempted Jesus with reasonable things. There was nothing wrong or evil about he said. Perhaps, bowing down to worship him could be conceived as evil. However, even in this case, it could be argued as a proposal to get things done in a quick and efficient way. In this present state we find ourselves, many people including religious ones are convinced that two wrongs can make a right. Therefore, for these people, the temptation to bow down and worship the devil could be brushed as a mere necessary evil.

To turn stone into bread or in other words to use our spirituality for our own personal benefit; to make a spectacle of a miracle so that more people can see the power of God manifested in Jesus and drawing complete attention to oneself, and finally, to make an unholy alliance with an evil ruler so that we can supposedly do some good. Many are already doing all these things today in and outside the church. On the other hand, Jesus systemically refused all of these “good” offers because…..He knew that God was doing something new. These ideas or temptations of the devil come from the old way of thinking. They are fruits of the old Adam who wanted to be like God and acquire God’s power for his own personal benefit. If Jesus had entertained any of these seductive solutions, then He would be just continuing the same old pattern that leads to the path of self-destruction. In the wilderness, Jesus had to decide what kind of person He was going to be so that the gospel could truly be the good news.

I like little Pedro. He is really a good and kind boy. I believe that he will eventually choose to do the right thing. However, he needs help to make the right choices. I am convinced that he is not going to be lectured into doing the right things. No one I know has become a good person through constant nagging. Pedro is looking for new reasons to be good. He wants to discover a new set of ethics that would help him understand how to live in this cruel world that has left him technically an orphan. Before he leaves this urban wilderness, he needs to develop some tools to help him confront this world that has rejected him.

Young Pedro also has helped me understand something about myself. We are too in this urban wilderness. We have been brought here by the Holy Spirit. I believe now that all our children and teens are also here because they have been led here by the same Spirit. This is not to say that the Holy Spirit caused all their misfortunes so that they could be in the streets. I am saying that despite all the evil and tragedy that they have experienced, the Holy Spirit continues to lead and guide them. We are all brought together to this place. Some things from the past don’t have any value in the wilderness. I used to be proud to be an Anglo-Catholic priest. I know how to chant the Morning and Evening Prayers from our prayer book. I know a lot of religious jargon. All these are meaningless in this wilderness. Even if I was a pastor of a mega church, it would be irrelevant here. The wilderness does this. It strips us of all masquerades and leaves us with nothing but our frail humanity. This is when we discern the lies of the devil. Jesus was not tempted by the devil. The devil was exposed in the wilderness. None of his arguments were mildly seductive to our Lord. He knew that despite His frail state, there was something more powerful and deeper in our humanity that will sustain us. The devil can be at our side with his lies but the Truth dwells in our most intimate being. The reasonable arguments of the devil cannot shake this truth from our souls. Jesus held onto this in His soul and went back into the world to overcome it. Therefore, we sit with the children and wait with them. For now, we hear the pointless chatter of the devil. Some of our children are seduced by it. However, most of them can see through it. Now, they are waiting for the Holy Spirit to teach them to listen to the voice comes from within. The voice that speaks the Truth that will cast out all fears and threats that the world throws at us and our children.

Six days later, Jesus took with him Peter and James and his brother John and led them up a high mountain, by themselves.  And he was transfigured before them, and his face shone like the sun, and his clothes became dazzling white. (Matthew 17: 1-2)

As they were coming down the mountain, Jesus ordered them, “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” (Matthew 17:9)

The place where the children and teens tend to hang out during the day is elevated. It sits above the entrance to the subway station. It is about three stories high. You can stand above it and watch the people walk in and out of the station. There is no protection or guard. It was exactly at this spot where Israel chose to jump. No one knows why. It was completely unexpected. They saw him standing on the edge watching the people coming and going out of the station. Then he was no longer there. It took a while for everyone to grasp what had happened, They looked down and saw him lying in a pool of blood. He was conscious but unable to move. We were not there at the precise moment. We arrived shortly after the incident. Gabriel told us what happened. I went to the spot where he jumped. At first, I wasn’t sure if I wanted to look down. After mustering all the courage I needed, I looked and saw the horrific sight. Instinctively, I told Mary not to look down. Israel was lying there screaming in pain and his head was resting in a puddle of blood. Even though the police were already there, no one was sitting with him. A small crowd had gathered; mostly other homeless adults. Everyone was at a loss, not knowing what to do. We decided to go down to where he was.

His legs were broken in several places. Miraculously, there was not much head trauma. He had a small cut that caused all the bleeding. However, it wasn’t too serious compared to his other injuries. Someone who witnessed his fall said that he landed on his head. We wanted to sit next to him but someone else took the initiative. She held his hands to comfort him. Then the ambulance came. They tried to set his broken leg in a way so that they could transport him. It took a while. Israel screamed in pain as they manipulated his leg. Finally, they left with him in the ambulance. He was transported to a hospital near our house. The commotion died down and all there was left was a puddle of blood and confusion. No one could understand why Israel jumped. No one believed that he was trying to comment suicide. Most likely, the police and the paramedics and even the doctors would think otherwise. Nevertheless, they don’t know Israel. They have never spoken to him. We have known him since he was 18 and now he is 24.

I wrote about celebrating his 18th birthday once*. It was the first and the last time we celebrated a birthday in the streets with cakes and all. We realized that after the first time that it provoked jealousy among the other children. Everyone began to feel resentful that there was no birthday party for them on their special day. We decided perhaps we needed to do things in a smaller scale and on more personal level. Regardless of this, we still believe that it was a good thing to celebrate his birthday then. Israel is a special young man. He doesn’t understand things like most of the other children. He dances to a different tune. Everyone knows that he is different but no one can put their finger on why.

I am not sure if we would get an answer from him if we asked him. I could speculate but I am not really in the mood to do it. It was quite tragic to see him in that state. I am grateful that he is alive. He sustained non-life threatening injuries. He will be fine in a few months time. However, the whole incident moved us. None of children, including us, knew what to make of it. Everyone was quiet. Something sacred has happened. We saw Life being manifested in a very dark circumstance. We saw Israel screaming and struggling to hang onto life even though he attempt to take a plunge into the abyss of death. The desire for Life prevailed this time. It was a gift. However, we wished it was presented in a different package.

I started this week reflecting about the passage in the gospel about the Transfiguration. It has always been a difficult episode to relate with our everyday life, especially in the streets with the children. It seems like an event in the gospel that is so distant from the reality of homelessness. I was tempted to skip this passage and move on to something else. However, strangely, this gospel passage became clearer in the light of this situation. I witnessed a young man who had a close encountered with death, then desperately tried to grasp life. He walked between these two realities all his life. However, when he saw death up close, he realized that he still desired life. He still had hope for his life. He did not want it all to end.

As I was standing there and witnessing Israel’s plight, I saw God’s image in Israel. He held within his person an aspect of God that perhaps only Israel can reflect. It is not something that I can explain away. It was just a reality that manifested itself. I saw it clearly and I did not want to this unique image to be erased from our existence permanently. Everyone who stood there shared this sentiment, albeit they won’t express it in the same manner.

The disciples saw in Jesus the fullest potential of humanity. The divine and human being were reconciled in the Transfiguration. It is the hidden desire of our souls. We want our lives to be connected with something higher and greater than what we are confronted with in this life. All sense of hopelessness stems out of this fear that our lives are insignificant. We need the divine Light to shine through us so that our true image of God will be reflected in the world. Then the disciples saw Jesus being transformed by the Light. They knew that this was a possibility. It was no longer just wishful thinking. The eternal can become part of our humanity.

It is no wonder that Peter did not want to leave the place. He wanted to secure this encounter for eternity. He did not want to return to his previous existence where nothing was certain; where the dreaded sense of loss and desperation was a constant threat. When I saw Israel lying there on a pool of blood, I wanted to turn away and be as far as possible from such pain and suffering. It was too overbearing. I would rather make my abode where humanity’s hope is fully manifested like in the Transfiguration. I did not want to be in the midst of pain and suffering.

The biblical story ends with a tragic statement. “Tell no one about the vision until after the Son of Man has been raised from the dead.” This life transforming episode did not change the harsh reality of life. This encounter with the fullness of hope and life did not eradicate the unjust and cruel death awaiting our Lord. Life still goes on tragically. The disciples were reminded that nothing has changed in one sense. They still have to face the darkness. However, they have seen the Light. They have seen something to help them make sense of it all. This is their reward and compensation. There is reconciliation that awaits us together with all the pain and suffering. Humanity is not abandoned to the elements. The divine is waiting to embrace us with open arms and say, “You are my Beloved.”

We attempted to visit Israel several times at the hospital. Visiting the homeless sick is not an easy task. We need to have the right information like their birthday and mother’s name. Three attempts and none were successful. However, I believe that our next attempt will get us there. He is still under observation. He needs to go through several surgeries. I believe and pray that he will come through it all. We need to see the image of God imprinted in Israel’s soul. It brings joy to many. Maybe even to those who never realized it until the day they saw him pleading for his life. We need him in our lives.

You have heard that it was said to those of ancient times, ‘You shall not murder’; and ‘whoever murders shall be liable to judgment.’ But I say to you that if you are angry with a brother or sister, you will be liable to judgment; and if you insult a brother or sister, you will be liable to the council; and if you say, ‘You fool,’ you will be liable to the hell of fire. Matthew 5:21-22

“Let you words be ‘Yes, Yes’ or ‘No, No’; anything more than this comes from the evil one.” Matthew 5:37

Gabriel fainted.

He was talking to us. We noticed something was strange. He was behaving quite erratically. Initially, we thought it was the paint thinner that he was sniffing. Almost all the children and teens were sniffing it at that time. Unfortunately, there was something more to it. Gabriel has been having health problems since the end of last year. It started with a high fever and progressive weight loss. He gradually recovered from this only to suffer a convulsion shortly after. He was taken to the hospital but nothing came out of it. He is homeless and the homeless don’t receive the same treatment. Ever since then, he has adamantly refused to go to see a doctor. I don’t blame him. We have seen the treatment he received there. The homeless are just people that society feels are not worth receiving any help. Doctors don’t want to deal with them. They are diagnosed without any examination. Their health complains are never taken seriously. Besides, they are not a priority in anybody’s list. This is the world we live in even though this country identifies itself as Christian. It claims to have said “Yes to Jesus”, at the same time, it is constantly saying, “No” to His little ones.

Before Gabriel fainted, he was telling us about his latest attempt to get an education. He enrolled in evening classes. He is 19 and illiterate. He went to school when he was young. He needed extra attention with learning to read. His teacher claimed that he had problems with his vision. She convinced him that he wasn’t going to be able to read unless he got a pair of new glasses. His mother could not afford to pay for it. Consequently, Gabriel stopped going to school. In the neighborhood where he lived, a life of crime is a daily temptation especially for young teens with no prospects and education. Gabriel got involved in criminal activities but it never suited him. He left his home and lived in the streets. It was the better option for him. Unfortunately, crime was still a temptation.

Since December, Gabriel has been venturing out. He has been trying out new things. The night school is one of these. Unfortunately, he was sharing with us that he disliked it. His fellow students have cell phones and dressed well. They were literate and more advanced than him in their studies. He felt like a complete outsider. He felt small and insignificant. He decided to quit school. We were trying to convince to seek for a better alternative when he started slurring. Then he slowly closed his eyes and slouched his body. I managed to grab hold of him before he hit the ground. No one noticed us even though we were in a crowded area in the entrance of a busy subway station.

We called out the other teens to help us. This caught the attention of the passers-by. Soon a small crowd gathered around us. Mary quickly went out to get some water for Gabriel. I was trying to see if he was conscious and able to say something. Suddenly the floodgates of unsolicited medical opinions opened. Everyone became a doctor armed with a diagnosis. Gabriel was coming in and out of conscious and I was trying to talk to him. However, well-intentioned people were drowning his voice with their comments. I wished that everyone would just be quiet for a moment. It is a mystery why complete strangers think that they have answers without knowing the questions. A woman dressed in a nurse-like attire gave us some advice. I asked her if she was a nurse and she never said affirmed it. She used an applicative on her cell phone and checked his pulse. She said that he was fine. However, he was obviously in a daze and completely disoriented. Gabriel mumbled a few words which was lost in the midst of the brouhaha. Mary brought some water. Someone commented loudly that giving water was the most dangerous thing to do. This further confused Gabriel. He refused the water. In the meantime, no one was calling the medical emergency attendants of the subway station. Eventually Gabriel started slowly recovering his color. Another woman brought him a sandwich to eat. The same person who said water was dangerous. Then the pseudo nurse turned her attention from Gabriel and started making disparaging comments about the homeless children and teens. She said that all these children do is sniff paint thinner and rob people. She started even warning Mary that they were going to rob her as soon as they get the chance. I just really wanted her to leave. She was aggravating the situation. Then the same woman proceeded to show the sandwich woman all the children and that the bottles they had was paint thinner. Now they became social commentators and made some superficial observations of the state of things. Fortunately, Gabriel gradually recovered and the first thing he wanted was the water that Mary bought. He grabbed it and gulped everything down to its final drop. The sandwich woman seeing that Gabriel had recovered decided to address him authoritatively. “Young man,” she said, “There is only one thing you need and do you what it is?” I cringed. I knew the words that would proceed from her. Gabriel was still trying to get his bearing and the woman gave up waiting for his answer and finished what she wanted to say, “Jesus! All you need Jesus. He is the answer to everything.” Then she turned around and went on her way. The spectacle was over. Everyone left leaving us with Gabriel and the rest of the teens.

So many words were spoken in one incident and none of them were really helpful. People were trying “help” someone in need but their prejudices and self-righteousness dominated their actions. They spent more time talking negatively about the children and teens than trying to get help for the boy. Not even in a moment as such, they could refrain from passing unfair judgments on these children and teens. Gabriel was not even given the chance to suffer in peace. No doubt, he needs a lot of things in life; more compassionate doctors, an educational system that is more concerned with educating, a home where it is safe and secure for him, and the list can go on and on. Saying that all you need is Jesus and then walking away doesn’t bear any resemblance to Jesus or His message. It seems like taking the Lord’s name in vain. It is like saying, “Yes” to Jesus and then “No” to be His instrument of Love to those who are in need.

I can understand why Jesus said that when we call our brother or sister, “You fool” we will be liable to the hell of fire. People designate all kinds of derogative terms for our children and teens. They have grown accustomed to calling them these things so much so that they cannot see their humanity anymore. We also taught by the world to call people who commit crimes as criminals, murderers, robbers, drug dealers…as if this is their nature. In reality, they are just people like you and me that have committed a crime. It is not their nature to be a criminal. To call someone a fool or criminal is to reject their humanity and regard them as sub-human. It is murdering their humanity. Without a doubt, society will continue to address them as such. Jesus told us that our spirituality is to be superior than that of the Pharisees. The people who gathered around Gabriel wanted to help but they still could not see him as a human being. He was able to talk and even say what was happening to him. Unfortunately, no one was interested in listening to him.

For me, the most disturbing part of the incident was the woman proclaiming the Name of Jesus and then walking away. It reduces our Lord to some magical spell or product. When we say, “Yes” to Jesus we accept a sacred task. We receive His Name which is sacred. It requires us to speak out in His Name with fear and trembling. It is a name that sums up the definition of Love that many desperately seek in this world. Once we speak His Name, it is our responsibility to be the instrument of His Love. If we are not willing to do this, then it would be better if we just say, “No” to Him. It would be better than saying “Yes” and then living a “No”. This is something that is not from God. Jesus has told us exactly where this comes from.

“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.