Fr. Leo Pabayo .
SEEING with the eyes of faith unveils the goodness and beauty of what we see. If what we see is the goodness and beauty of a person we would be drawn to that person and give pay her/him praise, reverence and service. But if we have been blinded to what is good and beautiful then we will not recognize these.
If those whom Joseph approached for a lodging had the eyes to see, they would have seen that something very special about the couple that was before them asking for a lodging that Christmas night. They would have competed for the privilege of providing a dwelling for them. The others who had already obtained a space in the inns would have also given way for them. Or, if they at least had compassion, they would have felt for the child bearing Mary and have gone out of their way to secure a lodging for her.
If God comes to us now in the person of Mary bearing in her womb the Christ child accompanied by her husband Joseph, will we recognize Him in them?
Jesus tells us that looking with compassion on the needy is a form of recognition of Him will be greatly rewarded with the joy of having served them.
Yet, what they went through that Christmas night is being replicated in many towns and cities in the world, in the persons of those who do not find the hospitality they badly need. It is replicated today in the lives of families especially those with small children are seeking asylum in various countries to escape the oppressive rules in their leaders like those in South America. Or those suffering from the scourges of wars in the countries in the Middle East.
Closer to home it is replicated in the lives of the marginalized sectors of our country who crowd our towns and cities to escape hunger from their homes in the mountains because of drought or crop failure or of being deprived of their right to cultivate and draw fruit from their own piece of land.
It is replicated in many homeless strangers who come to our towns and cities in our country, looking for livelihood opportunities. It is replicated in the lives of those who experience one form or another of alienation in their families or communities because of some personal deficiencies, some of whom have driven them to drug addiction.
Most of all, it is replicated in the numberless poor in in our country who for one reason or another are now living in miserable dwelling places in squatter areas along the “esteros” under the bridges and have occupied the sidewalks in our the cities looking for a way to have a livelihood that would enable them to provide food for themselves and their children.
Christmas is a reminder for us to reflect on what our attitudes have been toward them. Do we see them as being like the poor Mary bearing the Christ child accompanied by Joseph, coming to us to give us the opportunity to serve Him in them?
“Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world, for I was… a stranger and you invited me in.’
“Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord,… when did we see you a stranger and invite you in?’
“The King will reply, ‘I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.’’’ (Matthew 25:35,37,40)
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