The Homeless Man and True Christmas Giving

He walked into the Cathedral with the others, each being invited to light a candle and bow down in prayer before Jesus in the Blessed Sacrament. It was a night of vigil; with soft music and songs of the love and mercy of the Lord.  Priests were available to give counsel and hear confessions; it was a chance to reconcile with the Lord in the season of Advent, the time of preparation before Christmas.

He lit a candle, said a short prayer and walked into the pew to sit for a while in the quiet, muted light of the sanctuary. He was dressed in clothes too big for his frame. He had to keep pulling up his pants that kept slipping off his thin waist. He had a scarf of sorts around his neck and head, and I noticed that he was trying to conceal a swelling on the side of his face. His smile revealed teeth in a state of decay, indicating his state of health.

After the vigil was over, as my son and I walked out, we noticed the man walking close to us. From the smell, we knew that he had not had the luxury of a warm bath in a long time, or the means of a fresh change of clothes. We walked out together and we reached into our pockets to give him a little money. When my son went up and gave him the money, the man looked up at us and with tear-filled eyes, thanked us and asked if he could give us a hug. As we embraced, we were united in a moment of being one in the sight of God. He was homeless. We had a home and family. And the Lord loved each of us in the very same way.

I couldn’t shake off the memory of this man. I kept thinking of how it would be for him and for countless others like him as the weather turned cold. I wondered how he would celebrate Christmas and the holidays, which for us is filled with the anticipation of celebrations with family and friends.

Christmas and the end of the year, with its many festivities and gift giving, is when stores make their most profits. It is this time of supposed peace and joy when people rake up the most debt and when stress levels are the highest. All this is, they say, to commemorate the birth of the little baby Jesus who was born in a manger, in a poor cattle shed, wrapped in swaddling clothes.

Christmas is when our God came to be one of us, choosing to be born in poverty, rather than in a palace. In the spirit of giving, we buy gifts for those who have more than they need, when we are told in Scripture, “as you did it to the least of these my brethren, you did it to me.” (Matthew 25:40)

Jesus calls out, “Come, O blessed of my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and your clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.” (Matthew 25:34-36)

He calls me to give to Him by giving to the poor and needy. So will my giving be only to those who can and will give back to me, or to those who do not have the means to return my gifts? Is there some way I can contribute to help make those like the man we met that day a little more comfortable? Is there something that I can change in my life to help feed the hungry, slake the thirst of the thirsty, welcome the stranger, clothe the naked and comfort the sick and those in prison?

Was the man we met that day Jesus in disguise? Did I miss the opportunity to serve my Lord in him? I pray that the Lord will have mercy on me and give me another chance to show Him that I love Him.

Come, Lord Jesus.