Jan4: Recognizing Jesus

Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, was one of the two who heard John and followed Jesus.
He first found his own brother Simon and told him, “We have found the Messiah” (which is translated Anointed).

I am one of those people who do not trust beggars. Children or adults, they make me think they are a part of a syndicate that extorts money from passersby and call it a “living.” I lived in the city my whole life so seeing them is not any different from an everyday routine. I heard stories where the beggars would show their disgust over people’s donations because they wanted more than loose change. I’ve seen some street children exchange these coins for some solvent and not be afraid to show everyone they are having a session with their colleagues. I am scared of them because I know they can be violent, only because this is the way they know how to survive the streets.

But my heart cries whenever I see and hear children as little as 4 or 5 years old cursing very loudly along the streets. One particular girl I witnessed crying as I was walking along the overpass was a beggar and she has a little sibling lying on a carton a few steps from her station where her tiny can was. She was attending to her baby brother (I suppose) when another streetkid emptied her tiny can while she was turning her back against the view. She was able to catch a glimpse of the crime and all she can do is say “P_ _ _ _ _ INA MO!” loudly but very slowly as if ripping her enemy into tiny pieces. She then cried out loud because she can’t leave her little brother behind to try to get her money back.

What did I do? I didn’t do anything. I couldn’t do anything. I was afraid. I still am.

This may be one of the many times Jesus showed Himself to me but I was afraid to help Him and stand up for what is right. There are so many times I know I could have done something to make a difference but I just remained apathetic, indifferent, and numb.

I pray for courage, Lord, so that whenever you manifest yourself in the faces of the people around me, I could get up and fight for you. I hope to show more acts of charity to those who need it most, especially if they need my time or my emotional support. I pray for those people who are in the position to help these children that you love so much, especially their parents. Enter into their hearts, O Lord, so that they may see that they are your chosen instruments to bring them up as good citizens and Christians of this world. Amen.