And A Child Is Born...

It was a scene that almost made me walk out the church in the middle of the homily in celebration of the New Year.

But then, I realized, who am I to judge?  What would I have done if I was in their place?

They are conspicuously present every mass. These old ladies with their long white dresses, stand and serve as role models to every churchgoer, reminding them of the proper decorum that should be followed during mass. Acting as some sort of spiritual guardians, with their intricate veils over their heads, and scapulas as big as press Ids around their necks, they certainly look stern and formidable enough to ward off Satan himself.

It was not Satan they were trying to drive away that night but a small boy, his face dirty, his clothes in tatters. A child beggar really.

The kid was going around the pews, tugging at the sleeves of whoever sits at the edge. What he was saying to them I don’t know. He never got to reach our side. The old ladies approached him and escorted the kid outside. 

The last memory I had of the kid was the sorry picture of him looking back at the building he came from, trying to clear the confusion off his face, one hand scratching his head. As if to say “Was I just driven out of the House of God?”

Imagine that.

Wait. Let’s not be hypocrites here.

Come to think of it, I just watched after all. I could have gotten out of my seat and gave whatever I had to the child. If he reached my seat, who knows what would I have done? Would I have brushed him off? What if I would have been like those who pretended to ignore him and tried concentrating at the homily?

I replayed that scene again and again as our family went home. I think of the possible reasons why it all happened and why did I have to witness it. Bear with me here as I try to see all sides. See how my brain splits anyway:

- The church ladies were probably just doing their job. The church is not a place for begging. (Or not a place for beggars you mean? Isn’t it when we pray we also beg God to help us? What use is that edifice if it closes itself to the “littlest of our brothers?”)

- The kid may probably be someone’s entrepreneurial kid, taking advantage of the crowd and the spirit of the season. Plus, many say that to give them alms is actually “encouraging” dependence. (Can’t someone who is in deep need honestly take the opportunity where he could get the most number of people to take pity on him on such a prosperous night for many?)

- The church has many charity programs in progress. (Honestly I’m not familiar with the social development programs of that parish. But I guess if we the faithful couldn’t help just that poor child who obviously lives nearby, do we really think our “abuloys” should be considered successful? Why are most charity programs seem to be directed to far-flung areas anyway? Everyone likes to develop this unknown community from the boondocks. Can’t local parishes or religious institutions focus on the poor living just outside the church grounds? Or are the urban poor deemed hopeless already that even local churches have given up on them?)

- Poverty or misery is a fact of life.

Sigh. Don’t have anything to counter that one.

It’s just sad having to look away when I know I can’t do anything.

Or is there Marisse? Maybe I’m just too jaded to see if there’s something that still can be done. Or lazy even. It’s easy to give up after all. I think deep in my heart I know there is. I just don’t know how.

My queries may even be based on poor logic. Or naivety. I don’t know. I admit there are still too many things I need to learn in this life. 

It was cold that night. I slept fitfully on a warm bed.

Comments

[Maria Cecilia]

what a familiar story, is that true to life?

[Marisse]

Hey Ate Maricel,

Yep. As I said in the post, it happened New Year.

I think the incident help me in my drive in exerting more effort to make changes with our CSR in the office.

I pray everyday I will not fail that kid.