Reflecting Verse
Arise, cry out in the night, as the watches of the night begin; pour out your heart like water in the presence of the Lord. Lift up your hands to him for the lives of your children, who faint from hunger at the head of every street.
Lamentations 2:19
“Can’t ‘stay home and stay safe’ as I don’t have home and shelters are closed. Can’t ‘access food and water’ as there is no work on the street. ‘Risk of being locked up’ for being out during a lockdown.”
It is a cry of a child who works as a rag picker on the streets, facing violation with no one to care, as every child has to fend for themselves and cope with the problems during this pandemic. I happened to come across one a child rag picker and asked what he loves most. He pointed to the small bottle in his hand and said, “this Solution,” (a major part of his income is spent on drugs, alcohol, solvent abuse (sniffing solvents), and gambling). I asked whether he has any dreams or ambitions. He replied, “I don’t like to have dreams for the future because it cannot be fulfilled.” Then he lists out four things: selling scrap, drinking, playing and consuming 'solutions.' With little money and too much freedom, they are vulnerable and fall prey to many kinds of situations and exploiters.
Having said that, the whole meaning of Christmas lies with a baby ‘Jesus.’ Baby Jesus, who represented the weak and oppressed sections of the society, was wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a dirty and smelly manger, pointing to extreme poverty. We cannot ignore him as being born as a baby who represents the weak and abused children even today. Luke acknowledges that this child is a Messiah (Lk 2:8-20, 48-51) and Matthew also points to the prophecy of Isaiah being fulfilled in Jesus (Matt 1:23). Whereas people were astonished to see a “Messiah” wrapped in swaddling cloth which is always suggested for weak babies as support to weak limbs. The presence of the baby Jesus in the midst of people gave the hope for salvation as narrated in Luke 2:38. Therefore, salvation to the world does not come from the powerful but from the weak. God not only shows the magnitude of love but also the value of the child on the street, who we fail to value, teach and protect.
These children are rag pickers who are abused and exploited, forced into begging, thieving, drug peddling, pimping, and prostitution. They suffer mentally, with a great sense of guilt and remorse which commonly fall into depression, and physically from diseases like scabies, lice, chronic dysentery, lung, ear, nose and throat infections, cuts and abrasions which are caused by poverty, malnutrition and the unhygienic surroundings in which the children are forced to work and live.
Our view of our children often reflects the view of society or a community. Do we see children as a hope for the future, the society, the church of tomorrow and a blessing given by God? Or do we view children as essentially a problem, a scourge on the streets, the cause of burgeoning population with ecological disaster? Let us celebrate this Christmas 2020 remembering these children and make it more meaningful, reminding ourselves that baby Jesus represents the weak and oppressed sections of the society on the one side and to the rich and powerful on the other, to challenge them not to exploit or take advantage of the weak.
Prayer
I am only a spark – Make me a fire, I am only a string – Make me a lyre, I am only a drop – Make me a fountain, I am only a feather – Make me a wing, I am only a rag – Make me a King O lord. Amen.
Author: Rev. Amos Massey
About the Author: Rev. Amos is an ordained minister, from the Diocese of Chandigarh-Church of North India. He is currently pursuing his Doctoral research in the department of Pastoral Care and Counselling at the United Theological College, Bangalore.
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