At Christmas, deep in the heart of each of us is a "broken alleluia". So often, almost always, in the slums of Klong Toey and here at Mercy Centre. The whispers, tears, the silent gestures of the children say so much about sadness and being dumped, left alone in an abandoned building or a bus stop. That's the broken part, and the alleluia is the joy of Christmas, of being loved. Being found.
Why didn't you love me from the start? What could I have possibly done wrong as a small innocent child? Or maybe you loved me too much that to save me, you had to "dump me off" -- left me alone, on a street corner or a bus stop. But Christmas puts a stop to all of that. Christmas tells us that we are all loved.
Even one of our beloved kids, literally born next to a three-wheel noodle cart, on the side of the road here in the slum. Pregnant mum was "on her way to Mercy" for help. She was all alone. She had no one. She didn't quite make it to our front door on time. But all turned out well. A healthy baby girl.
She's the one. This delightful seven-year-old young lady sternly informed me yesterday: "Fr Joe, Me and Granny, we're not orphans. Impossible. And Granny, oh she loves me so very much. And Scrawny Dog."
When the bad people took Mommy away. He, Scrawny Dog, was there, protecting her as much as he could, and Granny says, also protecting me, newly born. Mommy was lying there on the street, just after I was born, next to the noodle cart.
The bad people picked Mommy up and laid her down in the back of that pickup truck just minutes after she gave birth. Scrawny Dog came and laid down there by the Granny who had grabbed me, so I did not fall on the street. She was holding me and Scrawny Dog was crying, whimpering at her feet. Protecting her -- not letting anyone come close. And someone went to the 7-Eleven, and the man there gave a baby bottle and some milk to feed me, so Granny tells me. And I started to drink the milk right away. And they wanted to take me to the hospital, but Granny said no, I can take care of her. She's healthy. And the bad people kidnapped my Mommy away. You see my pregnant Mom was on her way to Mercy Centre for help, but didn't make it to our front door in time. But all turned out well. Me. A healthy girl.
Granny says she knows for sure, as they always do, Holy Mary, Mommy of Jesus, came to Klong Toey that day, stopped by on her way to Bethlehem with St Joseph where she was going to give birth to Baby Jesus, our Saviour. And Holy Mary was there protecting me and my Mommy when I was born on the street, beside the noodle stand.
Pregnant Holy Mary, the Mother of Baby Jesus, and me and Granny. Holy Mary knew also. I don't know how, but she also sent Scrawny Dog. He limps now, like Granny does. They're both old. Dog got beat up by some other dogs who were snarling at us and Holy Mary a few days after I was born, and Pregnant Holy Mary wanted to help granny pick up some plastic bottles by the railroad tracks. The was the day before She and St Joseph went on to Bethlehem where our Holy Book says Jesus was to be born into this world as our Saviour.
But that was a long time ago, like when I was a tiny baby and don't remember, but Granny tells me everything about those days. Now, I'm seven. The Holy Family travelled on to Bethlehem where the angels came and sang joyfully in the heavens. And the shepherds came to visit Holy Mary and the Baby Jesus and St Joseph. And the Magi -- the Three Holy Men came and offered gifts of gold, frankincense and myrrh. Granny says they were the same angels who came when I was born in Klong Toey but didn't sing, as Holy Mary didn't "want to make a fuss". She just asked them to protect us quietly, and that was enough.
And Mary and Jesus had to run away from Bethlehem not long after Jesus was born there, and go to Egypt to get away from some other bad guys. But St Joseph protected them, and the angels guided them and looked after them.
But they will be passing through Klong Toey again. Not sure when. Holy Mary promised, and as Granny says, Holy Mary, the Momma of Jesus, always keeps her promises.
And now, today. Me and Granny and Scrawny Dog, we get up each morning at dawn when that rooster starts crowing -- waking everybody up. We collect plastic bottles, tin cans and paper together to sell for money to buy breakfast. And it's the best breakfast in the world, and the noodle shop lady always she still remembers when I was born on the street, next to her cart. And Granny held me and didn't let me fall to the ground, and they picked up Mommy and laid her in the back of that pickup and kidnapped her away. The noodle lady, she always gives us… well, not an extra portion, that would be too much, but she does add in "a little bit extra", because she says I am a growing girl. And some nice left overs they didn't throw in the garbage for Scrawny Dog.
And my Mommy, that night when they loaded her into the back of that truck and "stole her away", Granny says mommy just wanted to touch me, just once, but they would not let her. But Granny took Mommy's hand to touch my baby hand -- just for a minute -- and the driver got angry. Worried as he heard the sirens. The police were "on their way". So he drove away quickly.
But it's been a long time now. Remember I told you, now, I'm nearly eight years old. And I just heard that Mommy got real sick, with the Covid-19 virus. But maybe she will get well, but they are not sure.
But when they took Mommy away in the back of that pickup truck, Scrawny Dog was there, and he started whining, howling, like sad dogs do, and came over and laid down at Granny's feet. He has never left us. He was strong then, and yes he still chases away any nasty dogs. But he likes stray kitty cats. Let's them share our food.
And Granny tells me that when Holy Mary was there with Baby Jesus, with us for that little short while, when I was just born, Scrawny Dog would protect us all when St Joseph had to leave us and go off to work to make money for food.
And as we pick up thrown-away plastic bottles -- left over -- each early morning, my Granny pulls the lice out of my hair (not very many) and whispers to me.
You are my sweetest beloved daughter, and I will always love you, and you are my Queen of our Beloved Slums. Granny calls me her lovely Rose of Klong Toey by the railroad track next to that old noodle cart where I was born. And she makes me cry because she hugs me so tight and I love her so much and sometimes Granny says I can pretend she is my Mommy, like Jesus loved his Mommy when He was almost eight years old.
And to use the words from those songs: That we sing the song that we can still sing. And that upon a broken drum we can still make beautiful music and we ring the bell that still can be rung.
We do not dwell on what has passed away nor what will be. Yes, wars. They will be fought again. The Holy Dove, she will be caught again, bought and sold again, and the Sacred Dove is never free. And we ask for signs and signs are sent.
But they can never take Christmas away from us. Jesus and His Mommy Mary who loves us so very much is always with us. Will always love us. Merry Christmas to you all in our Mercy Family from Fr Joe and all our children. Thank you for being who you are. Maybe we can meet next to that old cart for Christmas noodles. The lady will surely add a special portion.
Father Joe Maier is director and co-founder of the Human Development Foundation in Klong Toey. For more information, call 02-671-5313 or visit mercycentre.org.
