Christmas is in the heart of God wounded by love for mankind, Brother Yesudas says
One of his stories is about Dipu Jaiswal whom he met in hospital for the first time. “He was disappointed and depressed after his attempt to commit suicide failed. He could not accept that he had contracted HIV,” the clergyman said. Then he and his fellow missionaries began visiting him on a regular basis, helping Dipu in his spiritual and economic needs.
“Our little touch on his forehead and few encouraging words brought in him a desire for life. He said in one of our visits, ‘I know there is a God and He wants me to live’.”
After his hospital treatment, he stayed with the Missionaries of Charity for six months and is now back to his job and family.
At present, “he has a beautiful smile and lots of enthusiasm whenever he comes to visit us. His visit is like Christmas for us because he brings the presence of a God who cares for His poor.”
Another story involves Arathi Patro. “She was suffering from tuberculosis and AIDS when I met her. She had multiple blisters all over her body and the skin of her face and ears was swollen. She was bleeding through her nose and was struggling for breath,” he said.
“Her husband stood very close to her. He was silent, feeling guilty, tears falling from his eyes. I stood very close to him and prayed in silence and assured him of our support.”
Soon enough, the Missionaries of Charity began bringing the medicines she needed, visited her every day and did a few small things for her.
After two weeks, one of the doctors at the hospital said they were amazed because she had started to smile again. “Her smile is the work of God,” one of them said.
“God is alive and active in every smile and it invites us to make a pilgrimage into that presence,” Br Yesudas said, said. “That pilgrimage is a fire, a flame, a movement, the more we are open and welcoming. Jesus is present in others. He seeks a welcome, and the more we welcome, the more we are wounded. Only a wounded heart can become a welcoming heart, because it is a heart wounded by the love of God.”
.png)
