Street Sleepers and Christmas

The recent death of a street sleeper near the Parliament in London prompted an outcry.  It reminded me of the many street sleepers that I have seen around the world.  In London itself, outside stations of the Underground. 

In San Jose, USA, amid the hotels and posh shops that serve the elites working in Silicon Valley. 

In Hong Kong, right in the wet market 

In Dakar, Senegal, just off a busy market. 

In Kampala, Uganda, next to a busy bus station. 

And in some many other places.  

At Christmas, the operative words are joy, happiness, family, friends, food, …  We should indeed celebrate the birth of Jesus, who brought the hope of redemption.  But why do we need redemption in the first place?  Is it not because of the sin and suffering - so vividly exemplified by the plight of these street sleepers - that Jesus had to come?   

This morning I attended a worship service in which the Bible was read to us in multiple languages: Dutch, Cantonese, Spanish, Tagalog, Hindi, Japanese, Hungarian, Mandarin.   An apt reminder that Christmas is here for all nations - all of us need the good news of Jesus.  

In the afternoon I stumbled upon a church group singing Christmas carols on a street corner in busy Mongkok.  

Christmas is, of course, about the joyful reception of the coming of Jesus.  But it is also about our response to His coming.  How should we respond to Him?   To enjoy life and His presence?  Or is there actually more to it?