Of Wise Men (and Women)

As a child I always looked forward to Christmas. Other days, even my birthday, did not have such significance. On Christmas Day I was certain my parents would offer me a gift — a new school uniform.

I would be allowed to go to the Holy Mass in my new clothes. After church the school regalia would be hidden somewhere in a kist until the first day at school. Otherwise, throughout the year, I covered my small body with second hand clothes.

As innocent as I was, getting new clothes only during the holiday season was normal. Actually most of my friends and peers had similar experiences. Later in life I realised that most of our parents had prioritised education and basics like food and water. But precious money was not spent on what elders considered trivial.

I cannot remember getting new toys for Christmas. That was normal. We played with whatever we found: stones, tins, scrap and so on. In my family eggs had so much value that we ate them only during special days. My father would provide eggs when my siblings and I passed quarterly exams. There was nothing strange about that in our family. We literally enjoyed eggs four times a year. That was normal.

It was only when my eyes started opening that I realised the evil of being poor. I started to resent the system that had made poverty normal. It was such experiences which led me to be part of the liberation army which was officially disbanded on April 27, 1994. But Freedom Day has not necessarily brought food to the tables of the majority of South African citizens. Food is increasingly becoming expensive and unaffordable. When going shopping, I must compromise quality for quantity. My favourite ice cream has become a luxury and out of bounds.

It is during this time that I appreciate the biblical account of the Wise Men from the East. They presented little Jesus with three gifts. They had come at the right time; God-sent. At this time the Holy Family of Joseph, Mary and Jesus were homeless. They were running away from the ruler who felt threatened by the idea of Jesus being a messiah.

There are many “Wise Men” (and “Wise Women”) in our parishes and communities. I remember with gratitude the Mostert family from St Pius X parish in Waterkloof, Pretoria. Each year they restore the dignity of some poor people. This year they provided kids from our parish with hundreds of Easter eggs. Throughout the year they collect clothing to be dispensed among the “have nots”.

I was impressed when I visited St George’s parish in Saulsville, Gauteng. With the late Fr Velaphi Mazibuko they were alleviating poverty in their township by collecting and distributing foodstuffs to needy families.

I know that Ausi Thandi and Ausi Angy of St Charles Lwanga parish in Soshanguve will ensure that kids from poor families will have a new school uniform in 2009. They approach local schools to identify learners from needy families. Materially they are not rich themselves—but they put the needs of others first.

I rejoiced when I saw two small Christian communities from our parish emulating the wise men from the east. A community called Disciples of Jesus recently visited a semi-rural parish to donate clothes and groceries to Fr Lawrence Ramaema of Mmotla, near Hammanskraal. In their earlier visit they had experienced the poverty of the priest.

The Messengers of Hope “employed” Zimbabwean refugees to clean the parish church for a nominal fee.

Food prices may be getting higher. The price of petrol is unstable. But there are wise men and women touching the lives of others. Poverty is abnormal. During this Christmas season may we recognise that in each person we encounter divinity.