In the past, I have posted about the Mercy Centre in the Klong Toey slum in Bangkok: I blogged about a book called Welcome to the Bangkok Slaughterhouse.

In the past year has been published a new book (The Open Gate of Mercy) with the same structure and many of the same themes: Father Joe Maier CSsR tells us about adults and children in the slums, their lives, the horrors and the joys, which all mean that we must look deeper, to see Jesus active in these lives on some level, or despair. Since we must not despair, certain events and situations required a contemplative gaze on the Beloved Jesus in our neighbours. It’s the only way out. The kind of practical knowledge that one gains from books like The Open Gate of Mercy means that we must love more. There’s no other option. The truth deepened requires love deepened.

Here is the publisher’s description of this book:

The Open Gate of Mercy is a collection of real-life stories of the poorest of the poor who share our City of Angels. We have seen many of them on Bangkok streets, but we often pass them by without taking any serious thought about who they are.

School-aged children trying to sell flower garlands we try to ignore when we are stuck in our car in a traffic jam. Old women and men hastily pushing their junk carts trying to quickly cross a busy road. Street vendors who sell us fruits, lunches, snacks, t- shirts, knick-knacks, etc. Who are they? Where do they come from? What are their families like? What happiness, sorrows, hopes or fears occupy them in their lives? The answers to these questions most of us are blissfully unaware.

In nearly 40 individual stories, Father tells us about these people that we see but never really know. The stories Father Joes recounts also tell us about their families and their community, and others like them whom we ordinarily never have any chance to meet. Each story stretches our worldview and transports us to a universe where we witness the daily lives of slum residents. Father Joe guides us on a journey through the heart of a community that he’s devoted most of his life in serving. Always with love and respect, he shows us that in spite of a life devoid of privilege, everyone possesses an inner dignity.

As far as I’m concerned, this book is recommended, especially if one wants one’s eyes and heart opened and stretched further. ^^