Fr Dominic Robinson SJ, at Home Office Prayer Vigil for refugees

Fr Dominic at Monday's Vigil

The names of hundreds of refugees who died in one month fleeing war zones, were read out at the monthly Prayer Vigil outside the Home Office yesterday. Fr Dominic Robinson, Parish Priest at Farm Street Church of the Immaculate Conception in Mayfair, and director of Westminster Diocese Justice and Peace, gave the following reflection, entitled: 'No room at the inn'.

'The Word was made flesh and dwelt among us and the world knew him not'.

Born in abject poverty, immediately hunted down as an impostor, rejected by the ruling, professional and religious class of the day as an outcast, nailed to the cross.

Christmas lights, presents, tinsel, bonhomie, domestic bliss, office parties, prosperity - there's nothing wrong with all that in itself

but this time of the year belies the utter paradox of life in its injustice, and that challenges me to ask myself what it means to me to be a Christian, because it's tough to be a Christian as it always has been in the real world.

Take time to look around and take it in. More and more sleeping rough: one In 50 in the UK sleeping rough or in 'uninhabitable accommodation' - surely a contradiction in terms in itself; 300,000 people in the UK: that's a 14% increase I. The last year; 4,000 sleeping rough in London alone; and 52% are from outside the UK.

We need to ask why?

There are some clear reasons:

For agencies, charities, faith groups, working with the homeless, the new asylum seekers flooding our streets in these last few weeks is clearly a direct result of the punishing new policy of 7 days to find accommodation after status is given: it is a policy which absolutely must be rethought

But there are deeper more ingrained reasons:

The total lack of suitable, 'inhabitable', accommodation for the homeless, which is surely felt desperately by new asylum seekers - those who go on outreach meet this issue all the time through the rough sleepers we meet: the hostels full of drugs, the fights, the lack of wrap-around care, and of course behind it of funding

The lack of appreciation of what those newly arrived on our shores or not that newly arrived are contributing to society, of the horrific reasons for so many fleeing and seeking sanctuary here, the lack of appreciation of their basic dignity

'The Word was made flesh and is among us' if we only look, stop to think, to have compassion, to discern and to act

During the vigil the one-time homeless film director and musician, David Fussell, sang one of his compositions. He then joined Hal & Cherie from Ooberfuse to perform their new Christmas single: Hard Times -

Watch here: www.youtube.com/watch?v=gBHIFpC0eak

You can also buy the song here: www.amazon.co.uk/music/player/albums/B0CNGBJ5PY