HOLY TUESDAY

MODERN-DAY SLAVERY

“I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.” – Isaiah 49:6

I read recently that there are an estimated 27 million slaves around the world today. Most of these are women who are being exploited for sexual labor against their will. The average age of trafficking victims is 12 years old. They are recruited with a false promise of a job and are coerced into prostitution. In secret centers they are raped, beaten, threatened (for their lives or their family’s), slapped with exorbitant debt, extremely maltreated, and sold to paying customers. This is a booming industry that makes about $12 billion worldwide, run by ruthless and powerful multinational criminal networks with a Philippine presence.

       Sickening but real. This evil is present in our world today. It’s high time we open our eyes to its realities and save those held captive by this darkness.

       Friend, you and I are called to illuminate the darkest places of this world with the light of Christ, to shine His light not just in places that are already well lit, but more so, in places consumed by utter darkness. Let’s do something about this. Let’s fight and be a light! Mike Viñas (mikemichaelfcv@yahoo.com)

Reflection: Seek a local or global organization fighting against sex trafficking and get involved.

Father, allow Your light to radiate through me to reach the darkest of dens and defeat evil.

Blessed Caesar de Bus, pray for us.

Sometimes it may seem that our labors for the Kingdom of God are in vain. However, if we are following God’s will, we can be sure that it will never be the case. We may not understand the fullness of what God is doing through us but we should always trust that He does. Suffering is especially difficult to understand but it is an integral part of the redemption that Jesus won for us.

1 Hear me, O islands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. 2 He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. 3 You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. 4 Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God. 5 For now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the Lord, and my God is now my strength! 6 It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.

R: I will sing of your salvation.

1 In you, O Lord, I take refuge; let me never be put to shame. 2 In your justice rescue me, and deliver me; incline your ear to me, and save me. (R) 3 Be my rock of refuge, a stronghold to give me safety, for you are my rock and my fortress. 4 O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. (R) 5 For you are my hope, O Lord; my trust, O God, from my youth. 6 On you I depend from birth; from my mother’s womb you are my strength. (R) 15 My mouth shall declare your justice, day by day your salvation, though I know not their extent. 17 O God, you have taught me from my youth, and till the present I proclaim your wondrous deeds. (R)

Jesus knows that one of His own will betray Him to the authorities. He even knows who the person is but He does not banish him from His presence. He gives him the possibility of repentance and a change of heart. We know this was a vain hope but we should learn from the example of Jesus and allow others the same hope and chance in their relationship with us.

Hail to you, our King, obedient to the Father; you were led to your crucifixion like a gentle lamb to the slaughter.

21 Reclining at the table with his disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray me.” 22 The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom he meant. 23 One of his disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. 24 So Simon Peter nodded to him to find out whom he meant. 25 He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to him, “Master, who is it?” 26 Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So he dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. 27 After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” 28 Now none of those reclining at table realized why he said this to him. 29 Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. 30 So he took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. 31 When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him. 32 If God is glorified in him, God will also glorify him in himself, and he will glorify him at once. 33 My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.” 36 Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow me now, though you will follow later.” 37 Peter said to him, “Master, why can I not follow you now? I will lay down my life for you.” 38 Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny me three times.”

think:  Suffering is especially difficult to understand but it is an integral part of the redemption that Jesus won for us.

READ THE BIBLE IN ONE YEAR Leviticus 13-15

AND IT WAS NIGHT

It is interesting to note how Jesus, in His talk with His circle of disciples, was so discreet. Even as He revealed His knowledge about a treachery that was about to happen with one of His disciples, He was careful not to name Judas. Hence, Judas had a last chance to redeem himself and change his plans. Jesus gave Judas all the graces and all the respect. Judas had freedom of choice until the end.

       The sad thing, though, is this: Judas chose to persist in his evil plan. He paid no attention to the grace being extended to him. Without any hint of repentance, he went on and he went out — with the silence of a stubborn, defiant and recalcitrant fellow. He rejected the goodwill being extended to him by his Master.

       John the evangelist dramatically indicates everything with a short but powerful verse: “And it was night.” Jesus had spoken of Himself as “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (John 14:6). Furthermore, He indicates that He is the True Light. He said: “I came into the world as a light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness” (John 12:46).

REFLECTION QUESTIONS: What events and experiences in your life can you also liken to “night” and “darkness”? Jesus is the True Light. What does this personally mean for you?

Help me to always cling to You as my True Light, Lord. Dispel whatever darkness comes into my life.