Disciples of compassion

No less than three times did Christ insist that the only way for Peter to really prove that he loved Jesus is for Peter to feed His lambs and tend His sheep. Love for Jesus is not proven by multiplying devotions to the Sacred Heart or making an expensive pilgrimage to the Holy Land. "Feed my lambs…. tend my sheep…. feed my sheep." This is THE WAY of loving Jesus. (From today’s Gospel event, Jn. 21: 1-19).

It is very inspiring to see more and more individuals and human groups responding to this discipleship of compassion. Yes, to love Jesus is to reach out to His brothers and sisters, especially the poor. One such phenomenal response is the Gawad Kalinga apostolate led by Tony Meloto. A truly God-inspired program!

There are many other smaller, complementary projects responding to this discipleship of compassion. Allow me to single out one such program. Headed by Dolly del Rosario, a team of professional counselors from our Center for Family Ministries recently created and initially conducted a Resilience Program (REPRO) for rescued male street children, with ages ranging from 9 to 16 years old at the Don Bosco Pugad Home for Street Children in Makati. It is a "strengths-based program that helps rescued street children to discover, identify, and build resilience traits that will empower them to triumph over their adversities."

The pilot program was conducted over a period of months, using the E. Grotberg framework of "I HAVE — I AM — I CAN" from the International Resilience Project.

Our REPRO credo is as follows:

"May mga taong nagmamahal sa akin at mapagkakatiwalaan ko.

Ako ay nilalang ng Panginoon na may halaga at kabutihan.

Ako ay may kakayahan na pagandahin ang aking kinabukasan."

The personal evaluation of the REPRO program consultant, Teresita Cruz, is worth quoting in full:

"I joined REPRO as Program Consultant and volunteered as a regular member of the REPRO Team, to teach resilience to a group of rescued street children at the Don Bosco Pugad Home for Street Children and Migrant Youth. We thank God it has apparently gone well. What REPRO has done for me, though, is something else. And something more.

It starts with Daniel, a REPRO participant. While my computer contains the required case study I did on him, my heart does not accept Daniel as a case study.

He is a 12-year old boy with heart, soul and body, who has known the acute helplessness and desperation of being forced into street life at the age of three. He is not data that needs analyzing but a person just like you and me who needs to know that he is loved and that he belongs, who pines for his family, is fearful but hopes things will be better tomorrow. The Program is completed but I continue to see Daniel at Pugad. He has assumed a significance in my life that I did not expect. It is a privilege I prize. Did he have good moments today? Get into another fight? Practice our reading exercises? I must compliment him on his progress. And his clean fingernails! What joy to hear him read!

Still I was astounded when Daniel suddenly dominated my reflections on the scene of Mary and the empty tomb. Slowly, I began to see. In my countless wanderings I had often failed to hear or recognize the Lord. He had awaited me in the desert and marketplace and trenches, but I conveniently ignored those disturbing zones in favor of my safe and familiar routes. So He sent me to REPRO. And when at last He saw in me a spark of courage, of openness and earnest seeking, He sent me to Daniel. Then He waited for me on Easter morning. Yes, I heard Him call my name. In my grateful, tear-filled response, I could write of nothing and no one but Daniel. Love one another as I have loved you.

Daniel is not a recipient of "good works" as the setting of our relationship might suggest. We are equals in God’s creation, simply two human beings connecting, and through each other, connecting to our Creator. It’s the only thing that makes sense. I give Daniel caring. He brings me hope. We are God’s message to each other.

Lord, thank you for being with us always. Grant us the grace to find You in one another!"