Rejoicing or grieving?

Two seemingly contradictory commemorations. Today is Gaudete Sunday or Sunday of rejoicing for the coming birth of Our Lord Jesus Christ. Today is also dedicated to National Day of Prayer to End Human Trafficking.

Let us start with this more disturbing reality of human trafficking, which Archbishop Jose Advincula of Capiz describes so clearly in today’s issue of Sambuhay. He calls the crimes of human trafficking as modern-day slavery, such as “forced labor, prostitution, cyber sex/pornography, arms and drugs trade, and other forms of exploitation that assault and degrade our humanity.” The victims of this are men, women, and children that reach to about 27 million all over the world, and many of them are Filipinos!

He quotes Pope Francis who calls all this as a “crime against humanity” and appeals to all of us who claim to be Christ’s disciples, to do all that we can to fight it and lead the victims to justice and love.

In my own apostolic ministry with couples and families, I have deeply felt the pains and confusions of those who have fallen victims to the various forms of human trafficking. Due to extreme poverty, some Filipino young women end up being prostitutes. They lack moral values and guidance. Quite a number of our youth fall into drug addiction and end up by selling drugs as the source of their livelihood. In some families, children become victims of sexual abuse by their own relatives. Moreover, the availability of pornography in the internet is simply widespread and uncontrollable.

The mindset of many perpetrators and victims of human trafficking is neither moral nor immoral but amoral. They need spiritual conversion and education. Those of us who can help them in some way or other are missioned by God to do so, motivated by mercy and compassion. Moreover, let us continue to pray for all the victims of human trafficking without ceasing.

Today’s readings for the Holy Mass are all about God’s mercy and forgiveness, and a testimony to the light — the coming of our merciful and forgiving Savior, Jesus Christ, the Lover Incarnate. We are called to be his faithful disciples of loving mercy and forgiveness. Our new Pope Francis has been sent by God to precisely lead us all to this divine mission. Pope Francis is convinced that the strongest message of Christ is mercy.

In a booklet recently published by Claretian Publications, John Allen quotes Pope Francis, no less than the latter’s mantra: “The Lord never tires of forgiveness . . . it’s us who get tired of asking for forgiveness.” In fact, in his first Sunday Mass as Pope, he said, “In my opinion, the strongest message of the Lord is mercy.” This is Pope Francis’ profound attitude concerning many serious problems surrounding us nowadays, like corruption in the church, divorces and separations, same-sex marriages, the human trafficking mentioned above, and others. Even when he was still Archbishop of Argentina, he once said: “Let ourselves be embraced by the mercy of God; let us trust in his patience which always gives us more time. Let us find the courage to return to his house, to dwell in his loving wounds, letting ourselves to be loved by him. We will feel his tenderness and we too will become more capable of mercy, patience, and forgiveness.” (From A Year With Pope Francis).

You and I and the rest of Christ’s disciples are all called to a life of mercy and forgiveness, whatever country and culture we belong to. Take this young American woman who went to Japan to teach English in a small school. One day, she was driving for the first time and bumped a car driven by a pregnant, Japanese woman. The latter had to be brought to the hospital, and the American woman was terrified. She was not able to sleep that night, terrified as she was with what happened.

The following day, she received a message from the Japanese woman and told her that she and her baby were okay, and that she wanted no money, and expressed her compassion for the teacher who was a newcomer in their country and was so full of fears. The American teacher was deeply touched by such compassion and forgiveness from the Japanese woman.

After a few months, this same teacher, more cautious this time, was driving to school when a fisherman collided with the side of her car. The fisherman was so apologetic and offered money for the repair of her car. She refused to accept the money and told him the story of her previous accident. Instead, she felt in her heart what kindness was given to her by that young Japanese mother a few months ago. Who knows — that fisherman may pass on to another that priceless gift of forgiveness that she received from her. All this happened in another country. (From Connections for December 2014).

What about in our own country? There is much of the same happening here, and in many other countries as well. We are all called to testify to the Light, like John the Baptist in today’s Gospel reading. May more and more respond to this call, so that we will experience no less than universal love and peace. Amen.