“Yes, Now’s the Time!”
Today, Saturday, January 11th, is designated Human Trafficking Day aka #WearBlueDay. It is important that we remain vigilant and pray and do what we can to raise awareness of the proportions of this very real problem. Why “Wear Blue?” It’s the international color of human trafficking awareness.
This year marks the 162nd anniversary of the Emancipation Proclamation. It was on January 1, 1863, that our nation pledged that all persons held as slaves within any state would henceforth be forever free. Yet we know that people are still enslaved within our borders. Human trafficking is illegal but rampant. And, they just continue to cry out! God is close to the broken-hearted and rescues those whose spirits are crushed. Jesus came, and still comes, to set all people free. It is our turn to do whatever is in our power to rescue the victims of human trafficking. God has no hands on earth but ours.
It seems no coincidence that on this weekend, with tomorrow (Sunday evening) liturgically closing the Christmas season, we celebrate the Baptism of Jesus who came to set all peoples free. Sometimes we aren’t sure if “now” is the right time for things. At the Jordan River, about 30 years after Jesus was born, NOW was the time. If you could go back and stand on the shoreline of that river in the wilderness, you’d probably be nodding your head in agreement, “Yes, now is the time!” John knew that Jesus was much greater than he was, and that he wasn’t even fit to tie Jesus’ sandals. John must have been thinking, “This is backwards! This shouldn’t be happening this way!”
“Not so,” says Jesus. “Now IS the time. It is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness.” Jesus was saying, “At another time, John, you would be right in what you’re thinking. But NOW is the time for this baptism. This is what my Father in heaven is asking of us NOW!” You will recall that in last week’s reading Jesus submitted to his parents’ wishes and went back to the family home. But NOW was the right time for Jesus to begin his public mission, the course that would take him to the cross. Now we hear the Father’s affirming commendation: “Outstanding, Son!”
It may be hard to believe, but during Jesus’ childhood, Israel was not an idyllic place to grow up. It was confusing, even bloody. During Jesus’ childhood, 3,000 people were crucified, left to hang on the road not far from Nazareth. Closer to home: do you know that 27 MILLION women, men and children are currently held in slavery-like conditions? More people are enslaved today than at any time in human history. Are you aware that Tampa, FL ranks 3rd in the nation in human trafficking? And did you know that the highest percentage of children who get caught into the trafficking trap come from the foster care system? It’s ugly: there’s crushing poverty, overwhelming hunger, human trafficking, kids sold into slavery to be used for sexual exploitation. Evil oppression is present across the globe. Chances are that something each of us is wearing or using was made, at least in part, by someone trapped in a sweat shop. To live as well as we do here in North America takes a lot of cheap labor. And it’s not just us. There have always been people that will lord it over others and do even more atrocious, despicable things. Each person forced into slavery has a unique story. Each story is one of struggles, hopes and dreams.
May God inspire us to act for justice and to bring an end to of human trafficking. Several years ago, LCWR and RCRI (both organizations of Catholic religious) led the way for religious to “practice what they preach.” These organizations will only contract for their national conventions to be held only in hotels that will agree to provide employee education to raise their awareness of “red flag” behaviors of suspected human trafficking violators. May we never be the cause for another experiencing the feeling of enslavement. May we guard against acting or speaking in such a manner that we give the impression that we believe another is under our control. Keep us conscious that Jesus is Lord, not we over one another. Help us to do our part in building a world where all are free to live with dignity.
~Reflection by Sister Roberta Bailey, OSB
First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11 Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7
Gospel: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
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