Symbol: a cross draped in chains
Opening prayer
Let us pray:
Gracious God, in your goodness you have called us to be evangelizers of the poor, thus following in the footsteps of your beloved Son, Jesus Christ and those of Saint Vincent de Paul. Yes, you have called us to be diligent and bold as we go out to provide for the needs of our suffering sisters and brothers. With the inspiration of your Holy Spirit, enable us to proclaim the Good News and to give witness to the Kingdom wherever we may serve. In that way no one living on the peripheries throughout the world will be deprived of the joyful proclamation of the mystery of salvation.
As we contemplate your Son, who lived among us, may we move from the table of the Word and the table of the Eucharist to the table of poor and there, may we share with others the Bread of Life. May we clothe ourselves in such a manner than we are able to respond effectively to the challenges of the present-day world. We pray in the name of Jesus the Lord. Amen
Scripture
A reading from the gospel according to Saint John (John 8:32-36)
Jesus then said to those Jews who believed in him, “If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.” They answered him, “We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, ‘You will become free’?” Jesus answered them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin. A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains. So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free. The Word of God.
Let us listen to the words of Vincent de Paul
As for the men in Barbary who are working under such difficulties with so much to put up with in those lands, and who do not say a word about them, make nothing of them. . . , yet, they have something to suffer from everyone, Turks and slaves, and have to make visits, deal with, and talk to those poor prisoners, and to run here and there, but they do not mention this at all; on the contrary, we see from their letters that they are content to suffer, and they ask for more — they want even more sufferings. O Savior! Let us ask God to give this spirit to the entire body and heart of the Company. What a great blessing from God, who deigns to make use of this Little Company for that, doing us the honor of suffering for him in the person of some of our members (CCD:XI:261)
Reflection:
On December 10th, 1948, the United Nations approved the Universal Declaration of Human Rights which established that no one shall be held in slavery or servitude; slavery and the slave trade shall be prohibited in all their forms (Article #4). Unfortunately, the situation of slavery continues and in fact, according to data that has been published by distinct organizations, today there are more persons living in slavery than at any other time in history.
In this world in which people seek for ways to develop themselves more fully as human persons, and in which women, in spite of many difficulties, engage in a struggle for dignity, it must be affirmed that women are the primary victims of multiple forms of slavery and violence (forced prostitution, trafficking of women, forced labor, etc.). Today, we find ourselves confronted with a scourge that continues to become worse: so many people are enslaved and have lost their dignity and their freedom. Here we are not only speaking about physical slavery but also moral slavery … so many people have been blinded by the desire for power and pleasure and all the consequences that follow as a result of that fruitless search. At a time when people are presumed to be free from moral, political and cultural chains, we see more and more people enslaved in countless ways.
Questions:
[1] What forms of slavery do I find in my family or in my community?
[2] How can we respond to the urgent need to free our brothers and sisters from the chains that enslave them?
[3] Do I experience the true freedom of a child of God?
Closing Prayer and Blessing:
Let us Pray:
Loving God, set our hearts on fire with the desire to serve you! You have called us to evangelize our neighbor and to work on behalf of their salvation in imitation of our Lord Jesus Christ. Teach us by your example and grant us all the virtues proper to true evangelizers. Fill us with zeal so that we might set the world on fire. In your mercy grant us these graces, you who live and reign forever and ever. Amen.
