by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
Today’s Gospel (Mark 1:12-15) is pertinent to our work to promote social justice. Jesus was led by the Holy Spirit into the desert, after his baptism and before his ministry. While we reflect on his temptation by Satan during his 40 days in the desert, let us reflect on the many times in our lives when we are also tempted. Let’s ask the Holy Spirit to fill us with the strength and courage we need to resist temptation and avoid situations that could lead us to sin. We know that without God, we can do nothing (John 15:5).
Jesus, the light of the world, set the example for us in the desert by resisting temptation. Throughout our lives we will face temptations and may fall many times, and although we are not perfect like Our Lord, we are called to be holy. If our faith is strong and we are truly penitent, we will be able to get back on track and strive to live holy lives. Let us pray for those who are seeking to turn their lives around after falling into temptation.
Among us there are recovering criminals, alcoholics, drug addicts, perpetrators of domestic violence, sexual abusers, school bullies, corrupt individuals and so on. Let us pray for them, as well as for those who refuse to even attempt to avoid temptation.
The Gospel reading urges us – in Jesus’ own words, to turn back to God and believe the Good News. I am sure that most of us pray the “Our Father” daily. Remember the words: “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil…” Prayer is one way of strengthening our faith. But prayer alone will not suffice. We must DO justice; we must act so that people will know that there are credible Catholics living in T&T.
How often are we tempted to walk on the other side when we see people in need in our communities? I watched a video clip (CCTV footage uploaded on Facebook) aired on Ian Alleyne’s programme of a man using a broken bottle to repeatedly stab a socially displaced man known as “Tiger”, whom many call a ‘mad vagrant’, because Tiger had struck him on his head with a stick, causing him to later get two stitches.
The sight of Tiger, a socially displaced man, lying on the road shielding his head from the other man wielding the broken bottle was heart-breaking. What was also disturbing was the sight of two people holding Tiger while the well-dressed man walked away after being injured by the stick, took up the glass bottle, returned to the scene, broke it, and repeatedly stabbed Tiger while he was lying on the road. I fail to see how anyone can say that this was an act of self-defence.
The moral test of a nation is how it treats its most vulnerable. So many people stood by and watched and failed to act. While I am not condoning Tiger’s action, if he was well known in the area and was thought to be insane, what action was taken by those in authority or in the community to assist him? We really live in a throwaway society, as Pope Francis says. Are we Catholics party to this kind of society? The dignity of the human person demands that we demonstrate our love for God and neighbour.
As we look through the dark clouds of Good Friday to the victory of the Resurrection, let us remember that we are an Easter people. Christ died for ALL of us, including those who are socially displaced. During Lent, let us examine our conscience and reflect on how well we are responding to Jesus’ words that our neighbour is anyone who has need of us. See our Catechism on Moral Conscience, paras 1776-1802.
Let’s support organisations such as Living Water Community, Society of St Vincent de Paul, Credo Foundation for Justice, and all those who care for the socially displaced, the poor and vulnerable. What are we doing for the least of these? Evil will only prevail if we sit on the sidelines and do nothing. It is time to ACT to build right relationships.
