by Leela Ramdeen, Chair, CCSJ and Director, CREDI
“It is to be hoped that hatred and violence will not triumph in people’s hearts, especially among those who are struggling for justice, and that all people will grow in the spirit of peace and forgiveness.” – Pope St John Paul II, Centesimus Annus, No. 27
On March 1 the world celebrates Zero Discrimination Day. The theme is: Open up, Reach out. This annual event, which was launched last year, “highlights the negative impacts of discrimination and promotes diversity, tolerance, compassion and peace”. The campaign has adopted the symbol of the butterfly – a sign for transformation – and is linked to the UNAIDS Zero Discrimination Campaign, which has a 2011–2015 strategy titled, Getting to Zero: Zero new HIV infections, Zero discrimination, Zero AIDS-related deaths.
UNAIDS hopes “to start a movement with this ‘three-zeroes’ vision”, as UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibe, explains: “Committing to make our world free of stigma and discrimination is not an option, it’s a duty…For all who seek a more just world, for all who strive for peace and prosperity – let us start by stopping the inequality and discrimination happening around us.”
If we are to build inclusive communities, we must recognise the dignity of each person and promote integral human development. Discrimination is an injustice that prevents us from seeing Christ in our neighbour. It eats away at our hearts and hardens them; it causes us to be indifferent to the needs of others. It is part of the culture of death that is so pervasive today. If we are to build a just society/world, we must destroy the hydra-headed monster called ‘Discrimination’.
As our Catechism reminds us: “Respect for the human person proceeds by way of respect for the principle that ‘everyone should look upon his neighbour (without any exception) as another self, above all bearing in mind his life and the means necessary for living it with dignity’. No legislation could by itself do away with the fears, prejudices, and attitudes of pride and selfishness which obstruct the establishment of truly fraternal societies. Such behaviour will cease only through the charity that finds in every man a ‘neighbour’, a brother” (CCC1931).
During this Lenten season, which is a time of renewal, let us commit to cleansing ourselves of any form of discrimination that may dwell in our hearts and which may have influenced our thoughts, words and actions in the past.
Today’s Gospel (Mark 9:2-10), The Transfiguration – which reveals Christ’s divinity, reminds us of the graces that God gives us. Let us pray that His graces will sustain us as we journey on.
Our Catechism tells us that “Christ’s Transfiguration aims at strengthening the apostles’ faith in anticipation of his Passion: the ascent onto the ‘high mountain’ prepares for the ascent to Calvary. Christ, Head of the Church, manifests what his Body contains and radiates in the sacraments: ‘the hope of glory’” (CCC 568).
How fortunate Peter, James and John were to experience the Transfiguration of Christ. We are fortunate, too, to experience the living Christ in the sacraments, in our homes, our communities, and in all of God’s creation. It is the Eucharist that nourishes us so that we can become what we are, so that we can transform our communities to reflect Gospel values.
Pope Emeritus Benedict has stressed that “the feast of the Transfiguration is an important opportunity for believers to look to Christ as ‘the light of the world’, and to experience the kind of conversion which the Bible frequently describes as an emergence from darkness to light (www.catholicnewsagency.com). Pope Benedict said, “In our time too, we urgently need to emerge from the darkness of evil, to experience the joy of the children of light!”
The challenge for us is to live in the light of Christ. God’s words from Heaven to Peter, James and John apply to us also. He said: “This is my beloved Son; listen to Him.” If we listen to Him and trust in Him, we will overcome all challenges and remain in His love. Let us reflect on these words of Pope Emeritus Benedict (March 20, 2011): “As we continue our journey through Lent, today at Mass we recall the Transfiguration of the Lord and how it prepared the Apostles for the coming scandal of the Cross. Strengthened by our faith in Jesus, true God and true man, may we be inspired, not scandalised, by the Cross given to our Saviour and to our fellow Christians who suffer with him throughout the world.”
