01/02/2019
DAYLIGHT - DAILY MEN OF LIGHT REFLECTION
January 31, 2019
Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest
Gospel: Matthew 18:1-5
Sharer: Therese Zapanta-Verzosa
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The disciples approached Jesus and said,
"Who is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven?"
He called a child over, placed it in their midst, and said,
"Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children,
you will not enter the Kingdom of heaven.
Whoever humbles himself like this child
is the greatest in the Kingdom of heaven.
And whoever receives one child such as this in my name receives me.”
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CHILDREN ARE NOT (YET) ADULTS
(Sharer’s note: I apologize that this is long; but if you will permit it, kindly read through and through.)
An Aesop fable, entitled “The Thief and His Mother” goes like this:
A schoolboy stole a book from one of his schoolmates and brought it home to his mother. Instead of chastising him, she rather encouraged him in the deed. In course of time the boy, now grown into a man, began to steal things of greater value, till at length being caught in the very act, he was bound and led to ex*****on.
Perceiving his mother following among the crowd, wailing and beating her breast, he begged the officers to be allowed to speak one word in her ear. When she quickly drew near and applied her ear to her son's mouth, he seized the lobe of it tightly between his teeth and bit it off. Upon this she cried out lustily, and the crowd joined her in upbraiding the unnatural son.
As if his former evil ways had not been enough, but that his last act must be a deed of impiety against his mother. But he replied, "It is she who is the cause of my ruin, for if when I stole my schoolmate's book and brought it to her, she had given me a sound flogging, I should never have so grown in wickedness as to come to this untimely end!”
Children learn from what parents teach them. One saying that I often hear is this, “Teach your children before the world will.” But what if the children are born without parents or those born with parents, but are incapable of teaching them right from wrong?
Like a sponge, their brain absorbs everything. They learn from what they see, from what they experience, and from what they receive. That is why the brain of a child who has not adopted to any language yet quickly picks up the words and before you know it, the child speaks the language, even without any formal training.
There are different types of environment from where children are born into. Just like what I said in the beginning, there are those children born into extreme poverty that their parents are either dead or away, or mentally sick, or physically ill. There are children born with a complete family set, or born by wedlock, but still nurtured with love and support. There are also children who are adopted, or already born as orphans from day one.
Yet, however different they may be, they are still children and children are supposed to be dependent. The responsibility of parents is to cultivate their brain, nourish their spirit, and take care of their body so that the child grows up to be a young man of wisdom and integrity. The responsibility of children is to observe, obey, and also inquire. This type of teaching and learning at home and in the community becomes the cornerstone of human growth and development which is necessary for successful independent life.
However, especially in the Philippines, such may not always be the case. There are criminals as young as nine years old (and even younger) who are used as drug runners and thieves. These still innocent minds are abused by adult criminals to making a living and because of their dire need to survive, they follow and commit the crime. Just like in the Aesop’s fable for today, the schoolboy, after stealing a book, did not honestly know that stealing was wrong. His mother did not reprimand him, instead allowed the stealing. Most of the juvenile offenders come from very poor family situations, with absent parents, or whose parents themselves are criminals. There are families, out of extreme poverty, though they desire not to harm anyone, have to resort to stealing and committing a crime, just to feed their families. This of course does not mean we condone the crime; for the end does not justify the means.
Which begs the question: What can we do to empower the poor communities in our homeland? Why do good people do bad things? In our own middle to upper class strata alone, we are well aware that we, who are “good,” still do bad things. How much more for a good person with an empty stomach? You cannot tell a hungry child that you gave him food yesterday, can you?
Archbishop Julian Leow Beng Kim says this, “Our strength as a nation is gauged by how we treat the weakest and the most vulnerable among us.”
Jimmy Carter, Jr. asserts, “The measure of society is found in how they treat their weakest and most helpless citizens. As Americans, we are blessed with circumstances that protect our human rights and our religious freedom, but for many people around the world, deprivation and persecution have become a way of life.”
Government exists to defend the weak, not to condemn it. Weakness by poverty should not be a crime. A government that really cares for the people should look into the root cause of poverty, not at the consequence of poverty. A teacher who truly loves does not chastise the misbehaving student, but explores what causes the misbehavior. A priest who truly counsels does not revile the sinner, but helps the penitent to explore the source of sin.
A government that wishes to serve knows how to reach out to the deepest and lowliest point of poverty and hands out tools to help the poor rise again. You can’t condemn a poor thief of robbing, lock him up for good, and then expect the rest of the poor population to succeed on their own. Give them tools, open up jobs for them, increase the government’s budget for hiring social workers who who will then handle their cases and figure out the best way to find work. Create opportunities for training and rebuilding lives. In short, at least in our homeland, stop fraud and corruption. Without question, this is the root cause of our country’s poverty.
Poverty is a crime that the poor have been sentenced to and punished for which they did not commit. There’s a big difference between rich people who want to be richer and use crimes for greed; and poor people who have nowhere to go for food and just want to survive.
What happens now to the rights of the young children who would be convicted as criminals? When delinquent children should be shown care and given proper guidance in an environment free from bias and discrimination, instead, the government is pushing for the bill that they be locked in a detention center termed “ Bahay Pag-Asa.” From what the name suggests, the name may sound loving and convincing, yet in technical terms, it is inside a jail, which they identify as “reformative.” The last time we were in a current penitentiary which was only a month ago, most of the situation of detention centers and prisons are harrowingly inhuman, pitifully degrading, and not at all reformative.
A government official also claimed that in his view given “considering the technology, yung 9 equivalent na to 12, 15 years old.” (9 years old is equivalent to 12 or 15 years old). I have not met a scientist, a doctor or a professional expert that suggests that 9 is the same as 12 (or 15), and 12 (or 15) same as 9. How did that happen? And what exactly does technology have to do with progression of biological age and particularly with the age of the young poor? The poor cannot even buy themselves gadgets for technology and media. ? I don’t get it.
There shall be more harm and serious consequences of institutionalizing someone as young as 9 years old. Either he can be a more hardened criminal when he grows up, or forever stigmatized by his history, lose the opportunity of childhood growth and education, and will have a difficult time being hired. Unless like Peter who miraculously escaped in prison twice, this juvenile’s life will forever change.
Matthew, in his gospel, talks about Jesus calling a child over, and placed him in their midst. Mark’s version is more special, “taking him in his arms.” Jesus took children in his arms. Knowing that they are just children, he cradled them and supported them at their weakest. He used them as the rubric from which adults should follow. Jesus points a very strong command too where if we don’t become like children, we will not enter heaven. In other words, if you want your soul to live in eternity for good, do not become like children, but stay what you are and who you are, proud and all-knowing.
Then, Jesus continues on and reveals how one sincerely should welcome God, that is, if you receive children and accept them for what they are, then, He will know that you sincerely accept Him. Yes, with all of their loudness, their annoying kakulitan (naughtiness and repetitiveness) and most of all, their total dependence on adults, including their erring, both serious and minor.
If Jesus were alive today, I am certain he will rebuke our government system’s goal of incarcerating erring young children. Have we gone that low that we cannot think anymore of another humane way to instruct the most vulnerable?
Providentially, today is also the feast of Giovanni Melchiorre Bosco, aka St. John Bosco, the Italian patron of juvenile delinquents, young people, school children, and students. Don Bosco, as he is more commonly known, did not give up on the abandoned boys and destitute street children, even when they would at first mock and steal from him. “Do not let these prison walls bring out the worst in you. You are young and you have the right to a better future.”, says the character of John Bosco in the film “Saint John Bosco.”
Jesus and Don Bosco never gave up on children who made mistakes. Neither should we. Let us remember that it is the Year of the Youth in the Catholic Church. We ought to do our best to listen to them and learn from them.
Don Bosco, Father & Teacher of the Youth, patron of juvenile delinquents, pray for our children now and forever. Amen.
