|
Other Topics: |
INTRODUCTION
The journey from Nazareth to Bethlehem is a symbol of the journey of all
occupied people forced to obey the dictates of the occupier. Indeed, it
symbolises the journey of peoples who live under tyrannies of all kinds, even
those to which we give nice sounding names such as the IMF, World Bank,
globalisation, WTO, and so on. In this last Advent reflection on the prophetic
call to a quest for justice, we are focussing on one justice issue, given our
history from Blessed Edmund onwards, that seems to have an especial call to us,
namely, the rights of the child.
(THIS REFLECTION CAN BEST BE DONE AS A COMMUNITY PRAYER/SHARING EXPERIENCE.)
OPENING SONG: 'Pity the Child'
- Liam Lawton (CD - Sacred Story)
Let us remember that we are in the holy presence of God.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen!
OPENING PRAYER:
O God, you called Blessed Edmund, to respond to the needs of marginalized young
people. Protect all children, especially those damaged by war, exploitation,
poverty and other injustices. Shelter them in your love, Lord, and lead others
to respond in generosity to the needs of these your preferential children. As we
draw closer to the celebration of Jesus' birth in the humble surroundings of an
animal's shelter, we marvel at the innocence of the child, of all children.
Jesus was a child and he lived every year of childhood like us. May he intercede
on behalf of the children of our day, we ask this in union with the Spirit at
work amongst us. Amen.
FIRST READING:
All children of the world have the right
to affection, love and understanding,
to adequate nutrition and medical care,
to free education, to full opportunity for play and recreation,
to a name and nationality,
to special care, if handicapped,
to be among the first to receive relief in times of disaster,
to learn to be a useful member of society and
to develop individual abilities,
to be brought up in a spirit of peace and universal love,
to enjoy these rights, regardless of race,
colour, sex, religion, national or social origin.
THE RIGHTS OF THE CHILD, United Nations
SECOND READING:
"And whoever welcomes a little child like this in my name welcomes me." Matthew
18:5
"See that you do not look down on one of these little ones. For I tell you that
their
angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven." Matthew 18:10
"Then little children were brought to Jesus for him to place his hands on them
and pray for them. But the disciples rebuked those who brought them." Matthew
19:13
RESPONSE:
LITANY OF JUSTICE FOR CHILDREN
(Pause after each petition)
Leader: The Lord is our hope. This Advent season is a time to remind us of that
hope. From the depths of every human need, we pray to our God, who in Jesus
gathered the children to himself.
R/ Let us fill them with a new hope.
PAUSE
Leader: When I can't see beyond the images of children caught in the
crossfire's of
violence of war and street crime, we pray ..
R/ Let us fill them with a new hope.
PAUSE
Leader: When the lines of
young people grows daily in refugee camps, we pray
R/ Let us fill them with a new hope.
PAUSE
Leader: When the
harshness of family overwhelms and drives young people to the streets, we pray
R/ Let us fill them with a new hope.
PAUSE
Leader: When stress of
school and peer pressure leads youngsters to suicide or violence, we pray
R/ Let us fill them with a new hope.
PAUSE
Leader: When nations fail
to ensure an education for every child of every gender and social class, we pray
R/ Let us fill them with a new hope.
PAUSE
Leader: For those
children who face only slavery and servitude, we pray
R/ Let us free them with the new song of salvation.
PAUSE
Leader: For those
youngsters who are being trafficked for exploitation in the sex trade, we pray
R/ Let us free them with the new song of salvation.
PAUSE
Leader: For those young
boys and girls abused by dominant figures in their life, we pray
R/ Let us free them with the new song of salvation.
PAUSE
Leader: For those
children drafted as soldiers by armies and rebels groups alike, we pray
R/ Let us free them with the new song of salvation.
PAUSE
Leader: For those youths
forced by outside economic and political forces to work in dangerous occupations
and under inhuman laws and conditions, we pray
R/ Let us free them with the new song of salvation.
PAUSE
Leader: For those lost in
a foreign land, separated from family, culture and faith, we pray
R/ Let us free them with the new song of salvation.
PAUSE
Leader: For those who
feel alone and lost, we pray
R/ Let us free them with the new song of salvation.
PAUSE
Leader: For those
abandoned because of deformities, maladies or gender, we pray
R/ Let us free them with the new song of salvation.
PAUSE
Leader: For those lost in
the darkness of drugs, alcohol and exploitation, we pray
R/ Let us free them with the new song of salvation.
PAUSE
LEADER: May the Lord treat and ease all wounds, heal them, and reveal to us an
abundance of everlasting justice and peace. Amen. (cf Jer 33: 6)
REFLECTION/SHARING
Reflect and share on the words and their significance as we ponder the prophetic
call to the quest for justice, especially as focussed on the rights of children.
CLOSING PRAYER: A CREED OF JUSTICE
ALL We Christian Brothers believe in God, who is love and who has given the earth to all children.
LEFT We Christian Brothers believe in Jesus Christ, who has come to heal us, and called the children to himself.
RIGHT We Christian Brothers believe in the Spirit of God, who works in and inspires all earth's children.
LEFT We Christian Brothers believe in Blessed Edmund, who responded in his time to the poor boys of Waterford because he saw the face of Christ within them.
RIGHT We Christian Brothers believe in the communion of our Edmund Rice Network called to be at youth's service, especially the marginalized.
LEFT We Christian Brothers do not believe in the right of domination and power over innocent youth.
RIGHT We Christian Brothers believe in the Charter of Children's Rights and being in solidarity with the children of the world.
ALL We Christian Brothers do not believe that suffering is in vain, that death is the end, that the chaos of war and exploitation of people is what God intends.
But Christian Brothers dare to believe, always and in spite of every thing, in God=s power to transform and transfigure,
Using our hands and our hearts to fulfil His promise of a new earth. Amen.
CLOSING SONG 'I Am For You' ~ Rory Cooney (CD - Spirit of Malia)
Br. Nick Morris (Rome)