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en espaņol
Second Week of Lent: Solidarity Will Transform the World
 Philippines
This week we will explore the call to opt for the poor
through the eyes of a Filipino farmer who is rising from poverty with the help
of education and technical assistance. Situated in Southeast Asia, the 7,100
islands that make up the Philippines cover an area roughly the size of Arizona.
About 37 percent of the population lives below the poverty line in the Philippines, which has a population of more than 88 million.
Pray
On rare occasions, in brief glimpses, we get to see the face
of Christ. Not that Jesus isn't with us the rest of the time; it's just that he's
usually too familiar to get a good look at. The people we love, the people we
serve, the people who reach out to us in our time of need all regard us
through the eyes of Christ. But sometimes we get the whole picture in one
overwhelming moment when the person before us suddenly reveals God's presence
in an undeniable way. This is what happened to Peter, James and John when Jesus
took them away to the mountain, even as the promise that he would suffer and be
killed still rang in their ears. They got a glimpse of the glory that God had
in mind for his beloved. As you go through this week, prayerfully seek out the
face of Jesus in those you encounter, especially in the ones that society
overlooks. Ask God to prepare you for the transfiguration of the daily into the
divine.
Fast
Once down the mountain, once the vision has ended, life as
usual returns. However, a taste of the miracle remains. It's difficult to look
at the world in the same way. As a response to your prayerful reflection on the
face of Christ this week, fast from the things that keep you from recognizing
the glory of God in your midst. Often the blame falls in an overfull calendar.
This week say "no" to something that typically takes you away from
time spent with people who need your company.
Learn
Down the mountain, in the everyday world, Jesus taught that
the rightful place of any who would follow him was among those whom society
looks down upon. From his example, the church teaches that in all things we
must weigh our personal and our social decisions by how they affect the poorest
and weakest among us. For CRS, opting for a poor farmer such as Ruben Halasan
of the Island of Mindanao in the Philippines meant
helping to start a co-op where he could sell his vegetables and learn new
skills. He also attended workshops conducted by CRS and learned new
agricultural techniques that increased his harvest of cabbages, sweet peas,
onions, tomatoes, and other vegetables ten-fold. Ruben's farm has become a
showcase of innovative farming techniques, and he now teaches others how to
turn harsh land into productive soil.
Give
Farmers such as Ruben Halasan rely on their neighbors to buy
their fresh produce from local stands. In the United States, many foods can travel more
than 1,000 miles from farm to plate. This week, consider purchasing some
locally grown foods in your grocery store or community market, and place the
equivalent amount of money in your Rice Bowl.
en espaņol |
