Revolution Against Oppression

Covid-19 has brought the world into its knees. Everything that we are used to has become like a thing of the past. Health and safety as well as economic well-being have been precarious. 

In the heat of the lockdown, Derek Chauvin, a police officer pressed his knee - for 8 minutes and 46 seconds - on the neck of George Floyd, an African-American, who was arrested on the charge of using a  fake bill as payment. According to reports, for the last 3 of those 8 minutes, Floyd lost his pulse. Emergency service was called. Chauvin kept his knee on Floyd's neck while emergency staff attempted to revive Floyd. Floyd did not make it to hospital.

The Philippines celebrates today its 122nd Independence Day. From the window of a prominent house in Cavite el Viejo (now Kawit), Cavite, our forebears declared its independence from Spain. After that declaration, the fight continued. Oppression from other foreign superpowers still occurred. And yet, generations of Filipinos carried on the battle for independence. Filipino leaders were elected; some of which were oppressors themselves. Some were even dethroned (and made a come-back, unfortunately).  Another form of oppression is in the offing with the passage of the Anti-Terror Bill. As of this writing, the President has not signed it yet into law. Meanwhile, protests are happening amidst Covid-19.

Like Covid-19 and racism, oppression brings people and nations into their knees. It is not a pleasant experience. Jesus, in His lifetime, was not spared from such predicament. In carrying the cross, He was literally brought to His knees. 

On the night before He died, He knelt in front of His apostles to wash their feet. In his great love, Jesus accepted oppression so that He could bring back fallen humanity to its dignity as God's beloved people. Jesus' humbling moments gave healing to a humbled world!

In his June 2020 intention, Pope Francis wrote: "Many people suffer due to the great difficulties they endure. We can help them by accompanying them along an itinerary full of compassion which transforms people’s lives. It brings them closer to the Heart of Christ, which welcomes all of us into the revolution of tenderness". 

What is this tenderness, you may ask? In a surprise TED talk way back in April 2017, the Holy Father said “It is the love that comes close and becomes real. It is a movement that starts from our heart and reaches the eyes, the ears and the hands". 

In the same talk, we also mentioned “The future of humankind isn't exclusively in the hands of politicians, of great leaders, of big companies...Yes, they do hold an enormous responsibility. But the future is, most of all, in the hands of those people who recognize the other as a ‘you’ and themselves as part of an ‘us.’ We all need each other.”

As we honour the Sacred Heart of Jesus this month, let us "pray that all those who suffer may find their way in life, allowing themselves to be touched by the Heart of Jesus".