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National Center of Haitian Apostolate
REFLEXIONS - THIRD SUNDAY ORDINARY TIME YEAR B Jan 21, 2024
Jonah 3, 1-10; Psalm 25; 1 Cor. 7, 29-41; Mark 1, 14-20
Msgr. Pierre André Pierre
On this third Sunday in the Ordinary Time of liturgical year B, the Church invites us to meditate on the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. The first action he takes is to call for disciples: Simon and Andrew, James and John, the sons of Zebedee, who were throwing their nets into the sea or repairing them. They leave everything and follow Jesus. For the moment, he only asks them for their goodwill, their character, and their free consent. They are fishermen. They will become fishers of men. Their presence around Jesus signals that the future of the Kingdom of God is looming on the horizon.
The so-called synoptic Gospels (Mark, Matthew, and Luke) begin the mission in Galilee. The Gospel of St John told us last Sunday that it all began on the banks of the Jordan River in Judea. In either case, it is Jesus who chooses, invites, and takes the initiative to add men to carry out the mission.
The purpose of the call is first to be with Jesus. Those called will become disciples. The time of fulfillment has come. The Kingdom of God is at hand. They will repent and believe in the Gospel. They will listen to it every day. They will eat and drink with Jesus. They will be associated with his different missionary activities. They will believe in the Good News of Salvation for all. They will learn from the Lord Jesus himself what they will later witness during their mission. At the Master's school, they will learn to experience and know the love of God, which has no measure.
In today's first reading, Jonah carries out the mission that God has entrusted to him, after many adventures, resistance, and fear in his stomach. Jonah does not believe that God loves all people, including aliens, and that He is the God of the universe. His presence is not limited to a place, a country, or a religion. He is universal.
In the second reading, Paul reminds the Corinthians that the very near future of man is in the resurrected Christ. Too many tend to see this world as the only thing that counts. He recommends repentance and distancing oneself from passing goods. With Christ, the Kingdom of God is already inaugurated. It is not yet fully accomplished, but it is already there. The real priority is to be entirely focused on the definitive encounter with Christ. Like the first disciples, let us be prepared to give up our former way of life and follow Jesus unreservedly
This January 21, 2024, is also called: Sunday of the Word of God. It was established by Pope Francis in the year 2019. It is an invitation for all Christians to put the Bible, the Word of God, at the center of their lives. It is also the Sunday of the Annual Weekly Prayer for Christian Unity. With one accord, with all our Christian brothers and sisters around the world, and all people of goodwill, let us turn to the Lord and His Word. He can change our hearts. He will teach us the way of humility. He will fulfill all the desires of our hearts.
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Msgr. Pierre André PIERRE
High-Profile gang leader faces trial in US for arms trafficking linked to Haiti violence
Dominicantoday.com - Haiti.- Germine Joly, known as “Yonyon,” a notorious Haitian gang leader, is facing trial in Washington, DC, on charges related to arms trafficking and laundering kidnapping ransoms. Extradited to the United States in May 2022, Joly is accused of smuggling firearms into Haiti, violating U.S. export laws, and using ransom proceeds to fund gang violence. This includes AK47 and M1A rifles, and ammunition capable of piercing police vehicles, sourced from gun dealers in Florida.
The trial of Joly, who once directed his gang’s operations from behind bars in Haiti, is expected to shed light on the operation of Haiti’s armed groups and the link between U.S. arms trafficking and gang violence in Haiti. Approximately 200 gangs control about 80% of Haiti’s capital, with their influence now spreading to rural areas.
Joly’s case, involving the importation of weapons purchased with kidnapping ransoms, highlights the transnational implications of local gang violence. The trial is seen as the United States’ response to gang-related violence in Haiti, especially following the high-profile kidnapping of 16 Americans and one Canadian by Joly’s gang, 400 Mawozo, in 2021.
Several other leaders of Haiti-based gangs are wanted in the U.S. for kidnappings since 2021. Joly is charged alongside three Florida residents involved in the purchase and smuggling of firearms for 400 Mawozo. Among them, Eliande Tunis is expected to plead guilty to related charges, while the status of the others remains uncertain.
The trial will also explore the connection between Joly, his gang, and the kidnappings they conducted, including that of the U.S.-based missionaries. The judge has ruled that the evidence of these connections is intrinsic to the case, as the government needs to prove that the firearms were bought with kidnapping ransoms.
This high-profile case underscores the complex interplay between local gang activities in Haiti and international crime, particularly the role of arms trafficking from the United States in exacerbating violence and insecurity in Haiti.
Haitian gang leader charged in kidnapping of American missionaries
By
Louis Casiano, Fox News
The Justice Department has charged the leader of a violent Haitian gang in connection with the kidnappings of 16 American Christian missionaries last year, officials said Tuesday.
Joly Germine, 29, who is also known as “Yonyon,” leads the 400 Mawozo gang and is the first person charged by federal prosecutors with having any involvement in the kidnapping. He was extradited to the United States last week and faces separate firearms tracking charges.
“This case shows that the Justice Department will be relentless in our efforts to track down anyone who kidnaps a U.S. citizen abroad,” said U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland said in a statement. “We will utilize the full reach of our law enforcement authorities to hold accountable anyone responsible for undermining the safety of Americans anywhere in the world.”
A total of 17 people – 12 adults and five minors –were kidnaped on Oct. 16, 2021 after visiting an orphanage in Ganthier, just outside the capital of Port-au-Prince. Aside from one Canadian citizen, the group comprised Americans.
Although he was imprisoned during the kidnappings, Germine directed the gang’s operations, which included ransom negotiations, according to an indictment. One of his goals was to get the Haitian government to release him from prison.
While in prison, Germine was in regular contact with the captors, the Justice Department said.
Twelve of the captive missionaries escaped during a daring overnight caper, eluding their kidnappers and walking for miles over difficult, moonlit terrain with an infant and other children in tow. The group navigated by stars to reach safety after a two-month kidnapping ordeal, according to officials with the Christian Aid Ministries, the Ohio-based agency that the missionaries work for.
Their captors initially demanded $1 million for each hostage, prosecutors said. It was not clear if any ransom was paid.
The 12 hostages who escaped were flown to Florida on a U.S. Coast Guard flight, and later reunited with the five hostages who had been released earlier.
He is expected to appear in federal court Wednesday.
Haiti gang leader boasted he was ‘king of kings,’ just needed bullets to wipe out country
By
Updated January 18, 2024
WASHINGTON
Five days before a South Florida woman was arrested in Miami for shipping high-caliber weapons to one of Haiti’s largest and most violent gangs, she got an ominous warning: “They will catch you.”
The October 2021 warning came from inside Haiti’s National Penitentiary in Port-au-Prince, where Germine Joly, a notorious gang leader more commonly known by the nickname “Yonyon” was an inmate. Joly had just received a text with photos of weapons buried underneath clothes inside a blue barrel from Eliande Tunis, a Pompano Beach resident who had been managing the gang’s arms and ammunition purchases from gun dealers in Florida.
The text was among 3,415 messages Assistant U.S. Attorney Karen Seifert highlighted Thursday in opening statements at the start of Joly’s trial in federal court in Washington, D.C. Joly and Tunis, according to the prosecutor, also held 32 hours of phone conversations between them while Joly was incarcerated. Their conversations also occurred while 17 missionaries from an Ohio-based charity, Christian Aid Ministries, were being held captive by Joly’s 400 Mawozo gang on the eastern outskirts of the capital.
Although Joly is not on trial for the kidnapping of the missionaries in Haiti in October 2021, his role coordinating the brazen abduction is featured prominently in his weapons-smuggling conspiracy trial. As the first gang leader connected to the kidnapping to be extradited to the U.S., Joly is charged with 48 counts relating to violating U.S. export laws, weapons purchases and international money laundering. The most serious of the charges, violating U.S. export laws, carries up to 20 years in prison.
On Wednesday, co-defendant Tunis pleaded guilty to the entire 48-count indictment rather than go to trial. Though her attorney sked for a sentence between 51 and 63 months, the government is pushing for life imprisonment with a fine between $50,000 and $500,000. Two other defendants, Jocelyn Dor and Walder St. Louis, will also avoid trials. Dor pleaded guilty to six charges, including violating weapons export laws, as part of a plea agreement, and St. Louis will testify on behalf of the government against Joly. It remains unclear what charges he is pleading guilty to.
In laying out their weapons-smuggling case against Joly, who has waived his right for a jury and will be tried by the judge, Seifert described 400 Mawozo’s criminal business as a cycle of taking hostages for ransom, transferring the money to the U.S. to buy guns and having them smuggled into Haiti. Those guns, often powerful enough to pierce walls and police vehicles, were then used to grab more hostages and take control of more territory inside the impoverished country.
As part of the government’s case, prosecutors showed a video of Joly’s birthday celebration inside the Haiti prison. He was wearing designer Fendi clothes, and during the clip, he said, his designer outfit was “worth thousands of dollars and bought in the U.S.”
The image, which went viral in Haiti at the time and during the missionaries’ 10th day in captivity, is far different from the portrait Joly’s defense presented during its presentation before U.S. District Judge John D. Bates.
Just a farmer
Attorney Elita Amato said Joly, 30, was just a farmer from Haiti’s rural countryside and not the dangerous gangster who directed arms purchases from behind prison walls. He was raised by “a nurturing family” of aunts and uncles in Haiti, she said, and given land to grow corn, peas and beans when he was old enough.
He was also a commodities trader, Amato asserted, describing him as someone who gave back to his country by providing land for farmers to work. He owned tracts of land across Haiti and had relatives in the 400 Mawozo gang.
Amato said Joly had “limited access” to the outside from prison and did not direct gun purchases. As she spoke, Joly, wearing a black suit and tie, listened in with the help of interpreters.
But Seifert said Joly was very much in control of 400 Mawozo’s criminal operations despite his imprisonment. He had access to multiple unmonitored cell phones while in the National Penitentiary, which he used to direct operations outside, including how much ransom to demand from families of kidnapped victims, where to transfer the money and what guns and ammunition to purchase from Florida gun dealers, she said.
He was able to do so, the prosecutor said, because he had help from the likes of Tunis, a member of the gang living in South Florida who managed the arms purchases using two straw buyers, Jocelyn Dor and Walder St. Louis, who falsified purchase documents and shipped the weapons to Haiti. The guns were sometimes dismantled and hidden underneath clothing, shoes and Gatorade. Once, a shipment was marked “seafood.”
Those guns, the prosecution asserts, were purchased under orders from Joly with part of ransom money from kidnapped Americans. During one five-month period in which 400 Mawozo abducted several U.S. citizens at gunpoint as they traveled in its Croix-des-Bouquets territory, there were at least 21 wire transfers meant for gun purchases, prosecutors said. The money was sent from Haiti to the U.S., between May and October 2021, and totaled $37,500.
The money was sometimes broken up into smaller amounts to avoid suspicion, and Joly, prosecutors said, kept track of all the transactions. Some of the money was transferred within hours of Joly issuing directions about the weapons.
The money went to Tunis as well as Dor and St. Louis in the U.S., the prosecution said.
Among the guns Joly told Tunis to buy was a Barrett M82A1, .50-cal. sniper rifle, powerful enough to pierce walls. Joly, in one of his exchanges with Tunis, said he could use the high-powered rifle “to do bad things.”
“These are big guns. You only need bullets to wipe out the whole country,” he said.
In their correspondence, Joly and Tunis didn’t just decide on weapons purchases and wire transfers, the prosecution said, Joly also boasted about kidnappings carried out by his gang.
In one instance, he told her, “We held him hostage right away.... We already cashed in.”
‘I’m the king of kings’
Among the government’s witnesses, some of whom will have their identities shielded, are experts on weapons and the U.S. gun control export laws. The government will also put on the witness stand a Floridian who was the shipper of the guns into Haiti. Prosecutors said he will testify that he picked up barrels from Tunis’ house and put them on boats bound for Haiti. When he called her to complain about the weight of one of the barrels, Tunis said, “It’s rice.”
Sources in Haiti have long contended that Joly has relatives inside the gang who kept his No. 2, Lanmò Sanjou, also known as Joseph Wilson, in check as he received ransom payments and extortion payoffs.
While the gang was temporarily weakened after Joly’s May 2022 extradition to the United States, it has regained strength, raiding businesses in the Croix-des-Bouquets area and clashing with rival gangs. The violence led to the deaths of two children on Christmas Day when they were killed along with two adults when the gang carried out a deadly attack.
The day the missionaries were stopped at gunpoint as they returned from visiting a nearby orphanage in Ganthier, Joly was in prison. Still, he and Lanmò Sanjou spoke on the phone 10 times that day, Seifert said during her opening statement.
Lanmò Sanjou, whose name translates in English to “Death doesn’t know when it’s coming,” conducted the ransom negotiations. During at least one instance of a kidnapping, he told the victim, “Look me in the eyes. I am the one holding you,” Seifert said.
Seifert played a clip showing Lanmò Sanjou saying, “If I don’t get what I need, you see these Americans? I’d rather kill them. As I was coming here, I left a big weapon pointed at each of their heads.”
Lanmò Sanjou eventually demanded $1 million each for the hostages, which included five children. He didn’t get the full $17 million, but a ransom was paid, sources told the Miami Herald. The missionaries were freed after spending 61 days in captivity and their release was made to look like an escape.
Lanmò Sanjou is among seven leaders of five Haiti-based gangs who is wanted by the FBI’s Miami field office for the kidnappings of U.S. citizens in Haiti since 2021. Seifert said he ran the hostage-taking for 400 Mawozo and also directed what guns to buy. “Whenever we have to buy guns, Lanmò would come up with the money,” Joly said in a communication.
But in another call and text message, Seifert said, Joly also made his role clear: He boasted “I’m king now. I’m the king of kings.”
# This story was originally published January 18, 2024, 4:55 PM.
Shirsho Dasgupta is an investigative reporter at the Miami Herald DC Bureau. His stories, ranging from financial crime to Florida’s prison system, have received multiple awards and citations from Investigative Reporters and Editors, the Overseas Press Club, the Society for Advancing Business Editing and Writing, the Society of Professional Journalists (Florida and DC chapters) and others. He holds Master’s degrees in English and Journalism.
# Jacqueline Charles has reported on Haiti and the English-speaking Caribbean for the Miami Herald for over a decade. A Pulitzer Prize finalist for her coverage of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, she was awarded a 2018 Maria Moors Cabot Prize — the most prestigious award for coverage of the Americas.
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Former Haitian senator sentenced to life in US prison for role in president’s assassination
CNN — none
A United States court on Tuesday (Dec. 19) sentenced a former Haitian senator to life in federal prison over his role in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise.
Joseph Joel John was sentenced by the Miami federal court after he pleaded guilty in October to three charges, including conspiring to kill and kidnap a person outside the US, and providing material support and resources to carry out the plot to kill Moise. John was extradited from Jamaica in May 2022.
Moise was killed during an attack on his private residence in Haiti’s capital Port-au-Prince on July 7, 2021. Haiti’s first lady, Martine Moise, was also shot but later recovered.
A probable cause affidavit filed in support of the criminal complaint in 2022 alleges that John admitted to helping obtain vehicles and firearms in service of the plot. He also admitted to attending a meeting with co-conspirators a day before Moise was assassinated, according to an affidavit from an FBI agent.
John was the third man charged in connection to Moise’s assassination, according to the US Department of Justice. Mario Antonio Palacios and Rodolphe Jaar were both arrested and charged in 2022.
Jarr, a Haitian-Chilean national, was sentenced to life in June after an earlier guilty plea on three counts, including conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the US and providing material support resulting in death, according to the plea agreement.
Court records show Palacios, a Colombian national, is scheduled to appear in court later this month.
A number of Haitian American citizens and at least 20 Colombians participated in the plot, according to the Department of Justice.
Haiti has seen deepening unrest since Moise’s assassination, with the spread of gangs and a wave of violence that has swept the impoverished Caribbean nation. Moise’s successor, Prime Minister Ariel Henry, has so far struggled to staunch the violence.
Attacks carried out by gangs on rival villages have included beheadings, rapes, and kidnappings, according to a report released last month by the UN Human Rights Office and the UN Integrated Office in Haiti.
In October, the UN Security Council approved the deployment of a multinational support mission to help Haiti’s national police fight gang violence, with Kenya taking a leading role and pledging 1,000 police to the mission.
However, the announcement did not specify when the security forces would arrive in Haiti, and the deployment has been tied up by legal challenges.
Ex-Colombian Soldier Pleads Guilty in 2021 Assassination of Haiti's President
VOA News —
A former Colombian soldier pleaded guilty Friday to conspiring in the 2021 assassination of Haitian President Jovenel Moise, which plunged the Caribbean nation into violence and political turmoil.
Mario Antonio Palacios Palacios, 45, pleaded guilty to three charges, including conspiracy to commit murder or kidnapping outside the United States, during a brief hearing before federal Judge Jose E. Martinez. Seated next to his attorney, Alfredo Izaguirre, Palacios answered "Yes, your honor," in Spanish when the judge asked if he was pleading guilty.
Palacios is the fifth of 11 defendants in Miami to plead guilty in the 2021 assassination.
As part of a deal with prosecutors, he agreed to cooperate with the investigation and to plead guilty. He could get up to life in prison when he's sentenced March 1, but under the deal, prosecutors conceded that he played a minor role in the plot.
"He didn't know what he was going to get into. He wasn't part of the plan," Izaguirre told reporters after the hearing. "He didn't recruit anybody. He didn't [have] any decision-making authority in regards to the conspiracy. I think the government understands."
According to prosecutors, the conspirators initially planned to kidnap the Haitian president but later decided to kill him. They say the plotters had hoped to win contracts under Moise's successor. About 20 former Colombian soldiers and several dual Haitian American citizens participated in the plot, authorities say.
National Center of Haitian Apostolate
REFLECTIONS - FOURTH SUNDAY - ADVENT A (December 24, 2023)
2 Samuel 7, 1-12; Psalm 89; Romans 16, 25-27; Luke 1, 26-38
Msgr. Pierre André Pierre
Sunday Dec 24 is the fourth Sunday of Advent. Tomorrow is Christmas. We celebrate the arrival of Jesus. We remember that he has already come in miserable conditions during the first Christmas. He came to a country oppressed by a foreign army. He continues to come to the tormented world that is ours today. He does not come to solve our immediate earthly problems but to free ourselves from the slavery of sin that diverts us from God.
This coming of God was already announced. At the time, when the Ark of the Covenant was the symbol of the presence of God in the midst of his people, King David wished for God a grand house (cf. First reading, in 2 Samuel 7, 1-12,). But God makes him understand that he does not need a grandiose temple. In the light of the Gospels, Christians will understand that the only real temple is Jesus himself. In Jesus, it is God who makes himself present in each of us.
In the second reading, (Romans 16, 25-27) the apostle Paul addresses the persecuted Christians of Rome. Despite the many trials that overwhelm them, they had to learn to trust. They must never forget that God who became a man in the person of Jesus. This good news was "brought to the knowledge of pagan peoples to lead them to the obedience of faith". In Jesus, God comes to them to get them out of the aimless life that was their own way. Following Paul and the whole Church, we give thanks to God for this wonder.
In the Gospel of this day, we have heard the narrative of the Annunciation or rather that of the vocation of Mary. The Angel Gabriel goes to her house in Nazareth. He tells her that God has chosen her to be the mother of His Son. And Marie replies freely: "I am the servant of the Lord, let it be done to me according to your word".
This gospel is a response to first reading. God does not want to live in a grand house. His great desire is to live in the hearts of men. He is “Emmanuel”, God with us. He wants us to become familiar with his presence and that we traveled together towards his kingdom of eternity. He invites us to be in communion of love with him and with all our brothers. It all started very humbly, in Nazareth, a small village that no one had ever heard of. Mary replied yes to the call of God. She freely agreed to be the "servant of the Lord". She served humanity by giving carrying to the world The One who came among us for the salvation of all humankind. This is the reason why we wish each other a Merry Christmas.
Caribbean Studies Association
December 2023 Edition
Message from the President
Okama Ekpe-Brook
Dear Esteemed Members,
As the 2023 year draws to a close, I want to take this opportunity to appreciate being able to serve you as your president. It has been an incredible six months of progressive accomplishments enabled through hard work together with the Executive Council, appointed members, our secretariat, working group members, volunteers, partners and our local organizing committee members in St. Lucia. As you may have been reading over the Newsletter articles of the past months, our activities since June this year have focused on preparations for a robust 48th annual conference and 50th anniversary celebrations and a plethora of major accomplishments including kickstarting our CSA Dialogue Series; monthly meetings of the Council; negotiated conference location and hotel in St. Lucia; timely launch of the abstract submission portal; launch of our first ever CSA merchandise e-commerce store; issuance of the CSA statement on the Gaza/Israel humanitarian crisis; renewal of our CSA Memorandum of Understanding with the University of the West Indies; launch of our CSA Journal; formation of ad-hoc committees and close engagement with development partners in the bilateral, multilateral, community based and civil society organizations, private sector and the academia. In all of these activities, I am very proud of the level of engagement of your elected officials on the Council in driving these accomplishments and in opening out communications with the membership. I look forward to continuing to chart the course for a renewed CSA influence on Caribbean developments and sustainability. All of these offer opportunities for strategic partnerships and transformations in this paradigm shift.
A few reminders for you during this holiday season. Please ensure to submit your individual abstracts, panels abstract, round tables and workshops. The deadline is December 31st for the submission. The St. Lucia conference is geared towards bringing us all together to have conversations and human connectivity. Use this to submit your abstract: https://www.caribbeanstudiesassociation.org/2024-csa-conference-call-for-abstracts
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Strategic Kenya-Haiti Meeting on the Deployment of the Multinational Force
paptimesnewsDecember 6, 2023
An atmosphere imbued with enthusiasm prevailed as Haitian Prime Minister, Ariel Henry, warmly welcomed a distinguished delegation from Kenya. Comprising Kenyan diplomats and American envoys, this delegation meticulously laid the foundation for a new era of diplomatic cooperation between the two nations.
Discussions between the delegation and Prime Minister Henry delved into uncharted territories, placing emphasis on collaboration across diverse domains. The primary goal was to forge robust connections for a mutually beneficial partnership, diverging from the well-trodden paths of traditional diplomacy.
In addition to fruitful exchanges with the Prime Minister, the delegation engaged in constructive dialogues with the Director General of Police, Frantz Elbe, as well as prominent members of the Transitional High Council. These meetings unveiled unprecedented prospects for cooperation in security and coordination, serving as pivotal elements in the establishment of a enduring relationship.
It is worth noting that the Minister of Justice and the Director General of Police are gearing up for an upcoming visit to Kenya. This promising initiative aims to solidify bilateral ties and finalize essential logistical details for future mutually advantageous endeavors. A new era of diplomatic partnership seems to be unfolding, promising stimulating opportunities for both nations.
3rd Annual HELP-BFA Scholarship Dinner
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Hello Friends,
It is with great pleasure that I invite you to join us on January 6th in Miami at The Citadel for our 3rd Annual HELP BFA Scholarship Fund dinner. It promises to be an evening of fun: good food, good music, open bar and above all wonderful company.
Despite the challenging situation in Haiti these days, we forge ahead soundly in the knowledge that the talented, motivated, young students whose education we support today will be the leaders that drive sustained economic growth and stability for Haiti tomorrow. And with respect to that effort, we do have wonderful news to share as we approach the $1 million raised milestone for the scholarship fund. All of which goes directly to the education of Haiti's brightest youth in need. Find out more about our progress here: BFA Scholarship Fund with HELP homepage
This amazing effort has only been made possible through your kind and generous support!
So with that, consider this your formal invitation to come celebrate with us - and give me the opportunity to thank you in person.
Where: The Citadel Miami
When: January 6th, 6:30-9pm
RSVP here: RSVP for 3rd Annual BFA Scholarship Dinner with HELP
Guests and friends are more than welcome.
Looking forward to seeing you,
Karl
National Center of Haitian Apostolate
REFLECTIONS ON THE 2nd SUNDAY OF ADVENT 10-12-23
Isaiah 40, 1-11; Psalm 84; 2 Peter 3, 8-14; Mark 1, 1-8
Msgr. Pierre André Pierre
https://youtu.be/7tLSUuRef4Y?si=XKhPhAfarXY6bEzB
In the Desert Prepare the Way for the Lord. This Second Sunday of Advent brings us closer to welcoming Christ into our communities and the world at Christmas. For many people, Christmas looks like a routine that Christians repeat every year. In the Liturgy, on the contrary, the Church makes us live the mystery of our salvation in Jesus Christ. It includes a teaching and a responsibility: Only God’s grace saves humankind; as a responsibility, everyone must be involved.
Isaiah announces a consolation for God's people if they repent. Unfaithful though they are, when in their sufferings they cry out to God, He delivers them, in the desert and during the exile and imprisonment in Babylon: "Comfort, give comfort to my people, says the Lord... A voice cries out: "In the desert, prepare the way of the Lord. Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!" Cry out the good news: "Here is your God." He cares for his people as a Shepherd protects his flock.
Psalm 85 insists that we repent and turn back to the God of salvation. The Lord has shown patience with us. In his second Letter, St. Peter reminds us that God gives us a lifetime for conversion. The Lord does not delay his promise. He will come unexpectedly. He offers us, however, a thousand opportunities to prepare for His coming. He is patient with us, not wishing that anyone should perish but that all should come to repentance. He wants everyone to be saved.
This Good News is Jesus Christ, the Son of God. St. Mark affirms this truth in his gospel, in a very simple way, without Angels, or music, or shepherds near Bethlehem. He takes back what the Prophet Isaiah said about the Desert People. The messenger is John the Baptist preaching in the desert a baptism of conversion: "Prepare the way of the Lord." Make his paths straight. John brings an additional light on the Savior. He is not even worthy to untie his sandals. He who comes after me will baptize us in the Holy Spirit.” Conversion and sincere repentance are indispensable conditions for salvation.
Our responsibility is to prepare ourselves. How are we preparing for the second coming of Jesus? What do we do to spread the Good News of love, justice, and peace? In our activities, attitudes, and relationships, do we walk the path of integrity and fidelity, of trust in God and trust in each other? Do we remember that confession is also a path? Are we spiritually connected to God in prayer? Are we serious about the importance of Jesus' return? Can we say: "Here is our God," in whose name we work to make this earth new? John the Baptist calls us to lead a life of repentance and conversion. His bath of purification will prepare us for the return of Jesus. Let's decide to welcome him as the good shepherd who can lead us on the road to happiness that this life cannot give. Christmas will make us discover the greatness, beauty, and love of the one who is coming.
Thursday, December 07, 2023
New book explores Rwanda's development model
Patrick Nzabonimpa
Thursday, December 07, 2023
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Fourteen local and international experts across various fields have collaborated to co-author “Rwanda: A Model for Haiti”, an anthology of essays that explores the ‘Rwandan model’ and its constituents that could potentially and intelligently be emulated in Haiti.
Compiled and edited by Joe E. Sully, a Haitian-American author, and journalist, the collaborative book presents a wealth of ideas, expert opinions, and data, drawing parallels between Rwanda’s success story and the challenges and opportunities facing Haiti.
The contributing authors span the fields of diplomacy, economics, technology, education, culture, politics, reconciliation, and national unity, among others.
Some copies of the newly launched book entitled 'Rwanda a model for Haiti
The ones from Rwanda include Marie Immaculee Ingabire, the Chairperson of Transparency International Rwanda; Richard Hategekimana, the Chairman of the Rwanda Writers Federation; Viateur Ndikumana, the Vice Chancellor of Kibogora Polytechnic University; Callixte Kabera, the Vice Chancellor of East Africa University and Epimaque Twagirimana, the Vice Chairperson of Pan-African Movement Rwanda Chapter.
Other contributing authors and experts include Indran Amirthanayagam, Sri Lankan-American poet-diplomat, Dimitri Bien-Aimé, an international affairs and development practitioner, Aurore François, a life coach and educational consultant, Huguens Jean, a software models specialist and electrical engineer; João Melo, an author, professor and former Angolan Government official, Hillary Thomas-Lake, specialist in conflict management, post-conflict reconstruction and state-society relations, Marc-Arthur Pierre-Louis, software engineer and author, as well as Jessica Xiao, a writer, and journalist.
According to Sully, also the founder of Bridgevision Production, an American communication, publishing, and production company, the inspiration for the anthology comes from the “remarkable progress Rwanda has achieved since the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi.”
Having visited the country in January, Sully was impressed by the combination of modern infrastructure and traditional life in Rwanda, embodying the vision of the government.
“I’ve read books about Rwanda and the leadership, particularly President Paul Kagame, but I had the opportunity to come here to see with my own eyes, the manifestation, a realisation of the vision behind the government of this country,” he said.
Participants pose for a group photo at a pre- launch event in Kigali on December 3.
Wanting to share the story credibly, Sully brought together the experts with the goal of explaining Rwanda’s model, showcasing the country’s transformation from a post-genocide economy loss of over 40 per cent to becoming one of the most stable places in Africa.
“We’re trying to explain that so that the world, the people in Washington D.C., where I’m based, can know about that story,” he said.
Sully further highlighted the belief that Rwanda could serve as a model for Haiti and other developing nations’ reconstruction efforts, citing the intelligent strategies implemented since 1994.
“Rwanda: A Model for Haiti,” he added, also aims to promote a sense of pan-Africanism and unity among black people, drawing parallels between the experiences of Haiti and Rwanda.
In addition to a poem penned by Indran Amirthanayagam, which reflects on the Rwandan experience and draws connections between Rwanda and Haiti, the anthology primarily comprises essays covering various aspects including insights into the Rwandan education system, the nation’s economy, efforts towards national unity and reconciliation, diplomatic strategies, and Rwanda’s utilisation of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) to shape its foreign policy.
The anthology also delves into intelligent governance practices, emphasising transparency, anti-corruption measures, and other pertinent topics.
“Rwanda: A Model for Haiti” was unveiled in Rwanda on December 3, with a private book launch event dedicated to acknowledging the contributors from Rwanda. Plans for the book’s distribution include an official launch in Rwanda and various states across the USA, among other locations, according to Sully.
The hard copies of the book are available at the Bridgevision Production Rwanda office in Kimihurura, as well as Ikirezi and Caritas libraries. It is also available on Amazon.
- Détails
- Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti
Kenya’s high court extends a block on sending police to Haiti even as parliament approves deployment
BY EMMANUEL IGUNZA
Updated 12:33 PM EST, November 16, 2023
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NAIROBI, Kenya (AP) — Kenya’s high court on Thursday extended orders blocking the deployment of police officers to Haiti, even as parliament approved a government request to send 1,000 officers to the Caribbean nation to help deal with gang violence.
High Court Judge Chacha Mwita said he would issue a ruling on Jan. 26, effectively delaying the sending of security officers to Haiti, where they are slated to lead a multinational force backed by the U.N Security Council.
The planned deployment was first blocked by the High Court in Nairobi in October.
Whatever decision is reached by the High Court in January may be appealed, meaning there could be a protracted battle over sending the troops to Haiti.
US National Gallery of Art receives its first works of Haitian art, via two gifts
The 15 works, donated by two collecting couples, will form the core of an exhibition in autumn 2024
Philomé Obin, President Tiresias Sam entering Cap-Haitien, 1958. Gift of Kay and Roderick Heller Courtesy the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
The National Gallery of Art (NGA) in Washington, DC, announced today that it has received a gift of 15 works of art by modern and contemporary Haitian artists, and that the suite of works will be on view in an exhibition slated for autumn 2024. These are the first pieces by Haitian artists to be added to the NGA’s permanent collection. Of the 15 works, 13 are paintings while two are sequined flags by the artist Myrlande Constant.
The pieces were donated to the museum from the collections of two couples: Kay and Roderick Heller and Beverly and John Fox Sullivan. They range from as early as the 1940s to as recently as 2001. A number of the artists included in the donation were associated with Centre d’Art, a school, gallery and cultural hub in Port-au-Prince founded in 1944 by American artist DeWitt Peters. The full list of artists included in these donations is: Castera Bazile, Rigaud Benoit, Wilson Bigaud, Myrlande Constant, Edouard Duval-Carrié, Hector Hyppolite, Philomé Obin, Andre Pierre, Louisiane Saint Fleurant and Gerard Valcin.
“Assembled with great care, curiosity and passion over many decades, the Heller and Sullivan collections demonstrate the remarkable spirit and strength of artistic production across the Republic of Haiti,” Kaywin Feldman, the NGA’s director, said in a statement. “We are immensely grateful for these generous gifts as they contribute to the National Gallery’s representation of the African Diaspora. The works included in the gift relate meaningfully to our collection of work by African American artists and enable us to tell significant global, transnational stories.”
Myrlande Constant, Guede Djable 2 Cornes, undated. From the collection of John and Beverly Fox Sullivan Courtesy the National Gallery of Art, Washington, DC
The autumn 2024 exhibition is tentatively titled Spirit and Strength, and was curated by Kanitra Fletcher, associate curator of African American and Afro-Diasporic art at the museum, with the assistance of art historian Justin M. Brown. Fletcher is the NGA’s first-ever curator of African American art, a position she has held since 2021. The 2024 show will also feature works related to the Haitian Indigenist Movement, as well as works by African American artists who traveled to or drew inspiration from Haiti, such as Jacob Lawrence, Lois Mailou Jones and William Edouard Scott.
“To have our 40-year passion for collecting Haitian art validated by the National Gallery brings us such joy and pleasure,” said John Fox Sullivan, who is, alongside his wife Beverly, the benefactor behind seven of the 15 donated pieces.
Roderick Heller, who donated the rest of the works alongside his wife Kay, added: “Sharing our appreciation of Haitian art with Beverly and John Sullivan as well as other friends has been an inspirational and instructive experience. We are so pleased that the uniqueness and significance of these works are being recognised by the National Gallery and presented to a much wider audience.”
National Center of Haitian Apostolate
REFLECTIONS ON THE READINGS - 33rd SUNDAY YEAR A (Nov. 19, 2023)
Proverbs 31, 10-20; Psalm 128; 1 Thessalonians 5, 1-6; Matthew 25, 14-30
Msgr. Pierre André Pierre
Sunday after Sunday, we gather in Church to celebrate our faith, to worship the resurrected Lord, and to follow his command: “Do this in memory of me.” Today at the end of the liturgical year the moment has come for accountability: the Church stresses the theme of the Last Judgement.
The story told by Jesus is called the Parable of the Talents. It sounds like judgment, with reward and punishment. A master leaving for a long journey entrusts his property to three servants who must give an account upon his return. The first one receives five talents; the second receives two; and the third one. When the owner returns from his trip at an unexpected time, the servants report the fruits of their work. The first two doubled the stake through their work. They are praised and promoted. The third servant did nothing and buried his talent. He is afraid. He justifies his laziness by fear of the master's faults. The master blamed him for having done nothing. If with his talent, he had produced a second talent, just one, he would have had the same compliments as the first two.
It is up to everyone to develop the talents received, to make them bear fruit; and not to bury his abilities, his possibilities, his gifts. It does not matter if the profit was two or five, even if the value of one talent is 10.000 US$. Everyone grew according to the gifts received and according to their abilities. The Compliments are not based on the master's profit but on the work of each person, to their extent.
The message from this parable is clear: Jesus wants us to be responsible partners in his mission of salvation. His Father runs a great risk because he trusts us and entrusts us with the world, his estate so that we can recreate it, make it more habitable, more human, more at peace. Above all, He entrusts us with his children, our brothers and sisters, to love and care for. We are called to build with them the human family.
For that purpose, God equipped us with good talents. Everything that we have, our qualities or our abilities, are gifts from Him. It is up to everyone to develop them, to make them bear fruit, and not to bury them. No one who has received a talent from God, but has not paid attention to it, will be able to grow or progress. While on the opposite side, those who try to grow their relationship with God will never stop growing in it. God gives his good news and his help to everyone, but we must know how to listen, receive it, and then make it bear fruit on a daily basis. Only those who through hard work enrich God’s kingdom will be largely rewarded. The lazy, the careless, and the irresponsible are to be rejected into the place of torment and grinding teeth. In other terms, we must be “good stewards” of God’s gifts.
Our talent is our life, and it is a gift, not to bury and recover when He comes, but to deliver now and be put at the service of our brothers and sisters. Paul reminds all Christians that the final coming of Jesus is unpredictable. The Lord is coming. We live in waiting: A wait full of peace, trust, and light, responsibly prepare for the second coming through vigilance and labors of love! The time for accountability is near. The Christian is not afraid of the Day of the Lord, because he lives in the love of God and his brothers. We are the one-talented servant. "He who loses his life will gain it; he who saves his life will lose it."
OAS Adopts Resolution on the Situation in Haiti
Remarks by
Ambassador Francisco O. Mora
November 17, 2023
Mr. Chairman and colleagues, the United States welcomes the adoption of today’s OAS Permanent Council resolution concerning the security situation in Haiti.
This resolution represents a crucial step forward in addressing the pressing challenges Haiti faces, and reaffirms our collective commitment to supporting the people of Haiti in their quest for peace, security, and stability.
First and foremost, I would like to commend the leadership of Ambassador Phillips-Spencer, the chair of our Working Group on Haiti, in coordinating today’s text. We express our gratitude to him and the delegation of Trinidad and Tobago for aiding our Organization in responding to Haiti’s call for assistance.
We also recognize the willingness of Kenya to positively consider leading the new Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission to Haiti. Their initiative is testament to a strong dedication to international peace and security.
Mr. Chair, the United Nations Security Council’s authorization of the MSS mission on October 2, through a resolution co-penned by the United States and Ecuador, was a historic moment. It marked a significant turning point in our collective efforts to address the multidimensional crisis that has plagued Haiti, characterized by alarming levels of gang violence, insecurity, and a dire humanitarian situation.
We extend our appreciation to Ecuador for its tireless work on that resolution, demonstrating through action a strong commitment to the cause of peace and stability in Haiti.
The new MSS mission, which was initiated at the request of the Haitian government, the UN Secretary General, and various members of civil society, addresses the urgent need to combat insecurity and provide immediate support to the Haitian National Police.
Its success depends on a truly multinational effort, and we urge all fellow OAS member states to contribute funding, equipment, training, and personnel to ensure the mission’s success.
While the MSS mission is a significant step forward, it is just one part of a broader effort to address Haiti’s multifaceted crisis. Our resolution today clearly underscores this point.
This crisis encompasses acute food insecurity, humanitarian challenges, economic difficulties, and political instability. To address these issues comprehensively, the MSS mission will closely coordinate with the UN Integrated Office in Haiti (BINUH) and relevant UN agencies. It will also be important to ensure coordination and support on the part of Inter-American bodies, including the OAS Haiti Working Group.
The MSS mission is committed to operating in strict compliance with international law, with a focus on anti-gang operations, community-oriented policing, and protecting vulnerable groups, including women and children.
It will also take necessary measures to prevent sexual exploitation and abuse, upholding the highest standards of conduct and discipline.
We are heartened by the strong and united response from the international community, including on the part of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and particularly the support from Jamaica, Bahamas, Barbados, and Antigua and Barbuda — who have pledged personnel to the mission. We acknowledge the leadership they have demonstrated.
Mr. Chair, as we have heard in various OAS meetings, the adoption of the Chapter VII UN Security Council resolution was a requirement for many contributing nations, and it underscores a collective commitment to addressing Haiti’s urgent needs.
Since October 2022, the United States has taken steps to impose sanctions and visa restrictions on over 50 individuals for undermining Haiti’s democratic processes, supporting or financing gangs and criminal organizations, or engaging in significant corruption and human rights violations. We call on all OAS member states to impose these sanctions.
Taken together, colleagues, these steps reflect what President Biden emphasized at the recent UN General Assembly: “The people of Haiti cannot wait much longer.” With the adoption of these new UN and OAS resolutions, we can now work together to answer that call.
In terms of next steps, colleagues, the OAS Working Group on Haiti has a critical role to play in facilitating regional contributions and support for the implementation of the UN Security Council resolutions. We urge the Working Group to prioritize these efforts and work closely with all member and observer states, as well as the Government of Kenya, to ensure the success of the MSS mission.
The global community owes a debt of gratitude to Kenya and all the nations that have pledged their support for this mission to date. Together, we must now focus on mobilizing support needed to deploy the mission swiftly, effectively, and safely.
Of course, we recognize that the ultimate resolution of the situation in Haiti must be determined by the Haitian people themselves.
In conclusion, the United States reaffirms its strong commitment to the people of Haiti and will continue to advocate for free and fair elections as soon as conditions permit. The conduct of these overdue elections is essential to restoring democratic governance and enabling Haiti to overcome its current challenges.
Together, we can make a difference in the lives of the Haitian people and help them on their path towards peace, stability, and prosperity.
Thank you very much, Chair.
- Détails
- Catégorie : What's up Little Haiti
Haiti Bans Charter Flights to Nicaragua in Blow to Migrants Fleeing Poverty and Violence
Associated PressPORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti —
Haiti's government has banned all charter flights to Nicaragua that migrants fleeing poverty and violence had been increasingly using in their quest to reach the United States, according to a bulletin issued Monday that The Associated Press obtained.
Haiti's government did not provide an explanation for the decision in its bulletin, which was first reported by The Miami Herald. Civil aviation authorities in Haiti did not respond to a message seeking comment.
The move left a couple of thousand angry and bewildered travelers stranded in a parking lot facing Haiti's main international airport in the capital of Port-au-Prince surrounded by their luggage, with some holding babies.
"I have to seek a better life elsewhere because Haiti doesn't offer my generation anything," said 29-year-old Jean-Marc Antoine. "It's either hold a gun and be involved with a gang, be killed or leave the country."
His brother in Chile had loaned him $4,000 for the plane ticket, and like many of the stranded passengers, he fretted about whether he would get his money back.
Nearby, Marie-Ange Solomon, 58, said she had been calling the charter company repeatedly on Monday to no avail. She had paid $7,000 total to leave Haiti with her son.
"After gathering money to get me and my son out of this fragile country, now all of a sudden they stop everything," she said. "I thought I was going to be freed today."
Thousands of Haitians were stranded at the Port-au-Prince Airport on Oct. 30, after the government banned all charter flights to Nicaragua as migrants sought to flee the poverty and violence in their country.
Solomon kept an eye on their bags as her 28-year-old son ran to the airport repeatedly in case someone called their names.
More than 260 flights departing Haiti and believed to have carried up to 31,000 migrants have landed in the Central American country of Nicaragua since early August as Haiti's crisis deepens, with gangs estimated to now control up to 80% of Port-au-Prince. The number of migrants represent nearly 60% of all U.S.-Mexico border Haitian arrivals, said Manuel Orozco, director of the migration, remittances and development program at the Inter-American Dialogue.
Experts have said that seats on charter flights to Nicaragua can range from $3,000 to $5,000, with Nicaragua a popular destination because it does not require visas for certain migrants.
"The magnitude of the flights are just completely unusual ... and it represents a security risk," Orozco said in a phone interview.
He questioned whether the suspension of the charter flights was prompted by outside pressure, adding that he did not know if the U.S. government was involved.
Orozco noted that there were no charter flights from Port-au-Prince to Nicaragua last January and that the three daily flights that began in late July had grown to 11 flights a day.
The suspension of charter flights could prompt Haitian migrants to seek other ways to flee their country, he said.
"I think Dominicans will probably at this point organize themselves or cross their fingers that there is not a cross-over," Orozco said.
The two countries share the island of Hispaniola but are now in a dispute over construction of a canal in Haiti that would divert water from a river that runs along the border. Dominican President Luis Abinader announced last month that his government would stop issuing visas to Haitians and he closed the border to all Haitians seeking to cross for work, education, medical issues or other purposes.
With another migration route popular with Haitians closing on Monday, frustration began to build among the stranded passengers.
"Can you imagine that I spent all this money? I sold everything that I had," Jean Erode Louis-Saint, 25, whose flight was scheduled for mid-afternoon Monday but he never received a boarding pass. "I cannot stay in this country because of the lack of security. Gangs are everywhere."
He used to work along the border that Haiti shares with the Dominican Republic exchanging currencies but has struggled to find another job.
"I cannot do anything in Haiti anymore," he said as he stood with a backpack on his back surrounded by thousands of other passengers.
Many were reluctant to leave in case there was a sudden change in plans, but by late afternoon, the crowd began to thin out as people left.
Among them was 35-year-old Saint-Ville Etienne, a civil engineer who was hoping for a better life so he could care for the 14-year-old son he would have left behind.
"Haiti is in a state of war among its own people," he said. "I don't know why they are fighting. It's only causing everybody to leave the country."
William O'Neill, Expert on the human rights situation in Haiti, concludes his official visit
Port-au-Prince (October 31, 2023) Mesye dam bonjou (Greetings everyone). Allow me to begin by thanking the authorities for their support for my mandate, BINUH for the welcome and support they have extended to me, as well as the civil society organizations and the victims I have been able to meet.
I have just concluded my second official visit to Haiti. I continue to be alarmed by the worrying situation, which is spreading rapidly to other departments, notably Artibonite and Nord-Ouest. Murders, injuries and kidnappings are the daily lot of the population. Sexual violence against women and girls remains endemic, and no progress has been made in terms of access to services and justice for survivors since my last visit.
I am particularly concerned about the impact of insecurity and violence on children. The testimonies received are stunning. An entire generation is seemingly being sacrificed by violence, and the future of a country is threatened by the dramatic situation faced by its youth. I urge the authorities to give priority to addressing the situation of children.
Many have suffered - and continue to suffer - severe violence and violations of their rights. They are also victims of the catastrophic humanitarian situation, with access to health, water, food and education severely hampered. This is particularly the case in underprivileged neighbourhoods controlled by gangs and deserted by the State. I have received numerous reports that many children suffer from wasting, the deadliest form of malnutrition. Over 500,000 youths have no access to education. Many children from these neighbourhoods are recruited by gangs, for lack of opportunities, or by fear of reprisals.
The Haitian justice system remains dysfunctional and ill-equipped to protect children at risk or to judge minors in conflict with the law. The Juvenile Court is paralyzed. I visited Cermicol, the juvenile prison in Port-au-Prince, and found it alarmingly overcrowded, with an occupancy rate in excess of 350%, as well as unhygienic conditions and a lack of access to drinking water, exposing children to disease. 99% of the minors held in the prison have not been convicted, and most are in prolonged pre-trial detention. They have been incarcerated for years for stealing a chicken, shoes or a telephone, without ever having seen a judge. I was nonetheless encouraged by the setting up of an intergovernmental commission to relieve overcrowding in the prisons. We need results quickly.
I am also concerned about the situation of internally displaced people. There are at least 200,000 displaced people in Haiti. Many are living in inhumane conditions, without access to basic services, surviving in makeshift camps. I have received appalling accounts of children and elderly people sleeping on the ground, next to mounds of garbage and without access to drinking water. I also heard of women and girls are repeatedly raped, with no access to healthcare. The State must assume its responsibilities not only to prevent human rights violations and abuses, but also to protect its population, especially the most vulnerable.
I heard a strong desire for the arrival of the Multinational Security Support Mission (MSS) among the Haitian population. The imminent deployment of this mission, under strict conditions of respect and protection of human rights, is necessary to alleviate the suffering of the population. However, it is essential that this mission anticipates and takes the measure of the current challenges if it is to succeed in its long-term objective. Many of these measures will require the population to regain confidence in its institutions.
These must be strengthened, in particular through reliable and transparent public control systems to curb corruption and impunity. In particular, the Haitian National Police (PNH) must speed up the vetting of its officers, and the judicial system must complete the certification of its magistrates. Codes of ethics must be implemented. I reiterate my encouragement for the work carried out by the Unité de Lutte contre la Corruption (ULCC) to combat the scourge of corruption.
The international sanctions regime has sent out a strong signal to dismantle the networks of corruption that plague the country. It must also be accompanied by national prosecutions to put an end to impunity. I reiterate my appeal to the international community to put an end to the illegal trafficking of arms and munitions that circulates in Haiti and continues to claim many victims every day.
A major challenge is the fact that many gang members are children. It will be necessary to implement rehabilitation and reintegration programs for the vast majority of them. According to many actors interviewed, it is essential that the State plays a key role in rebuilding the social and economic model to enable the most vulnerable to find opportunities locally and thus avoid the mass departure of populations in search of better days.
Finally, I visited the canal under construction on the Massacre River in Ouanaminthe, as well as the border with the Dominican Republic. I continue to hear reports of the disastrous impact of the border closure on access to health, water and food. I reiterate my call for dialogue and the passage of aid to protect vulnerable populations from the dramatic humanitarian impact of this measure. I would also like to pay tribute to the work of the police in Ouanaminthe and Fort Liberté, who have succeeded in bringing the situation of violence in the department under control, thanks to community and proximity policing. 32 police officers have been killed since the beginning of the year.
Ensuring the safety and protection of the population is a priority. Overcoming institutional shortcomings and strengthening the rule of law remain fundamental prerequisites for long-term change. Let's not repeat the mistakes of the past.
Mysion mwen an fini men travay la ap kontinye. Mèsi anpil (My mission ends but the work goes on. I thank you from the bottom of my heart).
National Center of Haitian Apostolate
REFLECTIONS ON THE READINGS OF THE 31st SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (Nov. 5th, 2023)
Malachi 1; Psalm 131; 1 Thessalonians 2, 7-9; Matthew 23, 1-12
Msgr. Pierre André Pierre
Brothers and sisters,
From the Prophet Malachi to the Gospel of Matthew, and the first Letter of Paul to the Thessalonians, the word of God today calls our attention to humility. The absolute opposite is pride, arrogance, and selfishness.
Everyone takes their place, the priests, the people, the scribes, and the Pharisees. The prophet reproaches the priests of his time to pervert the covenant with God. Jesus investigates the words and behavior of the Pharisees. Their function is to devote themselves to God and seek his glory, to teach the Law given to them by Moses. However, instead of thinking about the glory of God, they only seek their own interest. They make religion a business. They manipulate the Law of Moses for their own purposes. Do not follow their example. They do not work for God but for the gallery. They look for the best places. They seek honors and titles. Everything is a facade, inside full of skeletons. This is hypocrisy.
The search for power and wealth, the race for honors and privileges, are not only abuses in the time of Malachi, or in the time of Jesus. Nowadays, it may no longer be a question of phylacteries and very long fringes, but of car brands, of extravagant lifestyles, and excessive wealth, displayed in broad daylight, which become an insult to the billions of poor people on the planet. The desire to appear then becomes the goal of life. Jesus tells his disciples to stop giving themselves high-sounding titles that risk creating a misleading appearance. His authority is exclusively an authority of service and liberation: he forgives, he heals, he restores his feet, he gives a second chance, he opens a future. This allows us to move forward with joy. “ I tell you this so that your joy may be complete .” (John 15, 11) Just watch those who meet Jesus flourish: the Samaritan woman, Zacchaeus, Mary Magdalene, the blind, the lepers...
Following in the footsteps of Jesus as his model, St. Paul expresses his love for the community of Thessalonica that he served. This very beautiful text provides us with a remarkable portrait of the true pastor: He is “ full of gentleness, like a mother with her babies ”. He is filled with “affection” for them, wanting to give them “not only the Gospel” but everything that he himself is. He toils and tires night and day so as not to be a burden to others.
Psalm 131,1 reminds us of the secret of life: "In you, Lord, I have found my peace. O LORD, my heart is not proud; nor are my eyes haughty. I busy not myself with great things, nor with things too sublime for me. "
The Lord invites his disciples to embrace Humility. Yes, Truth is hidden in HUMILITY.