Is Everyone Really Special?

 For the Son of Man came to seek and to save what was lost.  Luke 19:10


A sign over a mirror in a public school reads, “You are now looking at the most special person in the world.” The message is part of a program designed to build self-esteem in children, and there is no questioning the fact that some kids suffer from a lack of self-esteem. At times parents disparage the achievements of their kids—like, “Why can’t you do as well in school as your sister?”  Or, “You’re dumb,” or “Get up, you lazy girl.”  Or, “You’ll never amount to anything when you do that sort of thing.”


Tell a child something often enough and loudly enough, and he’ll grow up believing it. But to tell a child, “You are the most special person in the world” is going about a proper thing in the wrong way.  Why?  Special people expect special privileges and don’t have to follow the rules. They go to the head of the line, or push their way to the front, thinking, “Why not?  I’m special.” They expect teachers and administrators to treat them differently.  Why? “I’m special,” which means, “You can’t treat me like all the other kids.”


And when they become adults, they often find out what they are not prepared for: life doesn’t give you special breaks and privileges just because you think the world owes you a living.  It is one thing to convey the message to a child that you are loved, even that you are unique, that being different is not being better than anyone or inferior to anyone.  But the message that you are the most special person in the world tells a child something that reality doesn’t support.


The fact is that every person is unique. Unless you are an identical twin there is no one in the world like you, and even if you are an identical twin no one thinks your thoughts, or feels what you feel, or sees what you do. To be special means that you stand out from the crowd, you are different, or you expect to be treated better than others.


Question: Are you special to God?  Does He consider every person to be special?  How would you answer that question?  In all probability you feel so inadequate and so far removed from what God expects of you, you think you wouldn’t even get a second glance from heaven.  OK, that question will get us nowhere fast. But here’s the right one to ask: “Am I important to God?” and there is no ambiguity in the answer because the entire Bible shouts aloud: “Yes, you are important to Him!”  God has no throw-away lists. The door to the throne room is open, and Christ is that door. He said, “I am the way, the truth, and the life; no person comes to the father but through me” (John 14:6).


When you read the New Testament, you find account after account of Jesus taking time for the people that the world never considered “special” by a long shot – Zacchaeus, a man who earned his living the shady way, the woman at the well, a prostitute caught in the very act of adultery, and so forth. Jesus had time for them, reflecting the values of His father—and they have time for you.


There’s a vast difference between being “special” and being important. Have we gone overboard in striving to help kids have a healthy sense of self-esteem?  It may well be that we’ve gone about the right thing the wrong way. Helping them to know their value in the sight of God, giving them the love that says, “You are important to me, and I’ll be there for you” is important, but conveying the message that “you are special” say many, works the wrong way.


Scripture reading: Psalms 139:1-18


https://www.guidelines.org/devotional/is-everyone-really-special/

Capiz's Cardinal Advincula is Manila's new archbishop

Pope Francis has appointed Capiz's Jose Fuerte Cardinal Advincula as the new archbishop of Manila. 


The appointment was made public on Thursday at 12 p.m., Rome time (7 pm in Manila). 


It was in November last year when the pope elevated Advincula as a cardinal, becoming the ninth Filipino "prince of the Church."


He will succeed Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle who is now the prefect of the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples.


https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/25/21/capizs-cardinal-advincula-is-manilas-new-archbishop

Magsasaka patay matapos pagbabarilin sa Capiz

Patay ang isang magsasaka matapos pagbabarilin ng tatlong hindi pa nakikilalang salarin sa Barangay Astorga, sa bayan ng Dumarao, Capiz, Miyerkoles ng gabi.


Dead on arrival sa pagamutan ang biktima na si Jessie Jarlo, 55 anyos at residente ng lugar.


Sa imbestigasyon ng Dumarao Police, pauwi na ang biktima kasama ang misis nito nang harangin at pagbabarilin ang biktima ng tatlong salarin na nakasuot ng itim na damit at naka-bonnet.


Nagtamo ng 9 na tama ng bala ang biktima.


Nakuha sa lugar ang mga basyo ng bala ng hinihinalang kalibre .45 na baril.


Patuloy pa ang pagtukoy ng awtoridad sa mga salarin at ang motibo sa krimen.


- Ulat ni Rolen Escaniel


https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/25/21/magsasaka-patay-matapos-pagbabarilin-sa-capiz

Korte Suprema, Senado kinondena ang mga pagpatay sa mga abogado

Kasunod ng pagkondena ng Korte Suprema sa mga pagpatay sa mga abogado, ipinasa naman ng Senado ang resolusyon para hilingin kay Pangulong Rodrigo Duterte na kumilos din para pigilan ang mga pagpaslang. 


Inihain ang resolusyon ng 8 abogadong senador. 


"Resolved, further, to urge the president to undertake the necessary steps in ensuring the safety of the members of the legal profession by laying out definitive solutions and actions to address such rampant violence and killings, including the prompt, impartial and efficient investigation and prosecution of the cases," sabi sa Senate Resolution No. 691.


Sa opisyal na datos mula sa Department of Justice, 54 na abugado na ang napapatay sa ilalim ng Duterte administration, pero 5 kaso pa lang ang nakakarating sa korte.


"The failure to condemn, investigate and prosecute these, and bring perpetrators to justice is an act of injustice in itself. We therefore condemn in the strongest sense, these killings of and acts of violence, against members of the bar and bench. To not act or speak is an act of injustice in itself," sabi ni Senate Minority Leader Sen. Franklin Drilon. 


Bago nito, naglabas noong Martes ang Korte Suprema ng isang pambihirang pahayag na kinokondena rin ang mga pagpaslang. 


"The court condemns in the strongest sense, every instance where a lawyer is threatened or killed and where a judge is threatened and unfairly labeled... To threaten our judges and our lawyers is no less than an assault on the judiciary. To assault the judiciary is to shake the very bedrock on which the rule of law stands. This cannot be allowed in a civilized society like ours. This cannot go undenounced on the court’s watch," sabi ng mga mahistrado sa isang pahayag na binasa ni SC spokesman Brian Keith Hosaka.


Sa pahayag ng Korte Suprema, kabilang sa mga gagawin nila ay ang pagpapanukala na gumamit ng mga body camera ang mga pulis sa paghain ng search at arrest warrant.


Rerepasuhin din nila ang panuntunan sa writ of amparo at habeas data na maaaring gamitin para humingi ng saklolo sa SC kapag may banta sa buhay, kalayaan at seguridad.


Ikinatuwa ni retired Supreme Court senior Associate Justice Antonio Carpio ang naging hakbang ng korte.


"I’m very happy with what the Supreme Court has stated. I think the Supreme Court is taking seriously its duty to enforce Constitutional rights. It's a special duty entrusted to the Supreme Court," sabi ni Carpio. 


Para sa Commission on Human Rights, dapat suportahan ng buong gobyerno ang mga hakbang ng Korte Suprema para masigurong gumagana ang mga sistema ng hustisya sa bansa at maproteksyunan ang mga karapatan ng taumbayan.


"Ultimately, to assault the legal profession—hence, an assault to the judiciary—is to assault the established check and balance in the government enshrined in the Constitution. It is in the best interest of the entire government to support these courses of action from the Supreme Court to ensure that a functional justice system in the country remains and that protection of our rights can be assured, especially at a time when human rights are constantly threatened and challenged," ani CHR spokesperson Jacqueline de Guia.


Pero si Sen. Leila de Lima, ikinalulungkot, at nagtataka, kung bakit umano hinintay pa ng SC na maraming abogado ang mapatay bago ito nagsalita.


"It is unfortunate that so many lawyers had to die before the Supreme Court acted. The question is, will Duterte listen or will he continue to instruct our police to ignore human rights. In the first place, it is the Supreme Court itself who said that he is immune from suit, and that anyone he attacks is without recourse in law. Duterte is a monster that SC helped create," ani De Lima.


Pero para sa National Union of Peoples’ Lawyers (NUPL), hindi man agaran kumilos ang Korte, ang importante, umaksyon na ito.


"[I] do not want to redirect the discussion there... This is a big step, by itself. It’s a standalone big step that is most welcome to us who are under attack. It’s better than nothing," sabi ni NUPL president Edre Olalia. 


Gayunman, dagdag ng NUPL, kailangang masigurong may safeguards ang paggamit ng body cameras.


Hiling naman ng Philippine National Police, makonsidera rin sana ang kanilang kalagayan lalo't posibleng di angkop ang panuntunang ilabas ng SC kumpara sa nangyayaring sitwasyon sa operasyon.


Maglalabas din daw ang PNP ng sariling patakaran sa paggamit ng body cameras.


https://news.abs-cbn.com/news/03/25/21/korte-suprema-senado-kinondena-ang-mga-pagpatay-sa-mga-abogado