In today’s first reading, 1 Peter 5: 5b-14, St. Peter prays
that we be clothed in humility in how we relate to one another, for “God opposes the proud but bestows favor on
the humble.” His reasoning: that, by
humbling ourselves ”under the mighty hand
of God,” we might be exalted by God.
Peter also reminds us that Satan is roaming the world “looking for someone to devour.”
My heart aches as I think of that reality.
Recently I read a book by a young woman, who, as a teenager from a rather
affluent suburb of a big city here in the U.S., was lured into the commercial sex trade. She
was deceived by a smooth-talking, affectionate young man who prowled around the
high school “seeking someone to devour.”
As the luring young man primed her, for a time, with loving attention, gifts
and affection, he then brought her to the place where the men for whom he himself
was working waited. The torturous nights being raped by a number of men who
paid “their bosses” was horrendous. Sometimes this prowling man would call her
out of classes. Eventually her grades
fell to unusually low standards. Teachers did nothing. The policemen patrolling
the high school did nothing as she left class and met “the charming man” at her
locker. If she did not cooperate, she
was warned that harm would come to her family. She also was physically beaten
if she resisted. Every night for two
years, the one luring her would also wait for her late at night to secretively leave
her home and meet him in an expensive car hidden in the neighborhood. She would
then be driven to the designated place where pimps awaited her.
Yes, Satan is prowling this world in disguises! “Resist him,” Peter asks us, “steadfast in faith, knowing that your
brothers and sisters throughout the world undergo the same sufferings—the pain,
in this case, of following the Spirit’s
nudge to act on behalf of this young teenage girl. “The God of all graces who called
you to his eternal glory through Christ Jesus will himself restore, confirm,
strengthen, and establish you after you
have suffered a little. To him be dominion forever. Amen” Following God’s call to help others in
need may be difficult. However, becoming Satan’s slave to disobedience is far more painful!
To whom/what do I give dominion each day? What will lure me today away from what God is asking of me?
Am I aware of persons prowling our high schools, our city blocks, our neighborhoods seeking young girls--most victims of human traffickers are between 12-14 years of age? Do I see suspicious behavior? If I am a teacher/a parent, do I notice changes in otherwise successful students/children that warrant my attention? At midnight, is my child in her room?
