Saturday after Epiphany
Wisdom, Chapter 12, Verse 9-11
9 Not that you were
without power to have the wicked vanquished in battle by the righteous, or
wiped out at once by terrible beasts or by one decisive word; 10 But
condemning them by degrees, you gave them space for repentance. You were not
unaware that their origins were wicked, and their malice ingrained, and that
their dispositions would never change; 11 for they were a people accursed
from the beginning. Neither out of fear
for anyone did you grant release from their sins.
The combination of divine mercy and power is an
unusual paradox, the main emphasis is on creating in man a life that is
motivated by love; the divine “imperishable spirit” the breath of life in
everything. God’s mercy desires the conversion of all hearts. God gives space
for repentance and opportunity for sinners to make reparation for a multitude
of evils.
"Charm
is deceptive and beauty fleeting; the woman who fears the LORD is to be
praised.
In
Mexico El DÃa de
Los Tres Reyes (Day of the Three Kings) celebrates the arrival of
Gaspar, Melchior, and Balthazar at the place of Jesus' birth.
On the night before El DÃa de Los Reyes, the children fill their shoes with hay and leave them outside. It is believed that the Wise Men will stop at each home to feed their horses, leaving gifts in exchange for hay.
Finally, El DÃa de Los Reyes arrives, and the whole family wakes up to open the gifts left by the Three Kings. However, this is only the beginning. On that day, family and friends gather, while the children keep busy playing with their new toys.
The adults continue with the day's activities by preparing a big dinner and serving a very special dessert, a bread known as La Rosca de Reyes or Three Kings Bread. — by Frances Chaparro, Estela Muñoz and Adrian Zamilpa
- Day Eighteen activity (Los Posadas)
- Day Eighteen recipe (La Rosca de Reyes)
Human
Trafficking Awareness Day is dedicated to raising awareness of sexual slavery and human
trafficking worldwide. Today, there are between 21-30 million people
enslaved in the world, more than at any time in human history. Every day,
modern slavery can be recognized: children become
soldiers; young women are forced into prostitution and migrant workers exploited in the
workforce. Human Trafficking Awareness Day seeks to end this slavery, return
rights to individuals and make the world a safer place for all inhabitants.
Human Trafficking Awareness Day started in 2007, when the U.S. Senate
designated January 11th as National Human Trafficking Awareness Day in the
hopes of raising awareness to combat human trafficking. It began as a U.S.
initiative, and the United Nations has started to highlight this topic and
work towards global awareness with days such as International Day for the
Abolition of Slavery.
Human Trafficking
Awareness Facts & Quotes
·
The
most common form of human trafficking is sexual exploitation, accounting for
79% of human trafficking victims. These victims of sexual exploitation are
predominantly women and girls.
·
According
to UNICEF, 2 million children are estimated to be trafficking victims of sex
trade each year. 20% of traffic victims are children.
·
The
average age of a girl being forced into the US domestic sex slavery market is
13.
·
The
average cost of a slave around the world is $90.
·
It
is slavery in the modern age. Every year thousands of people, mainly women and
children, are exploited by criminals who use them for forced labor or the sex
trade. No country is immune. Almost all play a part, either as a source of trafficked
people, transit point or destination. - United Nations Secretary-General, Ban
Ki-moon.
Human Trafficking
Awareness Top Events and Things to Do
§
Talk
to children about strangers and make sure they memorize important addresses and
phone numbers.
§
Save
888-373-7888 to your phone. This is number to the National Human
Trafficking Resources Hotline.
§
Make
a donation to an organization fighting human trafficking.
§
Learn
the signs and indicators of human trafficking so that you can learn to recognize
it and report it. US Homeland Security offers a training
online free of charge.
·
Watch
a movie about human trafficking. Our picks: Taken (2008), Trade (2007), Human
Trafficking (2005), The Pink Room (2011), Nefarious (2011) and Lilya 4-ever
(2002).
Know the Signs[3]
Recognizing indicators of
human trafficking is key to identifying victims and helping them find
assistance.
Look for someone who:
Look for someone who:
1. Is not free to
leave or come and go as he/she wishes
2. Is unpaid, paid
very little, or paid only through tips
3. Works excessively
long and/or unusual hours
4. Is not allowed
breaks or suffers under unusual restrictions at work
5. Owes a large debt
and is unable to pay it off
6. Was recruited
through false promises concerning the nature and conditions of his/her work
7. High security
measures exist in work and/or living locations (e.g. opaque windows, boarded-up
windows, bars on windows, barbed wire, security cameras, etc.)
8. Is fearful,
anxious, depressed, submissive, tense or nervous/paranoid
9. Exhibits unusually
fearful or anxious behavior after mention of law enforcement
10. Avoids eye contact
11. Lacks health care
12. Appears
malnourished
13. Shows signs of
physical and/or sexual abuse, physical restraint, confinement or torture
14. Has few or no
personal possessions
15. Is not in control
of his/her own money, has no financial records or bank account
16. Is not in control
of his/her own identification documents (ID or passport)
17. Is not allowed or
able to speak for themselves (a third party may insist on being present and/or
translating)
18. Claims of just
visiting and inability to clarify where he/she is staying/address
19. Lack of knowledge
of whereabouts and/or do not know what city he/she is in
20. Loss of sense of
time
21. Has numerous
inconsistencies in his/her story
January 11-14
Raise
a toast to winter in Aspen’s annual Winterskol Festival. The winter tradition is more than 60
years strong and was started by a lodge owner who wanted to enliven the Aspen
winter season following Christmas. Today, the four-day winter fest includes a
snow sculpture competition, a soup cook-off and a downhill race with apple
strudel at the finish line.
Daily
Devotions
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