II.

Human Dignity in the Redemptive Act of

Christ

The promise of salvation is fulfilled in Jesus Christ. He was incarnated by the

obedience of Mary, preached the Gospel, suffered and died on the Cross for the
redemption of all. This is a testament to the dignity of human beings that despite of the
Fall and sinful nature, God affirms, transcends the elevated the nature of humanity.

Christ's whole life is a mystery of redemption. Redemption comes to us above all

through the blood of his cross, but this mystery is at work throughout Christ's entire life:
18

A. In His
Incarnation

With the Nicene Creed, we answer by confessing: "For us men and for our
salvation he came down from heaven; by the power of the Holy Spirit, he became
incarnate of the Virgin Mary, and was made man." 19 Taking up St. John's expression,
"The Word became flesh",20 the Church calls "Incarnation" the fact that the Son of God
assumed a human nature in order to accomplish our salvation in it. The Letter of Paul to
the Philippians cites the mystery of the Incarnation:

Have this mind among yourselves, which is yours in Christ Jesus, who, to
be grasped, but emptied himself, taking the form of a servant, being born
in the likeness of men. And being found in human form he humbled
himself and became obedient unto death, even death on a cross.21

B. In His Hidden
Life

During the greater part of his life, Jesus shared the condition of the vast majority
of human beings: a daily life spent without evident greatness, a life of manual labor. His
religious life was that of a Jew obedient to the law of God and a life in the community.
From this whole period it is revealed to us that Jesus was "obedient" to his parents and
that he "increased in wisdom and in stature, and in favor with God and man." 22

C. In His Word through Teachings, Parables, Beatitudes, Prayers and

Proclamation of though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God
a thing
the Kingdom of
God;
 D. In His Healings (of a leper, blind man, etc.) and Exorcisms (of the
Gerasene
demoniac, of a boy possessed by a
demon, etc.);

18 CCC, 517. 19
Ibid., 456. 20 Jn.
1:14. 21 Phil. 2:5-
8. 22 CCC 531.

E. And in His
Resurrection.

The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of our faith in Christ, a faith
believed and lived as the central truth by the first Christian community; handed on as
fundamental by Tradition; established by the documents of the New Testament; and
preached as an essential part of the Paschal mystery along with the cross.23

Jesus‘ words, deeds and suffering had for its aim restoring fallen man to his
original vocation.24 The Scriptures had foretold this divine plan of salvation through the
putting to death of the righteous one as a mystery of universal redemption, that is, as
the ransom that would free men from the slavery of sin.25 He calls for reconciliation of
those who lived in sin in which is due because of dignity of human person bestowed by
the Creator. In the sacrament of Reconciliation, God imparts to the sinner His love and
conversion. The purpose is to restore the sinner to grace and join Him in an intimate
friendship. Indeed, this grace with God brings about a true spiritual resurrection,
restoration of the dignity and blessings of the life of the children of God.

Restoration of those who sinned and became slave of sin finds its foundation in
the dignity of the human person and redemption by Christ through the programs of the
Church, government and other groups.

a. Rehabilitation Program for Criminals by the

State

The Philippine government adheres and believes that all persons have dignity
whether one is a criminal or not. The Bureau of Corrections is an example of this
manifestation as a rehabilitation program for the law offenders. Its functions are to safe
keep prisoners convicted by courts, prevent prisoners from committing crimes, provide
inmates basic needs, ensure rehabilitation programs are made available to the inmates
for their physical, intellectual and spiritual development, and train the inmates in
livelihood programs to assist them earn a living and develop their skills while serving
their sentences. In fact, one of its core values is ―God centered‖ where personnel (and
inmates) realize themselves as a person of God.

23 CCC, 638. 24
Ibid., 518. 25
Ibid., 601.

The Bureau of Corrections logo or seal also summarizes its goal featuring a
rehabilitated inmate (white) while in custody of the seven (7) prisons and penal farms
(bars) thru educational, therapeutic, productive approaches and restorative justice. He
looks forward to a brighter future (rays of the sun), but would need the assistance of his
family and loved ones, the society and the church, for him to completely undergo
transformation and re-integrates successfully in the community.

Historically, the former name of the Bureau of Corrections was Bureau of

Prisons. It was changed to modify the mindset that those who were brought in the
institution can be ―corrected‖ or rehabilitated and have a chance to reform.

Pope John Paul II in his homily entitled Jubilee in Prisons recognizes the dignity
of all people. That dignity flows from God's love for every human person even of
inmates and the penal system should always be in conformity with human dignity. He
also stressed that law offenders must be given opportunities to reform their lives. Prison
time must not be looked at as a form retaliation because of the wrongdoings they have
committed. He believes that it should be seen as a chance for rehabilitation where
inmates acknowledge and reflects their mistakes, serve their sentence and resolutely
amends their life.
 b. Rehabilitation Program by the
Church

The Church in the Philippines is giving assistance to people in the form of

Sanlakbay, a rehabilitation program for drug dependents. As a response to the
increasing number of drug surrenderees, the Archdiocese of Manila, headed by
Cardinal Luis Antonio Tagle, launched the Sanlakbay program in October 2016 which is
a community-based drug rehabilitation program which began at the height of the war
against illegal drugs and aims to rehabilitate drug dependents and help them lead
sustainable lives after the program. The following year, he led the first anniversary
celebration of the program. 132 former drug dependents from 12 Manila parishes had
completed the six-month program which consists of spiritual and values formation,
counseling sessions, skills training, and exposure to sports, arts and culture. Cardinal
Tagle and the police officials led by Director Oscar Albayalde, head of the National
Capital Region Police Office, and Chief Supt. Joel Coronel, head of the Manila Police
District, handed out certificates to the latest batch of 52 ―graduates.‖ During the
homily, Tagle said that the drug surrenderers are not mere numbers but people with
lives, families, rights, and dreams. "No one can say that you are a hopeless case," he
told them.

1
1
Various partners of the Church for the rehabilitation program, includes the
Philippine National Police, the Department of Health, local government units, and
private sectors like the Ateneo Center for Family Ministries and UST Graduate School
Pyscho-Trauma Clinic.

III. The Ultimate Destination of our Human Pilgrimage: To Return

to
the
Father

Salvation of all people and the integrity of human person through Jesus Christ
was made possible by the initiative of God the Father and the workings of the Holy
Spirit. Our pilgrimage here on earth will be finally fulfilled together with all creation, to
share in Christ's resurrection and in the eternal communion of life with the Father and
the Holy Spirit.
 In the Old Testament, the Israelites journeyed to the Promised Land led by
Moses. This pilgrimage of faith from deliverance from Egyptian slavery to the land given
to them by God so that He can establish Himself a relationship that was lost due to sin
of Adam. The covenant that God established with Abraham, chosen to be the father of a
multitude of nations, opens the way for the human family to make a return to its Creator.
The history of salvation leads the people of Israel to their land.
The Incarnation of Jesus is the enduring proclamation of God to His people. Through
Jesus‘ words and deeds, the people of God sustains the pilgrimage to the glory of the
Father. In the parable of the Prodigal Son, 26 Pope Francis described the father, with
patience, love, hope, and mercy had never for a second stopped thinking about his lost.
And as soon as he sees him still far off, he runs out to meet him and embraces him with
tenderness, the tenderness of God, without a word of reproach: his son has returned!
and that causes the joy of the father. In that embrace for his son, the Pope exclaimed, is
all that joy. The Pope reminded us that God is always waiting for us; he never grows
tired. Jesus shows us this merciful patience of God so that we can regain confidence,
hope-always. God's patience has to call forth in us the courage to return to him,
however many mistakes and sins there may be in our life. For we are not numbers, we
are the most important thing to him. Even if we are sinners, we are what is closest to his
heart.27