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Globalization is the system of interaction among the countries of theworld in order to develop the global economy. Globalization refers to theintegration of economics and societies all over the world. Globalizationinvolves technological, economic, political, and cultural exchanges madepossible largely by advances in communication, transportation, andinfrastructure.

While there are also opportunities connected with the globalizationprocess, these are often overshadowed by the one-sided pursuit of

economic growth and global competition. In the Figure, five forms ofgrowth are identified as leading to unsustainable development. Thewhole process is fueled by globalization.

Jobless growth results when economic output increases amidst highunemployment and underemployment.

Ruthless growth is forcing millions of Filipinos to live in poverty,constraining them from developing as full human beings. Meanwhile, afew individual billionaires/millionaires enjoy an income level equivalent tothe combined income of the millions in poverty. Globally, for example,the 1999 UNDP Human Development Report estimated that the $140billion combined asset of Bill Gates and the two other top owners ofMicrosoft is more than the combined gross national product (GNP) of the43 least economically developed countries and their 600 million people.

Futureless growth results from the destruction of nature throughimproper mining practices, use of pesticides, insufficient and improperenvironmental planning for the construction of dams and a range of otherecologically unsound development projects.

Rootless growth refers to the cultural decay and loss of meaning andidentity which often accompany economic growth fueled by globalizationand the entrance of materialistic lifestyles of industrialized countries.

Voiceless growth is economic growth racing ahead of direct humanrights and democratic processes and participatory governance essentialto modern societies.

To these five undesirable forms of growth can be added a sixth.Meaningless growth results when some combination of the other fiveforms of undesirable growth blocks the creativity of the human spirit. Theresulting loss in creativity, perspective, meaning, hope, and moralitynecessarily expresses itself in suicide, violence, drug addiction, crime,corruption and other social ills.

PA21 gives a detailed account of these trends, challenges and

opportunities that are brought by globalization and the forces of

unsustainable development, which are being experienced bycommunities throughout the Philippines.

Opponents of globalization point out to its negative effects. Some of themare listed below.

Developed nations have outsourced manufacturing and white

collar jobs. That means less jobs for their people. This hashappened because manufacturing work is outsourced todeveloping nations like China where the cost of manufacturinggoods and wages are lower. Programmers, editors, scientists andaccountants have lost their jobs due to outsourcing to cheaperlocations like India.

Globalization has led to exploitation of labor. Prisoners and childworkers are used to work in inhumane conditions. Safety standardsare ignored to produce cheap goods.

Job insecurity. Earlier people had stable, permanent jobs. Nowpeople live in constant dread of losing their jobs to competition.Increased job competition has led to reduction in wages andconsequently lower standards of living.

Terrorists have access to sophisticated weapons enhancing theirability to inflict damage. Terrorists use the Internet forcommunicating among themselves.

Companies have set up industries causing pollution in countrieswith poor regulation of pollution.

Fast food chains like McDonalds and KFC are spreading in thedeveloping world. People are consuming more junk food fromthese joints which has an adverse impact on their health.

The benefits of globalization is not universal. The rich are gettingricher and the poor are becoming poorer.

Bad apects of foreign cultures are affecting the local culturesthrough TV and the Internet.

Enemy nations can spread propaganda through the Internet. Deadly diseases like HIV/AIDS are being spread by travellers to the

remotest corners of the globe.

Local industries are being taken over by foreign multinationals.

The increase in prices has reduced the governments ability tosustain social welfare schemes in developed countries.

There is increase in human trafficking.

Multinatonal Companies and corporations which were previouslyrestricted to commercial activities are increasingly influencingpolitical decisions.

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Lectio: Matthew 11,20-24

Ordinary Time

1) Opening prayerGod our Father,your light of truthguides us to the way of Christ.May all who follow himreject what is contrary to the gospel.We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,one God, forever and ever. Amen.2) Gospel Reading - Matthew 11,20-24Jesus began to reproach the towns in which most of his miracles had beenworked, because they refused to repent. 'Alas for you, Chorazin! Alas foryou, Bethsaida! For if the miracles done in you had been done in Tyre andSidon, they would have repented long ago in sackcloth and ashes. Still, Itell you that it will be more bearable for Tyre and Sidon on Judgement Daythan for you.And as for you, Capernaum, did you want to be raised as high as heaven?You shall be flung down to hell. For if the miracles done in you had beendone in Sodom, it would have been standing yet. Still, I tell you that it willbe more bearable for Sodom on Judgement Day than for you.'3) Reflection The Discourse of the Mission occupies charter 10. Chapters 11 and 12describe the Mission which Jesus carried out and how he did it. The twochapters mention how the people adhered to him, doubted theevangelizing action of Jesus, or rejected it. John the Baptist, who lookedat Jesus with the eyes of the past, does not succeed in understanding him(Mt 11, 1-15). The people, who looked at Jesus out of interest, were notcapable to understand him (Mt 11, 16-19). The great cities around the lake,which listened to the preaching of Jesus and saw his miracles, did not wantto open themselves up to his message (this is the text of todays Gospel)(Mt 11, 20-24). The wise and the doctors, who appreciated everythingaccording to their own science, were not capable to understand the

preaching of Jesus (Mt 11, 25). The Pharisees, who trusted only in theobservance of the law, criticized Jesus (Mt 12, 1-8) and decided to kill him

(Mt 12, 9-14). They said that Jesus acted in the name of Beelzebul (Mt 12,22-37). They wanted a proof in order to be able to believe in him (Mt 12,38-45). Not even his relatives supported him (Mt 12, 46-50). Only the littleones and the simple people understood and accepted the Good News ofthe Kingdom (Mt 11, 25-30). They followed him (Mt 12, 15-16) and saw inhim the Servant announced by Isaiah (Mt 12, 17-21). This way of describing the missionary activity of Jesus was a clearwarning for the disciples who together with Jesus walked through Galilee.They could not expect a reward or praise for the fact of being missionaries

of Jesus. This warning is also valid for us who today read and meditate onthis discourse of the Mission, because the Gospels were written for alltimes. They invite us to confront the attitude that we have with Jesus withthe attitude of the persons who appear in the Gospel and to ask ourselvesif we are like John the Baptist (Mt 11, 1-15), like the people who wereinterested (Mt 11, 16-19), like the unbelieving cities (Mt 11, 20-24), like thedoctors who thought they knew everything and understood nothing (Mt 11,25), like the Pharisees who only knew how to criticize (Mt 12, 1-45) or likethe simple people who went seeking for Jesus (Mt 12. 15) and that, withtheir wisdom, knew how to understand and accept the message of theKingdom (Mt 11, 25-30). Matthew 11, 20: The word against the cities which did not receive him.The space in which Jesus moves during those three years of his missionarylife was small; only a few square kilometres along the Sea of Galileearound the cities of Capernaum, Bethsaida and Chorazin. Only that! So itwas in this very reduced space where Jesus made the majority of hisdiscourses and worked his miracles. He came to save the whole ofhumanity, and almost did not get out of the limited space of his land.Tragically, Jesus has to become aware that the people of those cities didnot want to accept the message of the Kingdom and were not converted.The cities become more rigid in their beliefs, traditions and customs and donot accept the invitation of Jesus to change life. Matthew 11, 21-24: Chorazin, Bethsaida and Capernaum are worse thanTyre and Sidon. In the past, Tyre and Sidon, inflexible enemies of Israel, illtreated the People of God. Because of this they were cursed by theprophets. (Is 23, 1; Jr 25, 22; 47, 4; Ex 26, 3; 27, 2; 28, 2; Jl 4, 4; Am 1, 10).And now Jesus says that these cities, symbols of all evil, would have

already been converted if in them had been worked all the miracles whichwere worked in Chorazin and Bethsaida. The city of Sodom, the symbol ofthe worse perversion, was destroyed by the anger of God (Gn 18, 16 to 19,29). And now Jesus says that Sodom would exist up until now, because itwould have been converted if it had seen the miracles that Jesus worked inCapernaum. Today we still live this same paradox. Many of us, who areCatholics since we were children, have many solid and firm convictions, somuch so that nobody is capable of converting us. And in some places,Christianity, instead of being a source of change and of conversion,becomes the refuge of the most reactionary forces of the politics of thecountry.

4) Personal questions

How do I place myself before the Good News of Jesus: like John theBaptist, like the interested people, like the doctors, like the Pharisees or

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like the simple and poor people? Do my city, my country deserve the warning of Jesus against Capernaum,Chorazion and Bethsaida?5) Concluding PrayerGreat is Yahweh and most worthy of praisein the city of our God, the holy mountain,towering in beauty,the joy of the whole world. (Ps 48,1-2)