Gospel for Feast of St. Nicholas Ferrar
Matthew 13:47-52 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "The kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Gospel for Thursday in the First Week of Advent
Matthew 7: 21-27 (NRSV)
‘Not everyone who says to me, “Lord, Lord”, will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only one who does the will of my Father in heaven. On that day many will say to me, “Lord, Lord, did we not prophesy in your name, and cast out demons in your name, and do many deeds of power in your name?” Then I will declare to them, “I never knew you; go away from me, you evildoers.”
‘Everyone then who hears these words of mine and acts on them will be like a wise man who built his house on rock. The rain fell, the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on rock. And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a foolish man who built his house on sand. The rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell—and great was its fall!’
Blog Reflection
One of the points I write probably most than any other in my blog is how we react and/or treat others who are different than ourselves. This World AIDS Day that we commemorate today is one by which my own hypocrisy as a Christian and a gay man hits me square in the face. In my heart I care deeply about people who live with HIV/AIDS. Yet in my own mind I am ignorant and at times negligent to the call on my life by the Gospel of Jesus Christ.
The Episcopal Church today also commemorates the Deacon Nicholas Ferrar. A man who lived between the years 1592 and 1637, Nicholas Ferrar was also the founder of a religious community at Little Giddings in Huntingdonshire, England that existed from 1626-1646 (HMHW Page 92). Ferrar was observant of the Anglican Book of Common Prayer and was well known for his personal piety. Ferrar had a faith that was alive and full of devotion.
The Gospel for today's commemoration of Nicholas Ferrar and Wednesday of the First Week of Advent, give to us an important lesson on this World AIDS Day. The lesson today is that there is work for everyone to do in pursuit of God's will. No one of us has everything completely correct. People can have different opinions about how to do things and/or what to believe and we can stay at the table of discussion, debate and continue working together to do better than we are doing today. Every person has something important to contribute. It is not our place to disqualify people from participation in the building up of God's reign.
The Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church, the Most Rev. Katherine Jefferts Schori and the Presiding Bishop of the ELCA, Mark Hanson have issued a World AIDS Day letter. Below is the sentence I read from the letter in The Lead.
“World AIDS Day is an opportunity for each of us to reflect on God’s call to lift up the dignity and value of each person.”
In the same blog post you will find a link to a video made by the Archbishop of Canterbury about his recent visit to the Democratic Republic of Congo. Below, see the excerpt from the blog post.
“Trauma is something which cannot be overcome overnight but when people feel they’ve been abandoned by families, by communities, because of the shame and stigma of HIV/AIDS, the church in this part of Congo has been there for them. For these people, who have been abused systematically, been raped, violated, abducted often at the youngest of ages – for these people, the church has been the family that mattered.”
I cannot, however, discontinue my quotations from The Lead Blog from The Episcopal Cafe without including the comment just below the post.
While some self-identified Christians have made it clear they see HIV/AIDS as God's "punishment" or "severe mercy" against "sinners," I've always thought it just might be God's test to imitate his innate mercy and compassion toward others -- in which case, many Christians have miserably failed. We really need to take a cue from how Christ Jesus treated the lepers and outcasts of his own day. (Posted by Gregory Orloff).
I am most grateful for the contributions of the Presiding Bishops, the Archbishop of Canterbury and Gregory Orloff. However, I feel it is very important for me to add some things for both our devotion and to help frame our movement to create change in both the Church and society for people living with HIV/AIDS.
It really is not enough to write and say what has already been put in print. To be faithful disciples of Jesus Christ as we prepare to remember the coming of the Lord during this Season of Advent, we must do more than pay lip service. We must do more than express outrage over how many in the Church and in civil governments have failed people who live with HIV/AIDS. LGBTQ people need to do more than just celebrate this World AIDS Day in memory of all who have died because of the dreaded disease, and pour our money into organizations to work for comprehensive sex education and research for a cure for HIV/AIDS. We (and yes I include myself) must understand that the person who lives with HIV/AIDS and those who live with the possibility of contracting HIV/AIDS are sisters and brothers in humanity and in Christ Jesus who's dignity must be defended and who's lives need our compassionate heartfelt love and affection.
As Christians it is not enough to call Jesus our Lord in our prayers and creeds, if we are only going to turn our backs or up our noses at individuals living with HIV/AIDS as if we owe them no sensitivity or understanding.
I remember the first time I was told by someone I was talking to that he is HIV positive. Honestly, I did not know what to say or do. I stood there for the longest time totally speechless. And believe me, that does not happen very often. I know of another wonderful individual who lives with HIV. When I see him and talk with him, I cry inside because of how much I care about him. Both of these individuals have taught me more about what it means to have courage in the face of the possibility that their disease could kill them someday. They have witnessed for me the fortitude of Jesus Christ hanging from the Cross as he says: "Father, forgive them, they know not what they do." Even if they do not think the thought or say the words.
"Only the one who does the will of my Father" said Jesus.
Doing the will of God means being willing to take a risk. Even taking a most unpopular risk and to love someone who is considered unlovable. Doing the will of God can also mean allowing someone that I have a hard time with because of my own hypocrisy and fears, to show me God's face and the power of God's love coming from "the least of these who are members of my family (Matthew 25: 40).
If we want to take with us the lesson of the devotion of Nicholas Ferrar. If we want to make a difference on this World AIDS Day. Then we must be willing to do more than talk, weep, remember, re-educate and all that. We must allow our hearts and minds to touch Jesus Christ and be moved by Jesus Christ touching us in such a way that it changes our lives and the lives of the world for the better. Changed minds, hearts and lives that have more compassion, strength, hope and the drive to keep on going when all hell is breaking loose. That is doing the will of God.
Prayers
Lord God, make us worthy of your perfect love; that, with your deacon Nicholas Ferrar and his household, we may rule ourselves according to your Word, and serve you with our whole heart; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Nicholas Ferrar, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 93).
Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the First Sunday in Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 211).
Loving God, You provide comfort and hope to those who suffer. Be present with all HIV positive persons and their families in this and every land, that they may be strengthened in their search for health, wholeness and abundant living, through Christ our Companion. Amen. (Collect for World AIDS Day, National Episcopal AIDS Coalition).
Prayers of the People on World AIDS Day
Holy Friend and Comforter: On this World AIDS Day we remember especially the thirty three million persons now living with HIV in all nations. Be with them, we pray. Lord, hear our prayer. Lead our government and the governments of all countries to protect and promote the rights of HIVpositive persons to treatment, health and stigma-free living.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Be with groups and organizations that respond faithfully and with sacrifice to the daily needs of HIVpositive persons for food, housing, health care and employment. [We
remember especially _________________________.]
Lord, hear our prayer.
Guide all organizations that advocate HIV/AIDS prevention through education and outreach that they may be successful in their efforts especially among at-risk populations and among those with health disparities. [We remember especially__________________.]
Lord, hear our prayer.
Inspire and encourage the men and woman who spend their lives researching treatments and possible cures for HIV/AIDS.
Lord, hear our prayer.
Receive all who have died of AIDS and give them healing peace in your eternal presence. [We remember especially ___________________.]
Caring God, you have promised “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5b). It is with this calm assurance, believing that your Kingdom will come, that we offer our prayers to you this day through Jesus Christ. Amen. (National Episcopal AIDS Coalition).
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