St. Andrew the Apostle and World AIDS Day

Today's Scripture Readings

Deuteronomy 30:11-14 (NRSV)

Moses said to the people of Israel: Surely, this commandment that I am commanding you today is not too hard for you, nor is it too far away. It is not in heaven, that you should say, "Who will go up to heaven for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" Neither is it beyond the sea, that you should say, "Who will cross to the other side of the sea for us, and get it for us so that we may hear it and observe it?" No, the word is very near to you; it is in your mouth and in your heart for you to observe.

Psalm 19 (BCP., p.606)


Romans 10:8b-18 (NRSV)

"The word is near you, 

on your lips and in your heart"

(that is, the word of faith that we proclaim); because if you confess with your lips that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For one believes with the heart and so is justified, and one confesses with the mouth and so is saved. The scripture says, "No one who believes in him will be put to shame." For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; the same Lord is Lord of all and is generous to all who call on him. For, "Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord shall be saved."

But how are they to call on one in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in one of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone to proclaim him? And how are they to proclaim him unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!" But not all have obeyed the good news; for Isaiah says, "Lord, who has believed our message?" So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ.

But I ask, have they not heard? Indeed they have; for 

"Their voice has gone out to all the earth,

and their words to the ends of the world."

Matthew 4:`8-11 (NRSV)

As Jesus walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.

Blog Reflection

Forward Day by Day has an excellent reflection for us today.

Have you ever stepped into the unknown? It can be scary. There may be much that’s unknown when you make a new beginning. The fishermen took a giant step into the unknown when they got out of their boats to follow Jesus. Where would he take them? What would they do? What would happen? There was no way for them to know. But they knew enough to trust Jesus and to accept his invitation.

It was costly discipleship for the fishermen to follow Jesus. They let go of important things. But they were ready for the new life that Jesus offered them. They were ready for a new beginning, even if they didn’t know all it would mean or everything that would happen.

We make a new beginning this Advent. Jesus calls us to step into a new life and an unknown future. We can trust and not hold back. He will find us there.

The other Gospel Reading for St. Andrew is taken from the Daily Office at Vespers.  In John 1:35-42 we read that Andrew went and found his brother Simon and said, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated "Anointed").  He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter)." 

In Matthew's Gospel, Andrew is among the newly called who have to step forward in "a new beginning."  In John, Andrew is the one who goes and brings Peter to Jesus.  They seem to contradict each other do they not? 

This is why I think that the Feast of St. Andrew and World AIDS Day being on the same day could not be more profound.  Jesus called those first Apostles among them Andrew while they were doing their usual daily work.  They left behind what they had in hand and followed Him, even though they were full of uncertainty.  Jesus does not call us when it is convenient or even comfortable.  He speaks to the depths of our souls and makes us downright uncomfortable.  God does not want us to become complacent in our own little world while pretending that there aren't other things to take care of. 

The very first word in The Rule of St. Benedict is "Listen."  Cyprian Smith, O.S.B. in his book, The Path of Life: Benedictine Spirituality for Monks and Lay People wrote, "The whole spiritual life of the Christian....is a process of listening to God, "inclining the ears of the heart,"   Lonni Collins Pratt and Fr. Danieal Homan, OSB in their book, Benedict's Way: An Ancient Monk's Insights for A Balanced Life talk about the need to listen to God through all of life's events.   

It is amazing that even in 2014, well after thirty years since we first heard the word AIDS or HIV that so many in the Church, society and even the LGBT communities pretend that the issue no longer exists or effects us.  We have drugs that help people with HIV/AIDS live longer and healthier lives.  Yet, the negative stereotypes regarding HIV/AIDS and those who live with the threat of and/or the disease itself continue with all the toxicity of stigmatization.  Many Christians still live in ignorance stating that HIV/AIDS was and still is "God's punishment for homosexuality."   Yet, if we listen to God through life as St. Benedict tells us, we are all being called as St. Andrew was to see the face of Christ in our sisters and brothers who live with HIV/AIDS.  Ignoring them is to be tone deaf to the Gospel message of what the Season of Advent is all about.   We were told in the Gospel Reading for the First Sunday of Advent to "Keep awake."   The more we ignore and pretend HIV/AIDS is not a real issue in our time, the more it appears as if we are asleep while the real world passes us by.

May we like St. Andrew respond to the call of Christ to follow Him, and bring those closest to us to love and know Him in faith.   Let us see HIV/AIDS and those who live with the effects of it as the presence of God among us, calling us to compassion and concern through prayer and work on their behalf.   May we embrace individuals with HIV/AIDS with sincere love and open minds; letting go of the stereotypes so that the Kingdom of God already here, but not yet; may bring about healing and reconciliation for all.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty God, who gave such grace to your apostle Andrew
that he readily obeyed the call of your Son Jesus Christ, and
brought his brother with him: Give us, who are called by
your holy Word, grace to follow him without delay, and to
bring those near to us into his gracious presence; who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Collect for St. Andrew.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 237).

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 of Advent.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 211).