Third Sunday After The Epiphany: Jesus Calls and Loves Us Where We Are

Today's Scripture Readings

Jonah 3:1-5, 10 (NRSV)

The word of the LORD came to Jonah a second time, saying, "Get up, go to Nineveh, that great city, and proclaim to it the message that I tell you." So Jonah set out and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the LORD. Now Nineveh was an exceedingly large city, a three days' walk across. Jonah began to go into the city, going a day's walk. And he cried out, "Forty days more, and Nineveh shall be overthrown!" And the people of Nineveh believed God; they proclaimed a fast, and everyone, great and small, put on sackcloth.

When God saw what they did, how they turned from their evil ways, God changed his mind about the calamity that he had said he would bring upon them; and he did not do.

Psalm 62 (BCP., p.669)


1 Corinthians 7:29-31 (NRSV)

I mean, brothers and sisters, the appointed time has grown short; from now on, let even those who have wives be as though they had none, and those who mourn as though they were not mourning, and those who rejoice as though they were not rejoicing, and those who buy as though they had no possessions, and those who deal with the world as though they had no dealings with it. For the present form of this world is passing away.

Mark 1:14-20 (NRSV)

Now after John was arrested, Jesus came to Galilee, proclaiming the good news of God, and saying, "The time is fulfilled, and the kingdom of God has come near; repent, and believe in the good news."

As Jesus passed along the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting a net into the sea-- for they were fishermen. And Jesus said to them, "Follow me and I will make you fish for people." And immediately they left their nets and followed him. As he went a little farther, he saw James son of Zebedee and his brother John, who were in their boat mending the nets. Immediately he called them; and they left their father Zebedee in the boat with the hired men, and followed him.

Blog Reflection

I often wonder what score those first disciples would have gotten on their General Ordination Exams (GOE).  Who would their facilitators been?  Even more so, who would have been on their discernment committees?   Who would their Formation Masters have been?  If a church body were able to determine their suitability for ministry, what kind of criteria would be used?  What might the Church look like today if a Vocation's Director decided that Peter or John were not qualified to be Apostles?

The readings for today are all about God calling us.  God called Jonah to go to the people of Nineveh.  Paul tells us to go on our way as if we have nothing.  Jesus calls those first disciples from where they are.  In Mark's Gospel, this narrative does not go one with the endless names.  It just gives a few names and says they left what they had in hand and followed Jesus.  It sounds to me like Mark doesn't want to waste any time.

God calls us where we are, because God loves us where we are in Jesus.  Jesus was God's prefect revelation in the human person.  All of our human limitations, potential and promise came to us infused by the Divine Presence in God's Anointed One.  "All the fullness of God's Divinity was pleased to dwell" (see Colossians 1:19) in our humanity in Jesus who came to love us where we are, and call us to do God's work in obedience to God's will in the here and now.  The obstacles we face in our lives including the labels others place upon us, along with whatever our history may say about us; prevent God from bringing us where God wants us, only if we put ourselves in God's way.

Though I am a Monk in training, there are so many ways in which I fail to be obedient, or agree to conversion of my manners, and evade God through instability.  God does not ask me (or anyone) to always succeed.  All God asks of us is to be faithful in responding to Jesus who loves us and calls us from where we are.  The way to holiness of heart and life is through allowing God to love us in the midst of our pain, disobedience and confusion and bring about God's healing and reconciliation in our lives and those around us.  In The Rule of St. Benedict at the end of Chapter 4 On the Tools of Good Works, he writes: "never despair of God's mercy." 

God calls us without discriminating against our gender, race, culture, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, health condition, disability, language or for any other reason.  It is we who discriminate against ourselves and/or one another.  Each of us are called and loved by Jesus to do in this moment, in this vocation and doing this work what the Holy Spirit empowers us to do.  Whether that vocation is ordained ministry, parents, spouses, manual labor, religious life, lay people, teaching, social justice work and/or administration.  This list is hardly comprehensive.  I have left out a vocation that someone is being called to right now.

Are we listening for God to call us right here and now?

What are we ready to set aside to follow the God who loves us and calls us "by name"?  (See Isaiah 43:1b).

What do we hear God calling us to in the depths of our hearts?

Jesus is calling each of us to let Him love us here where we are.   The sky is the limit with the possibilities that are before us if we accept the love and call of Jesus.  

What will your answer be?

O Jesus, joy of loving hearts,
the fount of life and our true light,
we seek the peace your love imparts,
and stand rejoicing in your sight.
(Hymnal 1980 #649).

Prayers

Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our
Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News
of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for the Third Sunday After the Epiphany.  The Book of Common Prayer, p. 215).

Almighty and everlasting God, by whose Spirit the whole
body of your faithful people is governed and sanctified:
Receive our supplications and prayers which we offer before
you for all members of your holy Church, that in their
vocation and ministry they may truly and devoutly serve you;
through our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Amen.  (Prayer for Mission, The Book of Common Prayer, p.100).

Almighty Father, whose blessed Son before his passion prayed
for his disciples that they might be one, as you and he are one:
Grant that your Church, being bound together in love and
obedience to you, may be united in one body by the one Spirit,
that the world may believe in him whom you have sent, your
Son Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in
the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.  (Prayer for the Unity of the Church, The Book of Common Prayer, p.255).

Twelfth Sunday after Pentecost: Love the Cross. The Cross is Love.

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 15:15-21 (NRSV)

O LORD, you know;

remember me and visit me,

and bring down retribution for me on my persecutors.

In your forbearance do not take me away;

know that on your account I suffer insult.

Your words were found, and I ate them,

and your words became to me a joy

and the delight of my heart;

for I am called by your name,

O LORD, God of hosts.

I did not sit in the company of merrymakers,

nor did I rejoice;

under the weight of your hand I sat alone,

for you had filled me with indignation.

Why is my pain unceasing,

my wound incurable,

refusing to be healed?

Truly, you are to me like a deceitful brook,

like waters that fail.

Therefore thus says the LORD:

If you turn back, I will take you back,

and you shall stand before me.

If you utter what is precious, and not what is worthless,

you shall serve as my mouth.

It is they who will turn to you,

not you who will turn to them.

And I will make you to this people

a fortified wall of bronze;

they will fight against you,

but they shall not prevail over you,

for I am with you

to save you and deliver you,

says the LORD.

I will deliver you out of the hand of the wicked,

and redeem you from the grasp of the ruthless.

Psalm 26 (BCP., p.616).


Romans 12: 9-21 (NRSV)

Let love be genuine; hate what is evil, hold fast to what is good; love one another with mutual affection; outdo one another in showing honor. Do not lag in zeal, be ardent in spirit, serve the Lord. Rejoice in hope, be patient in suffering, persevere in prayer. Contribute to the needs of the saints; extend hospitality to strangers.

Bless those who persecute you; bless and do not curse them. Rejoice with those who rejoice, weep with those who weep. Live in harmony with one another; do not be haughty, but associate with the lowly; do not claim to be wiser than you are. Do not repay anyone evil for evil, but take thought for what is noble in the sight of all. If it is possible, so far as it depends on you, live peaceably with all. Beloved, never avenge yourselves, but leave room for the wrath of God; for it is written, "Vengeance is mine, I will repay, says the Lord." No, "if your enemies are hungry, feed them; if they are thirsty, give them something to drink; for by doing this you will heap burning coals on their heads." Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good.

Matthew 16: 2-28 (NRSV)

Jesus began to show his disciples that he must go to Jerusalem and undergo great suffering at the hands of the elders and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and on the third day be raised. And Peter took him aside and began to rebuke him, saying, "God forbid it, Lord! This must never happen to you." But he turned and said to Peter, "Get behind me, Satan! You are a stumbling block to me; for you are setting your mind not on divine things but on human things."

Then Jesus told his disciples, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake will find it. For what will it profit them if they gain the whole world but forfeit their life? Or what will they give in return for their life?

"For the Son of Man is to come with his angels in the glory of his Father, and then he will repay everyone for what has been done. Truly I tell you, there are some standing here who will not taste death before they see the Son of Man coming in his kingdom."

Blog Reflection

At times, you have to wonder if Christians give any thought to what we look like to those who observe us.  We say our prayers, recite our creeds and receive the Sacraments.  We boast of the word of God.   We say we believe in the love of God, neighbor and self.  Yet, what so many see, are Christians clinging to a faith without evidence of reality.   The more Christians are viewed as supporting injustice and oppression, including violence and prejudice the less real our Christian Faith appears to those looking from the outside in.

Just this past week, there was a horrible story about two Christian parents who beat up their gay son, after they disowned him.   Just the notion that a Christian would justify an act of heinous violence is frightening to say the least.  Not only does the Name of Jesus Christ become profaned by things like this, but the hope that Jesus could make a real difference in the life of that young man might very well be crushed.  In the son's case, any effort to embrace God with the reality of who he is, will seem like that God is just against him.  What he may never know, is that God's love for him does not stop because he is gay. 

As I read from the Prophet Jeremiah, I think he must have felt like that.  Jeremiah was speaking the truth about God to God's people.  They had indulged in acts of injustice.  They had forgotten all the wonderful things God did through out their history.  He was doing the work God gave him. Yet, all he found was resistance, threats against his life, and those who ignored him.  God in this reading does not promise to take him away from all that is happening to him, God promises to be with Jeremiah and that in the end, God's will will prevail for Jeremiah and for God's people.   God gives Jeremiah hope to face his sufferings and his salvation.

When Jesus tells Peter and the other disciples about His coming death, Peter did what I believe we all would have done.  If a man knows he is about to be killed, the proper thing to do is to try to save his life.  How could Peter and the others, get to know this amazing man, see his miracles, hear his words and just let him die?   That would be the case, except Jesus was God's perfect revelation of God's Self.   Jesus came to redeem us from our personal and spiritual immaturity, and return us to our Divine relationship with God.   Our redemption in Christ not only returns us to friendship with God, but also restores the relationship of humankind with the human community.   To experience the contemplative vision into ourselves, with a renewed view of the world around us.

"The function of prayer is to change my own mind, to put on the mind of Christ, to enable grace to break into me. When prayer is privatized religion on a spree, it's not prayer. Contemplative prayer, converting prayer, is prayer that sees the whole world through incense--a holy place, a place where the sacred dwells, a place to be made different by those who pray, a place where God sweetens living with the beauty of life. Contemplative prayer is prayer that leads us to see the world through the eyes of God." (Sr. Joan Chittister, OSB, Wisdom Distilled From the Daily: Living the Rule of St. Benedict Today. p.35).

Jesus accomplishes all that He sets out to do, through the Cross.  Our hope of knowing Christ in our own lives and sharing Him with others, is when we accept our crosses and follow Him in obedience to the will of God out of love.   Our cross as Christians, comes because we see past human labels, the suggestion that some people are first class citizens, and others are secondary and we embrace Jesus Christ and Him crucified as we embrace others because of Christ's love for us.   The love of God comes through laying down our lives for others.  In our relationships, in our communities, in those places where life is anything but certain.  Jesus Christ and His Cross lovingly saves us from our own sense of certainty.   We are saved to live with open hearts, minds and arms to love others as Christ has loved  us.

If you are like me, you can read these words and even repeat them.  But, to live them means we have to face our own prejudices, and displace our comfort zones.   To do what this Gospel reading is about, we must let the Holy Spirit lead us away from complacency, so we can be open to conversion.   A conversion that wants to see an end to the racism that has lead to the excessive violence in Ferguson, and calls out the injustice for what it is.   A change of heart and life, that rejects heterosexism that breeds a hate so violent that the beating described above, ex-gay groups and so forth is condoned, and Christianity continues getting a very bad name.

As we journey from the summer into Labor Day weekend, may be all pray and work together so that we may fulfill the vows of our Baptismal Covenant, and bring the honor and glory due the Name of Jesus Christ.   May our efforts be blessed by the Holy Spirit, and what we accomplish give evidence of God's transforming grace.

Amen.



Prayers

Lord of all power and might, the author and giver of all good
things: Graft in our hearts the love of your Name; increase in
us true religion; nourish us with all goodness; and bring forth
in us the fruit of good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God,
for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 17. The Book of Common Prayer, p.233).

Almighty God, you have so linked our lives one with another
that all we do affects, for good or ill, all other lives: So guide
us in the work we do, that we may do it not for self alone, but
for the common good; and, as we seek a proper return for
our own labor, make us mindful of the rightful aspirations of
other workers, and arouse our concern for those who are out
of work; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns
with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen. (Collect for Labor Day, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 261).

Almighty God, who created us in your image: Grant us
grace fearlessly to contend against evil and to make no peace
with oppression; and, that we may reverently use our freedom,
help us to employ it in the maintenance of justice in our
communities and among the nations, to the glory of your holy
Name; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Prayer for Social Justice, The Book of Common Prayer, p. 260).

Cornelius the Centurion: Being Open to New Things

Today's Scripture Reading


Acts 11:1-18  (NRSV)

Now the apostles and the believers who were in Judea heard that the Gentiles had also accepted the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him, saying, "Why did you go to uncircumcised men and eat with them?" Then Peter began to explain it to them, step by step, saying, "I was in the city of Joppa praying, and in a trance I saw a vision. There was something like a large sheet coming down from heaven, being lowered by its four corners; and it came close to me. As I looked at it closely I saw four-footed animals, beasts of prey, reptiles, and birds of the air. I also heard a voice saying to me, `Get up, Peter; kill and eat.' But I replied, `By no means, Lord; for nothing profane or unclean has ever entered my mouth.' But a second time the voice answered from heaven, `What God has made clean, you must not call profane.' This happened three times; then everything was pulled up again to heaven. At that very moment three men, sent to me from Caesarea, arrived at the house where we were. The Spirit told me to go with them and not to make a distinction between them and us. These six brothers also accompanied me, and we entered the man's house. He told us how he had seen the angel standing in his house and saying, `Send to Joppa and bring Simon, who is called Peter; he will give you a message by which you and your entire household will be saved.' And as I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell upon them just as it had upon us at the beginning. And I remembered the word of the Lord, how he had said, `John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.' If then God gave them the same gift that he gave us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could hinder God?" When they heard this, they were silenced. And they praised God, saying, "Then God has given even to the Gentiles the repentance that leads to life."

Blog Reflection

Reading the story of Peter's experience in Joppa shows us that he had a lot of growing up to do.  Peter was used to the Christian Faith being one that only should apply to the Jews who followed Christ.  While Christianity was not suppose to become the religion of supercessionism, it also was not to be isolated to only one people, place or time.  Nor was it to be a Faith that was stagnant.  Peter is met head on with his own narrow prejudices.  God's Spirit told him "What God has made clean, you must not call profane."

Cornelius received the Christian Faith, because the Apostles minds were opened to sharing it with people outside of their comfort zones.  They could begin to understand that the Gospel is meant to defy human logic, and yet it is to communicate love and respect for the dignity of all human persons.  So does our Baptismal Covenant in the Book of Common Prayer p. 292-294.

This is such a great commemoration on the same day that the Federal Court of Appeals in the Ninth Circuit ruled that Proposition 8 that restricts marriage for straight people is unconstitutional.  You can read the entire document of that ruling here.  LGBT people all over the country are celebrating this moment of victory for the hopes of full marriage equality.   What a wonderful day.

The internet is buzzing with the usual good news, along with comments from those who oppose Prop. 8 as well as those who want it to stay put.  Tony Perkins from the Family Research Council.   Concerned Women for America.  The Alliance Defense Fund.  The National Organization for Marriage.  Catholics for the "Common Good."  These groups have all come out with their usual hateful rhetoric and total disregard for Christian Charity,  tooting their own horns about today's ruling as "bad for children and families" etc, etc.

This kind of reaction brings me back to the words Jesus spoke in John 16: 12 and 13.

"I still have many things to say to you, but you cannot bear them now.  When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into all truth; for he will not speak on his own, but will speak whatever he hears, and he will declare to you the things that are to come." 

I think the experience of Peter that led to the conversion of Cornelius is a perfect example of the Holy Spirit leading the Church into all truth.  The Church and hopefully all Christians are still being led into all truth. We are not completely there yet.  Truth for Christians was revealed in someone, namely Jesus Christ. That Truth is never stagnant or complete until he returns.  In the mean time, the Holy Spirit is still speaking those things that are to come.  For us in the 21st Century, that appears to be recognizing that LGBT people are good and holy as we are.  Our sexuality is blessed by God as a means of loving others, and serving everyone's "common good" and not just a certain few.  When exercised in holy and life-giving relationships, the sexual expression between two people of the same-sex communicates love and the self sacrifice of one person for the other.  Yes, these things are possible as God continues to lead us into all truth as our Mother the Holy Spirit speaks and declares what is to come.

It is possible for us, just as it was for Peter and Cornelius. to be drawn to a greater understanding of God, others and ourselves by being open to that Conversion of Life St. Benedict refers to in the Rule that calls us to serve others out of reverence for Christ.  What is needed is for us to be open and willing to allow God to change our hearts and to repent of our sins of prejudice in attitudes and behaviors. 

May the Holy Spirit continue to guide us into all truth, and help us to be open to new things for the glory of God's reign.  Because Jesus also said: "Walk while you have the light, so that the darkness may not overtake you." (John 12: 35).


Prayers

O God, by your Spirit you called Cornelius the Centurion to be the first Christian among the Gentiles; Grant to your Church such a ready will to go where you send and to do what you command, that under your guidance it may welcome all who turn to you in love and faith, and proclaim the Gospel to all nations; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.  (Collect for Cornelius the Centurion, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 215).

Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us
the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known
to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns
with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and
for ever. Amen.  (Fifth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, p. 216).


O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).

World AIDS Day: A Lesson for Christians and All Humankind Still Unlearned

Today's Scripture Readings

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).