4th Sunday Advent

As we have seen for the past three weeks of Advent how the 1st reading foreshadows the gospel story, we see it again most clearly today in this 4th Sunday of Advent. The narrative opens with the king and people enjoying good fortune and peace. King David realized that his success in building a nation
which is now at peace with its neighbors has not been by his doing but by the Lord God. He wants to build a proper temple for the Ark of the Covenant. His intentions are admirable, however, Yahweh takes the initiative and says he does not need a temple but instead God establishes the House (Dynasty) of
David and it is from this House that will be born the Savior of God’s people. God’s promise to David is a firm and unalterable commitment of unconditional love that will last for all eternity.

Paul’s Letter to the Romans assures them that what was once hidden (foretold) had now been revealed in Jesus Christ and that through Him the promise of salvation has been kept which is cause for praise and gratitude from the people.

Luke’s Gospel story of the angel Gabriel appearing to Mary is one that is so familiar to us that it would be easy to just skim over it and miss it’s deeper and more hidden message of the importance of Mary’s role. She is the central and pivotal point in salvation history. The entire world awaits her answer
to God’s question; will she become the Mother of God? Even God awaits her answer. For a young unmarried girl of perhaps 14 or 15 years of age this had to be a frightening experience. In Mary’s time angelic apparitions where not totally uncommon but neither where they common place. We have much reason to believe that she would be fearful. Throughout Israel’s history angelic announcements exacted a price on those who had found favor with God. For Mary, though graced by God would have to endure great hardship. The price one pays for answering Yes to God’s call. Perhaps that’s why so few say yes to the call. As St. Augustine once said, “no wonder you have so few friends, look how badly you treat them.”

This is a momentous moment on which hangs the salvation of human kind. I’m not so sure that any of us would have been so brave to overcome the fear of an unknown future that lay ahead of Mary and still been able to say YES to God’s call.

The angel Gabriel reassures her, “Do not be afraid for you have found favor with God….the child born to you is of the House of King David as was fortold centuries before…the Lord God will give him the throne of David his father…and of his kingdom there will be no end.” Mary is a model of openness and
receptivity irregardless of the hardship, through her God’s plan of salvation is being fulfilled. In her moment of fear and faith she answered God’s question, “be it done to me according to your word…”

Just put yourself in Mary’s place for a moment and ask yourself, what would I have done? God surprised Mary and he surprises us each day too if we watch and wait. What has God done to surprise you recently? What was your answer to God’s surprise in your life?

2nd Sunday in Advent- World AIDS Day Mass

Last week on the First Sunday of Advent, two key words emerged, “Wait” and “Watch.”
This week I believe there are several key words that emerge from our scripture readings today: “Comfort, forgiveness, compassion, HOPE, and Love.”
On this second Sunday of Advent our readings are filled with messages of new life that springs forth from the HOPE that God is about to change their way of living into something wonderful and new. And with this promise the people are charged to go forth and live in the freedom of God’s love, compassion, and forgiveness even though they are still sinners.
“Comfort, give comfort to my people, says you’re God,” are the opening words from the Prophet Isaiah. The people have been living under slavery and very difficult lives of pain and suffering. Part of that suffering came from their belief that Yahweh, their God, had abandoned them. Now the prophet is reassuring them that God has not abandoned them but rather is coming like a shepherd who feeds his flock, and gathers the lambs in his arms.
It is an image of HOPE that God is about to do something new that will change the people forever. John the Baptist echoes this theme in Mark’s Gospel as was foretold by the Prophet Isaiah, “Behold….A voice crying out in the desert: “Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths.” John was that voice crying out for repentance just as the Prophet had done centuries before. This cry should still be echoing in our hearts. Their message from the past is the same message for us today; even in your sinfulness; God is breaking in with forgiveness and filling people’s lives with hope once again. Through Isaiah and John God gives his message of unconditional love.
ADVENT is a time of HOPE, waiting for God to make all things new. We are called to respond to God’s invitation to reflect on our lives; how we live in community and the challenges to us is to act in accordance with God’s forgiveness of our sin and live a new life in the love that God showers upon us. As we begin to accept God’s love and forgiveness even as we recognize our own sinfulness; we are able to live lives of compassion, acceptance, forgiveness, and love of others because we no longer focus on our wrong doing and that of others because God’s unconditional love moves us away from judgment and condemnation. This is the message of the Prophet Isaiah and John the Baptist on this 2nd Sunday of Advent.

Since our first World AIDS Day Mass on December 1, 1992, we have had an unbroken chain of World AIDS Day masses of remembrance, compassion, and healing on the Sunday that falls closest to December 1st. For 12 years I was the appointed director of the HIV/AIDS Ministry for the Archdiocese of Miami which is now in its 19th year. The Bishops of Florida wrote their first Pastoral Letter addressing this issue in November, 1987. Their second Letter furthered their first statement which called for the entire church to become aware and involved in educating ourselves, and caring for the infected and affected by the epidemic of AIDS: “An affliction that is bringing devastating grief and anxiety to the people of our age.”
Their Pastoral opens with a quote from the Document on The Church In the Modern World (Gaudium et Spes,1) from the Second Vatican Council, quote: “The joys and hopes, the grief’s and anxieties of the people of this age, especially those who are poor or in any way afflicted, these, too, are the joys and hopes, the grief’s and anxieties of the followers of Christ.” They go on quoting from Matthew’s Gospel, “As often as you did it for one of my least brothers [sisters], you did it for me.” Mt.25:40.
HIV and AIDS has not gone away, it has just disappeared off the T.V., radio, newspapers, and magazines. Unless you have been personally touched by someone you know or care about, we just don’t think about it anymore. However, let me say that I don’t find that to be the case here at St. Maurice because you have given me unconditional love, and shown more care and compassion to me than I could have ever expected.
And for that I am eternally grateful and work hard to give back to you to be best of my ability. However, this is not true for most people living with this disease; in fact, most people believe that AIDS has a cure or has already ended.
Let me assure you, this is far from the truth. In 1987 Florida had the third largest concentration of AIDS in the United States. Today, 25 years later, we now rank number two in the nation, and we still find far too much prejudice, judgment, rejection, and lack of compassion and acceptance of those living with this disease and their families who live in shame and fear of what might happen to them if people were to find out.
This is a sad fact and it pains me to have to say it. We still have not taken to heart the message of our Bishops that urged us 25 years ago to reject prejudices and reminded us of the Lord’s injunction, “Let the one who is without sin cast the first stone.”
As Catholic Christians called to walk in the light of Christ and to live his message: “love one another as I have loved you;” we are called to act with justice, compassion, and care by our willingness to offer help in whatever form we are able to those living with HIV/AIDS and their families.
In the words of the Bishops, “Above all, we have to bring spiritual and sacramental ministry of strength, comfort and hope to the sufferers.” And in the words of one of my mentors, Cardinal Joseph Bernardin in his “Pastoral Statement on the Church’s Response to the AIDS Crisis,” in October of 1986 writes, “We are called, as a community of faith, to confront courageously and compassionately the suffering and death which AIDS is bringing to our world….To do this, we must put aside our fears, our prejudices, and whatever other agendas we may have in this regard.” He goes on to say, “God is loving and compassionate, not vengeful. Made in God’s image, every human being is of inestimable worth, and the life of all persons…is sacred and their dignity must be respected.”
Pope John Paul II wrote his encyclical entitled, On Human Suffering, in 1984. He reminded us of our grave responsibility as Roman Catholics what Christ’s message is to those who are suffering. He writes, “The parable of the Good Samaritan belongs to the gospel of suffering for it indicates what the relationship of each of us must be toward our suffering neighbor. We are not allowed to ‘pass by on the other side’ indifferently; we must ‘stop’ beside him [her]. Everyone who stops beside the suffering of another person, whatever form it may take, is a Good Samaritan. This stopping does not mean curiosity, but availability… The Good Samaritan of Christ’s parable does not stop at sympathy and compassion alone. They become for him an incentive to actions aimed at bringing help to the injured one…”
In conclusion, World AIDS Day is a time for us to consider the state of the pandemic and the challenges we must overcome to achieve a world without AIDS. It’s a time to reflect on the fact that we ALL have a role to play in ending this decimating disease. On this World AIDS Day, let us spread messages of acceptance, compassion and love of self and others that is so critical to ending AIDS. AMEN.