1st Sunday of Advent

Today is the first Sunday of Advent, a time to begin to prepare our hearts for the coming of the Lord, and also National AIDS Sunday. The gospel sounds calamitous and apocalyptic.

We can think that the end of the world is coming!“Then there will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the earth anguish of perplexed nations when they hear the roaring of the sea and its waves. People will faint with fear…”

Perhaps when we hear statistics about HIV and AIDS we can feel fear and anxiety: nine new cases every day, around 300 a month, mostly aged 15 to 29 years old. It is challenging to note that in the world there are only 7 countries where AIDS is increasing and the Philippines is one of those places. But the gospel is good news.

Advent is not a preparation for the end of the world but for the coming of Christ. That is why our evangelist Luke continues: At this time they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When you see these things, stand upright, lift up your heads for your deliverance is drawing near.”Do not be afraid. Like the Church T-shirt about AIDS that says “0% fear, 100% love” because love conquers all, love is stronger than death and love is eternal.

As Church and as Christians, we are called to respond to the challenge of the AIDS epidemic. The first way to respond is to know about the reality—because ignorance and indifference puts lives in danger. If I was to ask you who is at most risk of the disease, how would you respond? I would say all of us. It’s not a we vs. them situation. As human beings, we are all vulnerable.

In the Philippines, the main mode of transmission is sexual contact but also through injecting drug use. Contamination through infected blood is thankfully rare through improved blood screening. To combat sexual spread of the HIV virus, the Church advocates abstinence before marriage, and in marriage, monogamous fidelity—to be faithful to your spouse. When I think of fidelity, I often think of the example of my parents, married for over 40 years. When I asked my father for the secret to their fidelity, he gave me a highly theological answer: “Jesus is the glue that holds us together”!

On this National AIDS Sunday we are also exhorted to reflect on how we can continue to reach out to all our brothers and sisters at risk or affected by the disease. St. Paul in the second reading of today, from his first letter to the church of Thessalonica says, “May the Lord increase more and more your love for each other and for all people, as he increases our love for you. May he strengthen you innerly . . . ” so that we can better reach out. The CBCP reminds us that “every Christian must reach out to members of our families and society who may be at risk of the virus and offer compassionate understanding and the support they need.” Sometimes we can be afraid to reach out, not sure how to, even not knowing how to deal with those people who have contracted the disease.

For example, to the most at risk group, called MSM, men who have relations with other men. And those people in prostitution who areoften themselves victims of violence and poverty. Sometimes these groups feel abandoned or ignored. As Church we have to reach out, perhaps more. It reminds me of an image on the Holy Door of St Peters Basilica in Rome. This door has various biblical scenes etched in bronze such as creation and the annunciation. There is one panel dedicated to the Good Shepherd—it is dramatic! Like Cliffhanger—the Good Shepherd is hanging onto the cliff with one hand, and reaching down to catch a lost sheep that has fallen and is hanging from a branch below. The words written are “quod perierat salvare” (To save that which was lost).

Sisters and brothers, we need to reach out more to those in need. I was reminded of that going to bless a call center recently. On the way to the blessing the owner expressed concern for his young employees, many who were living a promiscuous lifestyle and far from the Church. Some do not go to Mass—they work overnight, and sleep during Sunday. It seemed to me that they were lost and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd. The Church is already doing a lot—25 percent of the education, prevention, treatment and counseling for people living with HIV and AIDS around the world is provided by the Catholic Church.

But we can do more. What can you do to reach out more? I said, “OK, I will come and celebrate a mass at Christmas and we can have a recollection.” I think as Church we can all do a little bit more.

Let us resolve to do our best as we wait in joyful hope for the coming of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Let us open the manger of our hearts to receive the Savior who is soon to be born.