Ad Clerum 9/12 November 2012

Ad Clerum November 2012

Dear brothers in the Lord I know that you have received a lot of correspondence from me recently, but here is something more for your consideration. Advent and the Advent Fast We are all aware of the spiritual value of fasting and praying; it has been a part of the Christian rhythm of prayer for centuries and of your and my life for decades! This Advent will be different to any other; let me explain. If you follow the newspapers and the projections of both the global and our local economies, it becomes obvious to any thinking person that things are getting worse and not better. The economic situation is not picking up, and countries around the world are desperately struggling with their growing debt. National debt and growing personal poverty will impact heavily on the life of the church this Christmas, for people will be less able to give, and also, many more desperate and destitute people are going to arrive at our doors.

Number 9/12

Fasting is always a means of establishing discipline within ones personal spiritual life, and the life of a church or parish. It is also a way of displaying earnestness about prayer that shows God just how serious we are about a particular issue. These good things do not change they remain relevant. What can change is the use of fasting as an expression of solidarity with the poor and destitute in our cities, towns and parishes. Fasting, my brothers, means far more than just changing the altar frontal to purple! 1

Ad Clerum 9/12 November 2012 If Advent is the time for serious reflection and preparation for the Second Coming of our Lord Jesus Christ, we need to remember that one of the measures against which we will be judged at His Coming is the way in which we have treated our neighbour. The letter of James tells us plainly: What doth it profit, my brethren, though a man say he hath faith, and have not works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister be naked, destitute of daily food, And one of you say unto them: Depart in Peace, be ye warmed and filled, notwithstanding, ye give them not those things that are needful to the body, what doth it profit? Even so faith, if it hath not works, is dead, being alone. Yea, a man may say. Thou hast faith and I have works; Show me thy faith, without thy works and I will show thee my faith by my works. Thou believes that there is one God; thou doest well. The demons also believe, and tremble. But wilt thou know, O vain man, that faith without works is dead? (James 2:14-20) In a very famous incident, two Franciscan friars fought off some robbers who tried to steal their bread. When they told St Francis of the altercation, he made them go, find the robbers and give them their bread. Their need must have been the greater, he said. The friars did as they were instructed and the surprised robbers received a gift of bread and forgiveness! This Advent, then, will see our own people less able to provide for their families than before. It is quite possible that some on Christmas day will have no room in the inn no-where to go, nothing to eat, and worst of all, no-one to love them! Whenever hardship or catastrophe strikes, can you see that it becomes an immediate opportunity for the most basic kind of ministry the ministry of love and care? When chaos seems to rule; that is when the love of the Christian community can be seen as a burning and shining light in the world! Our parishes need to be radically reorganised to express this love to our neighbours; a care group or feeding group during this time would not be out of place? Here is the opportunity for us to take an initiative in the act of Christian Charity. St James, in his passage above, is exactly right! Ours is a consumer world, and a lot of people are very indulged in terms of worldly goods. At Christmas, the church, however, is able to give a gift to everyone that the world cannot give the Peace of Christ, a meaningful human existence, and a clear path forward to a heavenly home. Wrapped in the beauty of the liturgy, hand delivered by the faithful and by you, the clergy, this is a gift that truly lasts, and will carry the desperate even through the valley of the shadow of death itself. This Advent season can be a stepping stone to greater care, greater involvement in your community, and with the added personal benefit of enhanced growth in your own walk of faith!

Ad Clerum 9/12 November 2012 My dear brothers, a true leader leads from the front. As leaders in our communities, the practice of fasting and the discipline of prayer need to be plainly seen in each of us. People will follow a good and strong example willingly. Equally, the care and love that is shown by the community has to begin somewhere; it has to begin with us! We cannot expect the womens or mens groups or the youth to initiate a caring and loving ministry; it has to begin with us. Integrity means to be in truth that which you say you are (Socrates). Our Lord Jesus Christ was visibly involved in the communities he visited, healing the sick, binding up the broken-hearted, restoring sinners to God. As Ordained men, we are Jesus visible in the community and His loving presence is expressed in and through us. In essence, we are our parish and our parish is us; an expression of our energy, our love of God and our commitment to our people. We all know that doctors no longer like to make house calls. When I was young, the doctor would always visit. Many within that profession have lost the element of care. When I was a young curate, one of my rectors told me that the people must come to him, he does not visit! Also, on Mondays he rests, on Tuesdays he prays and he is not available on Fridays and Saturdays; that was family time. I could not agree with his approach. Unless we work hard, visit our people and our spiritual disciplines are visible in the community, what example is there for our people to follow? So it will be this Advent care and real concern for our people, and the love of Christ expressed through our own acts of charity will be the best witness for our ministry and our parishes. So where will you begin? I cannot dictate to you; you know yourself and the needs of your people better than anyone else. Perhaps I can make a suggestion? We are called to be servants of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to care for His sheep? Therefore, it all begins with obedience, love and discipline; a simple model for us to follow. In this Advent season it will be the obedience to His divine commands, the discipline of fasting and praying, and the love that is shown to our people that will set the spiritual tone. I wish you every blessing as you prepare yourself for the Season of Advent. I spoke of being competitive in the last ad Clerum. together let us show the world just how seriously we take our faith! In Christ