DECEMBER THOUGHTS FOR THE DAY – ADVENT AND CHRISTMAS. Introduction.   What does this mean to be a family of families and hope for the future? Each family is unique with our own special relationships, our love, hopes, joys and anxieties. We thank our Creator for the inbuilt sense of family, of belonging to one another and to our God. Family-mindedness is a cause of our hope.  St Francis and Pope Francis speak of all the creatures, animal and plant paying homage to their Creator. We acknowledge that we humans can and should address the challenges and fulfill the hope for a future filled with peace and joy.   16 DAYS OF ACTIVISM for no violence against women and children is commemorated from 25 November to 10 December.  THE THOUGHTS OF THE DAY for the month of December can be downloaded and also bought in booklet form from MARFAM shop.

1 December. Advent 1C. World AIDS Day. Adam and Eve. The 1st Advent candle is lit as we share and pray.  Johnson sat thinking back over the last 25 years or so. Although the incidence and infection rate has declined since the  greater use of anti-retroviral drugs HIV/AIDS is still a major health issue. All sectors of the population, men, women and children continue to be affected and have to remain on treatment. “When AIDS was first diagnosed there was so much fear, shame and stigma. Few people would say, “My son is infected,” or “My daughter died of AIDS.” Families closed ranks and AIDS was the reason why my wife and I ended up looking after 6 grandchildren at one time and our daughter and son came home very sick. She died in those early days but he is well and 2 of the grandchildren are on ARV treatment.”

Johnson turned to Josephine and asked, “Should there still be shame attached?  We say it is a disease and not a sin and it can be, but so often there was a sinful act committed somewhere that caused the infection and had such an impact on many others in families. It is wrong that the rate is still too high, maybe that should make us feel guilt and shame. Right from the time of Adam and Eve there has been sin and shame. They were created to live in harmony with God and one another. After their sin of disobedience when God came looking for them he found them wearing fig leaves because they had become ashamed of their nakedness.  Do we feel shame and guilt about the way we have sinned by abusing God’s creation? “ Josephine responded. “But there is hope. AIDS is hardly the curse it was before.”   

Scripture: Jesus said, there will be signs in the sun and moon and stars and upon the earth distress of nations in perplexity at the roaring of the sea and the waves, men fainting with fear and with foreboding of what is coming on the world, for the power of the heavens will be shaken.  And then they will see the Son of man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Look up because your redemption is drawing near.  But watch at all times praying to have strength to escape all these things and to stand before the Son of man.  From Luke 21: 25-36. Pope Francis: Human life is grounded in three fundamental and closely intertwined relationships : with God, with our neighbour and with the earth.   These three have been broken, outwardly and within us.  This rupture is sin.  LS 66.  Attacks on nature have consequences for people’s lives. The African bishops state that climate change makes manifest a tragic and striking example of structural sin. LD 3. The God who created the universe out of nothing can also intervene in this world and overcome every form of evil.  Injustice is not invincible. LS 74.  Reflect, share, and pray:  People are very sensitive to being blamed and shamed. In times of corruption, other wrongdoing and damaging the environment could blaming and shaming be a deterrent? We can examine our own lives and pray for conversion.