a priest's musings on the journey

As US conservatives and Fundamentalist Global South Primates waste time and resources on keeping certain people (read gays, the poor, the homeless, etc.) out of their church, these Global South Anglicans in the Diocese of Rio de Janeiro are using their precious resources to proclaim the good news to the poor, and to announce that in the Church of Christ the Liberator all are welcome. With all this talk about a season of fasting, it seems to me these Anglicans in Rio have allowed the Holy Spirit to teach them how to make a fast that is acceptable to God:

(Isaiah 58: 5-11)
Is this the kind of fast I have chosen,
only a day for a man to humble himself?
Is it only for bowing one's head like a reed
and for lying on sackcloth and ashes?
Is that what you call a fast,
a day acceptable to the LORD ?

"Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen:
to loose the chains of injustice
and untie the cords of the yoke,
to set the oppressed free
and break every yoke?
Is it not to share your food with the hungry
and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter—
when you see the naked, to clothe him,
and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn,
and your healing will quickly appear;
then your righteousness [a] will go before you,
and the glory of the LORD will be your rear guard.

Then you will call, and the LORD will answer;
you will cry for help, and he will say: Here am I.
"If you do away with the yoke of oppression,
with the pointing finger and malicious talk,

and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry
and satisfy the needs of the oppressed,
then your light will rise in the darkness,
and your night will become like the noonday.

The LORD will guide you always;
he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land
and will strengthen your frame.
You will be like a well-watered garden,
like a spring whose waters never fail.

I suggest that we all offer our prayers and support to our brothers and sisters in Rio who are taking the work of the Gospel seriously. If you'd like to make a financial contribution to this ministry, you may write the diocesan offices at:

Rua Fonseca Guimarães, 12 - Santa Teresa - Rio de Janeiro - RJ -
Brasil
Cep:20240-260

Don't just give up chocolate this Lent: DO JUSTICE!

Thank you Padre Rob for your notice about the pastoral concern of the Diocese of Rio de Janeiro. As a Provincial Secretary I know the authentic witness from these brothers and sisters from Rio.

Revd. canon Francisco de Assis da Silva (Provincial Secretary of IEAB)