{"id":5483,"date":"2017-04-02T05:25:54","date_gmt":"2017-04-02T02:25:54","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ajan.africa\/live-as-children-of-the-light\/"},"modified":"2017-04-02T05:25:54","modified_gmt":"2017-04-02T02:25:54","slug":"live-as-children-of-the-light","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ajan.africa\/pt\/live-as-children-of-the-light\/","title":{"rendered":"Live as children of the light"},"content":{"rendered":"

The reflection for the fourth\u00a0week of Lent is written by <\/span><\/i><\/b>Ornela Emefa Pakou of the Centre Esperance Loyola (CEL) in Togo. We apologise that it is late, due to technical problems.\u00a0(SEE BELOW FOR FRENCH VERSION)<\/span><\/span><\/i><\/b><\/p>\n

First reading, Isaiah 16:1,6-7\u2026 10-13 \u2013 In the school of God, we learn to look beyond appearances. <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Psalm 22:1-6 \u2013 The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want! <\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Second reading, Eph. 5:8-14 \u2013 Baptism brings us from shadows into the light. Let us live, then, as children of the light.<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

Gospel, John 9:1-41 \u2013 Faith calls upon us to give and take with others<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

When a woman discovers that she has HIV, her first reaction is usually to say: \u201cWhy? Why is this happening to me? What have I done to deserve this?\u201d It is precisely the question that the disciples asked Jesus in the presence of a man who had been born blind. Actually, they want to know if this man was visited by such misfortune because of his own sins or his parents\u2019. But Jesus refuses to be cornered by such reasoning. For Jesus, the question is not who infected whom. The evil \u2013 which consists of evil both physical and moral \u2013 is not something Jesus cares to explain. It is something He wants to do away with. This is precisely why He came: to free mankind. <\/span><\/p>\n

This Gospel is important for us all, because we are all born blind, full of prejudices. The Lord tells\u00a0us: \u201cAs long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.\u201d (Jn\u00a09:5). Left to ourselves, we cannot see. He alone is the Light and He alone can give light, because the Father sent Him for this purpose. Is there anything, then, that we can do? Yes, \u201cgo and wash yourself in the waters of Siloam,\u201d says Jesus (v.7). Then our eyes will be opened and we, who were born blind, will come to the light, and we will see. It is God\u2019s doing when we defend people living with HIV from discrimination and stigmatisation. <\/span><\/p>\n

The word \u201cSiloam\u201d means \u201csent\u201d or \u201che who is sent\u201d. We all know whom the Father sent. If He had not been sent, none of us would have been able to be free of sin. And unless we go to He who was sent, we will remain in our sin and our blindness, and thus we will remain far from the light. <\/span><\/p>\n

We are all sent to contribute to building an AIDS-free generation and to take care of and to support people living with HIV. <\/span><\/p>\n

To those who have faith in Jesus, and who accept to follow Him, He offers a share in the blessings that are His own: \u201cWhoever believes in me will never perish\u201d (Jn 11:25) and \u201cHe who follows me will not walk in the shadows but will have the light of life.\u201d (Jn 8:12)<\/span><\/p>\n

In his letter to the Ephesians, Paul draws moral conclusions about all this: he tells the faithful that they were once in the shadows but now live in the light of the Lord and that, as a consequence, they must live as children of the light (Eph. 5:8-14)<\/span><\/p>\n

In Africa, the AIDS epidemic has had a deep impact, like a light that causes shadows to emerge among people, communities and churches. It shows when neighbours, families and communities submit people to discrimination and ostracising, when they become victims of discrimination that is at the same time personal and institutional. It brings light when it prompts people to solidarity, as they react to the denial of governments, communities and individuals, and as they offer treatment, care and support to people living with HIV. <\/span><\/p>\n

Discrimination forms part of the daily shadows of people living with HIV. Shadows are apparent in the form of prejudice; fear (of contamination, death and isolation); lack of information about routes of prevention and transmission; differences made on the basis of gender and sexuality; and distortions of religion (the concept of \u2018divine punishment\u2019). <\/span><\/p>\n

Rooted in ancient ideas about what is \u2018normal\u2019 and what is \u2018deviant\u2019, what is pure and impure, discrimination continues to prevail today. In some places, discrimination takes on a social and political face (for example, laws that diminish the rights of people affected by HIV). AIDS is still considered to be a \u201cshameful disease\u201d. Punitive laws surrounding divulgation about one\u2019s HIV-positive status; the criminalisation of transmission of HIV; travel bans imposed on people carrying the virus; poor protection of women and children against sexual violence; marginalisation and hostility with regard to sexual minorities, sex workers, drug users and prisoners\u2026 are all shadows that beg to be dispelled by the light of compassion and mercy.\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Those who have been baptised have come to the light; they have risen from the dead and are enlightened in Christ. This affirmation of faith calls us to: <\/span><\/p>\n

1-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Contributing to the empowerment and support of all people who are somehow vulnerable, by being available and by putting oneself in the place of the other. In this way, we will be able to offer the minimum\u00a0to them: affectionate listening, compassion and then nutritional, medical and other support, as much as we can. <\/span><\/p>\n

2-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Helping vulnerable women to have access to mini-credit loans or to undertake an income-generating activity and to guarantee the education of their children.<\/span><\/p>\n

3-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Supporting the schooling, and seeking to meet the nutritional, medical and psychosocial needs of widows, orphans and vulnerable children. <\/span><\/p>\n

4-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Fighting against stigmatisation and discrimination at all levels of society and churches.<\/span><\/p>\n

5-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Advocating for expanded access to HIV prevention services, treatment, care and support.<\/span><\/p>\n

6-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Promoting access to affordable quality diagnostics, and medication for all.<\/span><\/p>\n

7-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Building a society that is free of violence, poverty and injustice. <\/span><\/p>\n

May the Lord, who sent us his Son, light of the world, open our eyes and light the way for our footsteps, so that like the blind man who was healed in the Gospel, we may be audacious witnesses of the marvels of God in the life of people affected by AIDS.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

******<\/span><\/span><\/em><\/p>\n

Pour ce quatri\u00e8me dimanche de Car\u00eame, notre reflexion\u00a0est pr\u00e9sent\u00e9e par\u00a0Ornela Emefa Pakou du Centre Esp\u00e9rance Loyola (CEL).<\/em><\/span><\/b><\/p>\n

1\u00e8re lecture<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>1S 16,1b.6-7.10-13a: A l’\u00e9cole de Dieu, apprenons \u00e0 voir au-del\u00e0 des apparences… Psaume<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Ps 22,1-6: Le Seigneur est mon berger, rien ne saurait me manquer ! 2\u00e8me lecture<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Ep 5,8-14: Le bapt\u00eame nous a faits passer des t\u00e9n\u00e8bres \u00e0 la lumi\u00e8re. Vivons donc en enfants de lumi\u00e8re… \u00c9vangile<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>Jn 9,1-41: La foi impose de se compromettre devant les autres.<\/span><\/p>\n

Lorsqu\u2019une femme d\u00e9couvre elle porte le VIH\/sida\u00a0 <\/span>sa premi\u00e8re r\u00e9action, dans la plupart des cas est de dire\u00a0: ”\u00a0Pourquoi\u00a0? Pourquoi cela m\u2019arrive-t-il \u00e0 moi\u00a0? Qu\u2019est-ce que j\u2019ai fait pour m\u00e9riter cela\u00a0?\u00a0“. C\u2019est pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment la question que posent \u00e0 J\u00e9sus les disciples en pr\u00e9sence de l\u2019aveugle de naissance. Ou, plus exactement, ils veulent savoir si ce malheur est arriv\u00e9 \u00e0 cet homme \u00e0 cause de ses p\u00e9ch\u00e9s personnels ou de ceux de ses parents. J\u00e9sus refuse de se laisser enfermer dans un tel raisonnement. La question n\u2019est pas qui a contamin\u00e9 qui\u00a0? Pour J\u00e9sus le mal \u2013 qu\u2019il s\u2019agisse du mal physique ou du mal moral \u2013 n\u2019est pas quelque chose qu\u2019il faut expliquer. C\u2019est quelque chose qu\u2019il faut faire dispara\u00eetre. Il est pr\u00e9cis\u00e9ment venu pour en lib\u00e9rer l\u2019humanit\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n

Cet \u00e9vangile est important pour nous tous, car nous sommes tous n\u00e9s aveugles, plein de pr\u00e9jug\u00e9s. Or, le Seigneur nous dit\u00a0: ”\u00a0Aussi longtemps que je suis dans le monde, je suis la lumi\u00e8re du monde\u00a0” (Jean 9,5). De nous m\u00eames, nous ne pouvons pas voir. Lui seul est la Lumi\u00e8re, et lui seul peut donner la lumi\u00e8re, parce qu\u2019il a \u00e9t\u00e9<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>envoy\u00e9<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>par le P\u00e8re pour cela. Y a-t-il quelque chose, alors, que nous pouvons faire\u00a0? Oui, ”\u00a0va et lave-toi dans la piscine de Silo\u00e9\u00a0“, dit J\u00e9sus (v. 7). Alors nos yeux seront ouverts, et nous qui sommes n\u00e9s aveugles, verrons. C\u2019est l\u00e0 l\u2019\u0153uvre du Seigneur quand nous d\u00e9fendons les PVVIH de la discrimination et de la stigmatisation.<\/span><\/p>\n

Silo\u00e9 signifie ”\u00a0Envoy\u00e9\u00a0“, ou ”\u00a0Celui qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 envoy\u00e9\u00a0“. Nous savons tous qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 envoy\u00e9 par le P\u00e8re. S\u2019il n\u2019avait pas \u00e9t\u00e9 envoy\u00e9, personne d\u2019entre nous n\u2019aurait pu \u00eatre lib\u00e9r\u00e9 de son p\u00e9ch\u00e9. Et \u00e0 moins que nous n\u2019allions \u00e0 Celui qui a \u00e9t\u00e9 envoy\u00e9, nous demeurons dans notre p\u00e9ch\u00e9 et dans notre aveuglement, car nous restons \u00e9loign\u00e9s de la lumi\u00e8re. <\/span><\/p>\n

Nous sommes tous envoy\u00e9s pour contribuer \u00e0 \u00e9difier des g\u00e9n\u00e9rations sans sida et \u00e0 prendre soin et soutenir les personnes vivant avec le VIH. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u00c0 ceux qui eurent foi en J\u00e9sus, et qui accept\u00e8rent de le suivre, il a offert de participer aux b\u00e9n\u00e9dictions qui \u00e9taient siennes\u00a0: ”\u00a0Celui qui vit et croit en moi ne mourra jamais\u00a0” (Jean 11,25), et ”\u00a0Celui qui me suit ne marche pas dans les t\u00e9n\u00e8bres, mais aura la lumi\u00e8re de la vie\u00a0” (Jean 8,12).<\/span><\/p>\n

Dans sa lettre aux \u00c9ph\u00e9siens Paul tire les conclusions morales de tout ceci\u00a0: Il dit aux fid\u00e8les qu\u2019ils \u00e9taient autrefois t\u00e9n\u00e8bres, mais qu\u2019ils sont maintenant lumi\u00e8re dans le Seigneur et<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>qu\u2019en cons\u00e9quence<\/span>\u00a0<\/span>ils doivent maintenant vivre comme des fils de la lumi\u00e8re (\u00c9ph. 5\u00a0:8-14).<\/span><\/p>\n

En Afrique, l\u2019\u00e9pid\u00e9mie de SIDA a un profond impact, faisant ressortir les t\u00e9n\u00e8bres comme la lumi\u00e8re chez les personnes les soci\u00e9t\u00e9s et les Eglises. Elle r\u00e9v\u00e8le lorsque les personnes subissent le rejet et l\u2019ostracisme de leurs proches, leur famille et leur communaut\u00e9. Victimes de discriminations \u00e0 la fois personnelles et institutionnelles. Elle met en lumi\u00e8re lorsqu\u2019elle rend les gens solidaires pour s\u2019\u00e9lever\u00a0contre les manifestations de d\u00e9ni des gouvernements, des communaut\u00e9s et des individus et\u00a0pour apporter traitements, soins et soutiens aux personnes vivant avec le VIH et le SIDA. <\/span><\/p>\n

La discrimination \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9gard des personnes atteintes par le VIH forme donc des t\u00e9n\u00e8bres quotidiennes pour les personnes s\u00e9ropositives.\u00a0T\u00e9n\u00e8bres se manifestant sous forme de pr\u00e9jug\u00e9s, de peur (de la contamination, de la mort, de l\u2019isolement), de m\u00e9connaissance des modes de pr\u00e9vention et de\u00a0 <\/span>transmission, de diff\u00e9rence des sexes et de sexualit\u00e9, de religion (punition divine dans la pens\u00e9e de certains), <\/span><\/p>\n

Cr\u00e9\u00e9e \u00e0 partir d\u2019id\u00e9es anciennes sur la normalit\u00e9 et la d\u00e9viance, le pure et l\u2019impur\u00a0;\u00a0elle continue \u00e0 se d\u00e9velopper aujourd\u2019hui\u00a0encore et peut \u00eatre dans certains pays une discrimination sociale et politique (lois r\u00e9duisant les droits des personnes atteintes du VIH). Le Sida demeure consid\u00e9r\u00e9 comme une “maladie honteuse”.\u00a0 <\/span>Les lois punitives sur la divulgation de la s\u00e9ropositivit\u00e9, la criminalisation de la transmission du VIH, les interdictions de voyage pour les gens porteurs de la maladie, la mauvaise protection des femmes et des filles contre les violences sexuelles, la marginalisation et l’hostilit\u00e9 \u00e0 l’\u00e9gard des minorit\u00e9s sexuelles, des prostitu\u00e9es, des consommateurs de drogue, des prisonniers constituent des t\u00e9n\u00e8bres \u00e0 \u00e9clairer de la lumi\u00e8re de la compassion et de la mis\u00e9ricorde.<\/span><\/p>\n

Le baptis\u00e9 est devenu lumi\u00e8re, \u00e9veill\u00e9 de la mort et illumin\u00e9 dans le Christ. Cette affirmation de foi nous interpelle. Nous sommes ainsi appel\u00e9s \u00e0\u00a0:<\/span><\/p>\n

1-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Contribuer \u00e0 l\u2019\u00e9panouissement et au soulagement de toute personne vuln\u00e9rable en \u00e9tant r\u00e9ceptif, disponible et se mettre \u00e0 la place de l\u2019autre ne serait que pour lui offrir le minimum\u00a0: \u00e9coute affectueuse, compassion et enfin appui (nutritionnel, m\u00e9dical, etc..) aussi peu que ce soit,<\/span><\/p>\n

2-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Aider les femmes vuln\u00e9rables \u00e0 avoir acc\u00e8s aux cr\u00e9dits ou \u00e0 exercer une activit\u00e9 pour leur auto prise en charge et l\u2019\u00e9ducation de leur enfant \u00e0 assurer,<\/span><\/p>\n

3-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Soutenir l\u2019appui scolaire, alimentaire, m\u00e9dical et psychosocial des veuves, des orphelins et enfants vuln\u00e9rables,<\/span><\/p>\n

4-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Lutter contre la stigmatisation et la discrimination \u00e0 tous les niveaux de la soci\u00e9t\u00e9 et des \u00c9glises,<\/span><\/p>\n

5-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Plaider\u00a0 <\/span>pour un acc\u00e8s \u00e9largi aux services de pr\u00e9vention du VIH, de traitement, de soins et de soutien,<\/span><\/p>\n

6-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Promouvoir l\u2019acc\u00e8s \u00e0 des diagnostics de qualit\u00e9 et \u00e9conomiquement abordables, et \u00e0 des m\u00e9dicaments pour tous<\/span><\/p>\n

7-\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 <\/span><\/span><\/span>Edifier une soci\u00e9t\u00e9 sans violence, sans injustice et sans pauvret\u00e9.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Que le Seigneur qui nous a envoy\u00e9 son Fils, lumi\u00e8re du monde, ouvre nos yeux, \u00e9claire nos pas et ainsi comme l’aveugle gu\u00e9ri de l’\u00c9vangile, nous serons les t\u00e9moins audacieux des merveilles de Dieu dans la vie des personnes touch\u00e9es par le sida.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The reflection for the fourth\u00a0week of Lent is written by Ornela Emefa Pakou of the Centre Esperance Loyola (CEL) in Togo. We apologise that it is late, due to technical problems.\u00a0(SEE BELOW FOR FRENCH VERSION) First reading, Isaiah 16:1,6-7\u2026 10-13 \u2013 In the school of God, we learn to look<\/p>\n

consulte Mais informa\u00e7\u00e3o<\/a><\/p>","protected":false},"author":155,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[66],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5483","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-ajan-campaign-articles"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t