T H E D I R E C T O R' S C O R N E R
by Father Peter V. Lambert
I invite you to turn to page three of this newsletter. This photograph appeared some 38 years ago on the cover of LIFE magazine. The African American community had reached its resolve that they would not allow themselves to be bullied, demeaned as a people and be treated as second-class citizens. They were Americans and were entitled to all the rights and privileges of other Americans.
Archbisop Iakovos stepped forward and joined the march on Selma. He knew that his life was in jeopardy. He also knew that many of his spiritual children would not be happy with his volunteering to walk with Martin Luther King, Jr. in the non-violent warfare against bigotry, segregation and injustice. The Archbishop knew first-hand how it felt to live in a society and be considered a second-class citizen--how opportunities were limited. He understood the inner feelings of a person who had been marginalized and had to constantly prove his personhood. He had to march on the road to Selma. He had no choice, for the Master called him, nudged him, poked him, and told him, "…my child, take up my cross and follow me as I go to join the non-violent march to Selma." He went. He marched.
When His Eminence returned to New York, his office was filled with bundles of mail and phone messages condemning his philanthropic act of marching on the road to Selma. They called him a proditi (a traitor). He had no choice but to go and march, because when one chooses to follow the Master, one must take up the cross of truth. The greater the struggle for truth and justice, the bigger and heavier is the cross you carry.
We still need to pick up our personal cross and march to erase the bigotry, hatred, discrimination, ignorance, poverty and hatred against the poor, marginalized, sick and suffering people of God. The needy, homeless, hungry, incarcerated, the battered women and children, are waiting for you to help them carry their cross.
Look at the photograph again-do you see yourself in the picture?
At the end of August this year, 40 million Americans and 10 million Canadians were plunged into a horrific power blackout. A total of 50 million people found themselves without power, water, telephones and public transportation. One person being interviewed commented, ",,,I have never felt so helpless and alone in all my 52 years." Another woman was so petrified that, with all the darkness, she feared for her safety and life. Many of you were unable to reach your loved ones. The most powerful and economically productive nation on the globe was brought to a standstill by an outdated power grid.
Then, a few days ago, "Hurricane Isabel" attacked the East Coast with deluging rains, hurricane winds and flooding. Cities and states were devastated and paralyzed. Even the Federal Government shut down--the storm had greater power than the Government. Once again, millions of people were without power and water.
I would like to make a comparison-50 million people were without power, another 6 to 8 million because of "Isabel" experienced the same. Now, in this world as of October 2003, 57 million people in the world are infected with the HIV/AIDS virus. Read it again-"57 MILLION WOMEN, CHILDREN, INFANTS AND MEN ARE INFECTED WITH THIS DEADLY DISEASE."
There are many promises of 500 billion dollars; then that amount is cut back to 150 billion, and that amount is now 500 million and shrinking. None of the pledged or promised funds will ever reach the sick, suffering and dying people of AIDS. We do not want any of our money to be used for birth control, because we are against birth control. In other words, let them die, it's okay. NO, it is not okay. This pandemic will outlive the majority of people living today. It is a silent killer, and it is fed with bigotry, hate, ignorance, denial and the lack of care and love.
The Master touched a leper when it was unheard of that one would touch a leper. When the adulterous woman came and fell at his feet, He challenged the mob--if there was anyone without sin, to cast the first stone. All the cowards went away. And what about the good Samaritan who stopped to help a stranger and cared for him. On "Judgment Sunday" the Creator will separate the sheep from the goats and both sides will hear the same question, "I was hungry, I was thirsty, I was naked, I was a stranger, I was sick, and I was in jail" and did you care about me and help me and provide me with life's daily needs and concerns, care and love.
Last August the television and newspapers took us to Washington, D.C. to a memorial remembrance of the "Walk on Washington" which took place approximately forty years ago. It was there at the steps of the Lincoln Monument where history was etched in the American consciousness. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. delivered the now famous "I Have A Dream" speech. He had patterned his non-violent movement after Mahatma Gandhi of India. He remembered well the teaching of the Master who told Peter to put up his knife into its sheath, when the mob came to arrest the Master in the Garden on His Pilgrimage to the cross and glory.
If you look on page three of this issue, you will see one of the most historic photographs of the twentieth century.
Look at the photograph again-do you see yourself in the picture?
