| The Question of Sudan |
Sermon preached some 10 moths ago, the ACW intends from this Synod to set an example
leadership to look to our brothers and sisters far away.
A Sermon on the 10th Sunday of Trinity,
by + Hartley, Archbishop Metropolitan
Anglican Church Worldwide, Archdiocese of the Midwest
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
As Christians who say we love the Lord, we are most of the time forgetful of our duty to reach out
to others, and when we do we look for a tax deduction. In feeding the 5000 Jesus did not look or
exclude the socialites, or seek a deduction, he welcomed every one to the table. Today I am
mostly concerned with Africa; mainly the country of Sudan, that by the time this sermon is ended
over 4000 Sudanese will die from starvation, diseases, or tribal warfare. Recently a 19 year old
lad coming to this country from the Sudan was showing off his one room apartment, it was the first
time he said in his life that he ever slept under a roof, things we take for granted
As African Americans we love to talk of Africa, some even suggest that they want to go back there,
but the images we see on TV of our brothers and sisters in that land seems not to bother us.
There are two questions that we would ask. What would Jesus do? And why, if they are his
children why would he allow them to suffer? The answer to the second question is that God
creates our choices and leaves us to choose. The situation in the Sudan was not created by
God's doing, but by the ravages of politics. Then we say what would Jesus do? Perhaps the
loaves and fishes are not enough today; there must be a reckoning of our own redemption to
show love to these people where it seems there is no hope.
It is not my intention to make anyone feel guilty for the circumstances 12000 miles away, but as
aid and other things are requested, we wonder why the Black Churches and organizations which
so proudly talk of their roots, are not doing more to help.
Koreans, Italian Americans and a host of others send billions of dollars back to their homeland, yet
we do not see African Americans sending some of their blessings back to the land from whence
they came.
The Christian spirit should be one of love and caring, one, where, while we cannot be our
brother's keeper in a land so far away, we must be concerned for their well being. How can we
sleep at night knowing that the food we throw in the garbage can feed many in another land, how
can look at the images of the TV and treat it just as another story.
Then they are those who talk of their 5000 member churches, raise tons of money to keep their
ministries going. Some go to Africa and keep open air revivals and tell the massive crowds to
accept Jesus in their lives, them leave the country with all these saved Christians, hungry,
homeless and dying, there must light and answers somewhere in this tangled mess.
We cannot undo the pain of these people who wait for a plane overhead to drop a bag of corn,
but we can ease it, we must not make them photo opts for our fund raising actives, where in the
end, only 10 cents of every dollar reaches those who are need it.
In this season of Trinity the caring heart must open to those who we say we love and are a part,
be it by heritage, or geography, we must not only pray for them but create some action, noting as
St Paul reminds us that prayer without works is dead, WE MUST DO MORE.
When Jesus was about to depart from us, he gave us a commission to go into all the world and
preach the gospel and all men. Not just in one continent, not just in one country, not just in one
city, but all, so what would he do today with the country of Sudan. He has given us the tools to do
something, he would hold them close to his bosom and feed them, he would hold them close to his
bosom and teach them, he would hold them close to his bosom and urge them to be at peace, he
would hold them to his bosom and give them his undying love, but today Jesus works through us,
and it is here that we must carry out this duty to love and serve each other in whatever capacity,
to bring peace and prosperity to the door.
In a political season we hear of all kinds of promises, much that will go unattended or by the
wayside after the election, but if we are to be true to God's Word which has proven throughout the
centuries to forthright and strong, we must take up the mantel of Love and care for all of his
children who have become the victims of a few.
In looking over the city of Jerusalem on one of his many returns, as the sun beamed down Jesus
lamented "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city the murders the prophet how I long to gather your
children", today I think he looks down on the children of Sudan and murmurs the same, how he
would love the wrap these unfortunate children in his arms.
The politics of Sudan has caused this great pain, a divide between religions and causes, between
tribal chiefs and warlords, but we as African Americans cannot only pray but share love where it
matters. We must turn from the TV sound bites and send a notes of love, we must turn from pity
and render action, we must turn from anger and give hope, we must turn from despair and not ask
what would Jesus do?, but what can we do today, to help our brothers and sisters in Sudan.
However much it is
The great American jurist, Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote, "Greatness is not where we stand,
but in what direction we are moving, we must sail with the wind and sometimes against it, but sail
we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor".
Now is to the time to act on the crisis of Sudan and not drift, now is the time to care, for if we do
not millions of our brothers and sisters will perish in a land far away but close to heart of God
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be ascribe all majesty and power. Amen
leadership to look to our brothers and sisters far away.
A Sermon on the 10th Sunday of Trinity,
by + Hartley, Archbishop Metropolitan
Anglican Church Worldwide, Archdiocese of the Midwest
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.
As Christians who say we love the Lord, we are most of the time forgetful of our duty to reach out
to others, and when we do we look for a tax deduction. In feeding the 5000 Jesus did not look or
exclude the socialites, or seek a deduction, he welcomed every one to the table. Today I am
mostly concerned with Africa; mainly the country of Sudan, that by the time this sermon is ended
over 4000 Sudanese will die from starvation, diseases, or tribal warfare. Recently a 19 year old
lad coming to this country from the Sudan was showing off his one room apartment, it was the first
time he said in his life that he ever slept under a roof, things we take for granted
As African Americans we love to talk of Africa, some even suggest that they want to go back there,
but the images we see on TV of our brothers and sisters in that land seems not to bother us.
There are two questions that we would ask. What would Jesus do? And why, if they are his
children why would he allow them to suffer? The answer to the second question is that God
creates our choices and leaves us to choose. The situation in the Sudan was not created by
God's doing, but by the ravages of politics. Then we say what would Jesus do? Perhaps the
loaves and fishes are not enough today; there must be a reckoning of our own redemption to
show love to these people where it seems there is no hope.
It is not my intention to make anyone feel guilty for the circumstances 12000 miles away, but as
aid and other things are requested, we wonder why the Black Churches and organizations which
so proudly talk of their roots, are not doing more to help.
Koreans, Italian Americans and a host of others send billions of dollars back to their homeland, yet
we do not see African Americans sending some of their blessings back to the land from whence
they came.
The Christian spirit should be one of love and caring, one, where, while we cannot be our
brother's keeper in a land so far away, we must be concerned for their well being. How can we
sleep at night knowing that the food we throw in the garbage can feed many in another land, how
can look at the images of the TV and treat it just as another story.
Then they are those who talk of their 5000 member churches, raise tons of money to keep their
ministries going. Some go to Africa and keep open air revivals and tell the massive crowds to
accept Jesus in their lives, them leave the country with all these saved Christians, hungry,
homeless and dying, there must light and answers somewhere in this tangled mess.
We cannot undo the pain of these people who wait for a plane overhead to drop a bag of corn,
but we can ease it, we must not make them photo opts for our fund raising actives, where in the
end, only 10 cents of every dollar reaches those who are need it.
In this season of Trinity the caring heart must open to those who we say we love and are a part,
be it by heritage, or geography, we must not only pray for them but create some action, noting as
St Paul reminds us that prayer without works is dead, WE MUST DO MORE.
When Jesus was about to depart from us, he gave us a commission to go into all the world and
preach the gospel and all men. Not just in one continent, not just in one country, not just in one
city, but all, so what would he do today with the country of Sudan. He has given us the tools to do
something, he would hold them close to his bosom and feed them, he would hold them close to his
bosom and teach them, he would hold them close to his bosom and urge them to be at peace, he
would hold them to his bosom and give them his undying love, but today Jesus works through us,
and it is here that we must carry out this duty to love and serve each other in whatever capacity,
to bring peace and prosperity to the door.
In a political season we hear of all kinds of promises, much that will go unattended or by the
wayside after the election, but if we are to be true to God's Word which has proven throughout the
centuries to forthright and strong, we must take up the mantel of Love and care for all of his
children who have become the victims of a few.
In looking over the city of Jerusalem on one of his many returns, as the sun beamed down Jesus
lamented "Oh Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city the murders the prophet how I long to gather your
children", today I think he looks down on the children of Sudan and murmurs the same, how he
would love the wrap these unfortunate children in his arms.
The politics of Sudan has caused this great pain, a divide between religions and causes, between
tribal chiefs and warlords, but we as African Americans cannot only pray but share love where it
matters. We must turn from the TV sound bites and send a notes of love, we must turn from pity
and render action, we must turn from anger and give hope, we must turn from despair and not ask
what would Jesus do?, but what can we do today, to help our brothers and sisters in Sudan.
However much it is
The great American jurist, Oliver Wendell Holmes once wrote, "Greatness is not where we stand,
but in what direction we are moving, we must sail with the wind and sometimes against it, but sail
we must and not drift, nor lie at anchor".
Now is to the time to act on the crisis of Sudan and not drift, now is the time to care, for if we do
not millions of our brothers and sisters will perish in a land far away but close to heart of God
In the name of the Father, Son and Holy Spirit be ascribe all majesty and power. Amen
