The Kingdom is at hand...and yet still far away

Or at least it still seems far off when you consider the many, many countless millions of deaths from AIDS/HIV. We still have some work to do here on earth to make it a better place for all. And this is one area where, I hope, all of us in the Anglican Communion...no matter which corner we're in on the myriad of "social issues" can agree that we must find a cure, and stop the senseless deaths occuring all over....especially in Africa and Asia.

The church would normally recognize St. Andrew today. However, the recommended readings for World AIDS Day are as follows:

Psalm 122:

A Song of Ascents. Of David.
1I was glad when they said to me,
‘Let us go to the house of the Lord!’
2Our feet are standing
within your gates, O Jerusalem.
3Jerusalem—built as a city
that is bound firmly together.
4To it the tribes go up,
the tribes of the Lord,as was decreed for Israel,
to give thanks to the name of the Lord.
5For there the thrones for judgement were set up,
the thrones of the house of David.
6Pray for the peace of Jerusalem:
‘May they prosper who love you.
7Peace be within your walls,
and security within your towers.’
8For the sake of my relatives and friends
I will say, ‘Peace be within you.’
9For the sake of the house of the Lord our God,
I will seek your good.

Paul's Letter to the Colossians
For this reason, since the day we heard it, we have not ceased praying for you and asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of God’s* will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding, so that you may lead lives worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing to him, as you bear fruit in every good work and as you grow in the knowledge of God. May you be made strong with all the strength that comes from his glorious power, and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience, while joyfully giving thanks to the Father, who has enabled* you* to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has rescued us from the power of darkness and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.*
--Col. 1: 9-14