Redemptive Love

Read: Exodus 12-14

"A Day of Hope" is a health community project in ministry from the faith community perspective, and a project in prevention and awareness from the medical community perspective. A day is set annually by members of the Building Bridges, Building Knowledge, and Building Health (BBKH) Coalition to hold a massive health fair in East Harlem. It is a day of redemptive love!

The annual event is purposed for addressing health disparities among people of African and Latino ethnicity in the United States of America. It is documented that these ethnic groups have been disadvantaged in prevention and treatment of particular maladies, such as diabetes, hypertension, obesity, etc. Equal treatment in light of ethnicity is a social reality that requires 21st century priority in health care and pastoral care. New York City is a multicultural magnet for the world, and it is necessary that we redeem the people who have been neglected and abused in our health care services. People with all backgrounds: race, religion, age, sexual orientation, class, immigration status, veterans and others with disabilities are in need of equality in care giving. What shall we do?

Children of Israel, we discover in the book of Exodus, were redeemed by the power of love. They were liberated from Egypt and brought through the Red Sea, because agreements were fulfilled in spite of difficulties. The illnesses and natural disasters that rocked Egypt passed over the people of faith, so that they were led beyond the sea of challenge to become a covenant people of God. Today, we are challenged to cross the sea of ethnicity into a wilderness of family diversities. Our current Moses, such as Tiger Woods, President Barrack Obama, etc., bring a pleasant uniting force of compassion for their respective professions and people of the world. Such love is redemptive. It is not to be known by sources of discrimination, but positive associations.

The positive associaitions in BBKH are producing acts of kindness that may be duplicated around the world. We are starting in "our own backyard" as to free ourselves from discrimination and prejudice behaviors by the power of redemptive love. You are invited to join in this movement of redemption. For more information, call Yvonne Hartnett at 212-289-6157.

Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, grant us freedom from discrimination and heal all people. Amen.