December 1 is World AIDS Day. This year the international day of remembrance of those whose lives have been changed and, too often, lost marks the beginning of the fourth decade of the AIDS epidemic. The march of time has brought with it moments of shame (think Ronald Reagan's refusal to even say AIDS) and moments of triumph (medical breakthrough after breakthrough).
World AIDS Day is a day that transcends any nation or religious community. It is owned by humanity as a whole. Nonetheless, it is worthwhile to consider what World AIDS Day can say to and through the church.
At its heart, World AIDS Day reflects three important theological values of the church: care for neighbor, grace for broken souls and the power of hope in tomorrow.
Care for neighbor is what happens every time a caring hand, a sympathetic ear, a compassionate embrace or a word of compassion is shared. AIDS is not someone else's disease. It is humanity's. Like every health crisis that impacts the well-being of the children of God, when one is impacted we all are. As Dr. King said, we are all gathered in a web of mutuality. Unlike so many opportunistic health crises, AIDS has impacted the full cross-section of humankind from Hollywood stars and power brokers to African villagers and Haitian city dwellers. AIDS underscores that every one of God's children is my neighbor. On World AIDS Day, we recall that Christ's call to care does not stop at the corner of the street but in every corner of the world.
Grace for broken souls is the grace Christ brings to the world. The World AIDS Campaign motto for 2011-2015 is "Getting to Zero." The goal is not only to get to zero new infections but to achieve zero discrimination toward those who are living with HIV and AIDS. Every time discrimination is set aside and a heart is opened, it is grace that rushes in to fill it. On World AIDS Day, we recall that Christ's grace has the power to open the most closed mind and soften the hardest heart.
The power of hope for tomorrow is what continues to sustain the millions of men and women who live with HIV and AIDS. It compels us all to continually strive toward the promise of God's tomorrow. Recall the Psalmists words. The lament, "my God, my God why hast thou forsaken me?" in Psalm 22 is followed by the affirmation that, "The Lord is my Shepherd. I shall not want." On World AIDS Day, we recall that God's love and God's care do not abandon us ever; not today, not tomorrow, not ever.
As I join others from my community to read the names of those who have lost their lives in this epidemic, I will pray that this World AIDS Day will remind the church of our responsibility to our neighbors, the power of Christ's grace and the promise of God's tomorrow.
No comments:
Post a Comment