World AIDS Day 2007: Will The Church Take The Lead This Advent?
World AIDS Day 2007 brings a fresh challenge to the Church with this years theme of Leadership.
[Image Source: UNAIDS - Zambian poster for World AIDS Day Campaign]
A World AIDS Day Reflection on St. John 9:1-12
The beginning
It was November 30th, 2007, the eve of World AIDS Day 2007 .
The followers of Jesus sat in their living rooms watching broadcasts of the Worlds AIDS Day campaign, some were reading newspaper headlines, others were reading blogs and stories on the Internet.
And the news from over-there-in-those-dreadful-places was horrifying.
They cringed at the disease riddled mostly African faces (for it seems AIDS is nowhere else), of the shrunken pneumonia twisted and anti-retroviral drugs deprived bodies.
And the followers of Jesus gasped, and whispered “Oh My God, those poor people in Africa are still dying from AIDS“!
And some of Jesus’ followers prayed to him asking;
Rabbi, who sinned, this woman or her husband why she has AIDS?
And there was silence.
They watched more TV documentaries, and read more mind numbing statistics. Their hands covered their mouths and eyes. Disturbed, guilty, ashamed without knowing why as they looked at the graphic images of the twisted bodies of weak starving orphaned children, innocent victims of the ravages of a wildfire epidemic.
The followers of Jesus prayed and asked once more…
Rabbi, tell us who sinned these children or their parents why they have HIV?
And Jesus answered, “Neither this woman, these children, nor their parents sinned; they have been infected by a deadly virus so that God’s works might be revealed in them. WE must work the works of God who sent us while it is day; night is coming when no one can work.
Difficult answer that.
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For lack of knowledge the people perish…
His followers, so prone to distraction by the minute details were left speechless. Then the brightest among them began to pontificate as to the meaning of these things. And as usual, they could not find any accord.
Shortsighted, and nit-picky some exclaimed ‘Aha! See, ’so that the works of God’ they were inflicted with this disease.
Soon the fight started among the followers who missed the point of the Rabbi’s answer. Then there were fights between the followers of Jesus and the advocates of persons living with HIV and AIDS.
And they fought. The fight has been going on, increasing in intensity for 3 decades…
And the accusations, harsh and condemning words, inhumane policies, and empty promises filled the media.
“What ‘works of God’ are to be revealed in 33.2 million persons infected with HIV according to UNAIDS joint worldwide HIV Statistics for 2007? What kind of God allows something like that?”
“Racism!”, some shouted. “Notice that while there is a decline in the HIV/AIDS cases in the US, that this is only among the whites; there is an increase among the African Americans.”
“The Word doesn’t lie! Africans and the Black race are cursed through the line of Ham. See they are still suffering today.”
“Men lying with Men? What a scandalous abomination! No. Not on our life. Male prisoners must not be given condoms. Latin America must be forgotten. All those ‘macho men’ and this region has the highest incidence of male spread HIV to other men.”
“You Third World Nations, Abstinence or No Funding we say. We are the Right(eous) church of God. When you stop practicing unmarried and unsafe copulations then we will rescue your perishing and care for your dying!”
And in those days the followers of Jesus fought, cursed, and waved the Bible; and the land was left without compassionate leadership.
Maranatha!
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Advent Hope…
Then the followers of Jesus were challenged to reflect on the theme for World AIDS Day 2007 “Stop AIDS; Keep The Promise – Leadership”
Some church leaders, known in many lands like the noble Archbishop Emeritus Desmond Tutu pledged to Take The Lead as part of the challenge of responsible Christian leadership.
Thus, Advent brings hope, when the followers of God take the lead, for WE must do the works of God who sends us. We must go, to the naked, hungry, disease-ridden and suffering – no matter their race, their gender, their religion or their sexual orientation.
This World AIDS Day 2007 let us Take The Lead.
Come Lord Jesus!
Marvia
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December 2nd, 2007 at 8:07 am
Well Done!
I cant say I have ever heard or read anyone put it quite like this. I had to re-read. This is definitely not one to skim over. That is a serious challenge ahead fro us all. You might want to turn this one into a podcast.
“Advent brings hope, when the followers of God will indeed take the lead, for WE must do the works of God who sends us. We must go, to the naked, hungry, disease-ridden and suffering – no matter their race, their gender, their religion or their sexual orientation.”
This is indeed a timely reminder for every single one of us. I am on my way to church and after reading this I feel as if I already heard todays message.
December 2nd, 2007 at 12:22 pm
Amen!
Then your 2nd message of the day might just confirm the challenge to join in ‘taking the lead’.
Peace