The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ,
the gift available to everyone without exception,
the love of God, whom claims each person equally as a child in the image of the divine,
and the communion of the Holy Spirit, through whom we breathe in life,
and connect to all others breathing, is with us as we gather
honouring the compassion of the Blessed Trinity, one God, now and forever. Amen
This is World Aids Day and the World Council of Churches has embarked on an initiative to revive and strengthen awareness of a disease which emerged in 1981 and evoked fear and loathing in the early years. Many passed moral judgment on HIV/AIDS sufferers because it was considered a "gay" disease and this stigma still exists. Through the decades it has been common for conservative Christians to blame just about every woe and calamity on the LGBTQ2S+ community and they seem to have no qualms in declaring AIDS as their curse. These Christians may be enthusiastic about "punching down", but I'm convinced God isn't.
In a news release the WCC reminds us:
The latest UNAIDS Report notes that, since the first cases were diagnosed in 1981, more than 85 million people have become infected with HIV and more than 40 million have died from AIDS-related illnesses. The WCC has a long history of involvement in the challenges HIV and AIDS have brought to the world.
Although there has been much progress and many successes, the HIV epidemic continues to present a challenge for today’s world. In 2022, there were around 39 million people living with HIV and more than 5 million of these did not know their status and could not access treatment.
Panel Honouring J. Bradley Cooney from the Canadian AIDS Quilt
I have written about being invited to serve on the fledgling AIDS Committee of Sudbury in 1988. A member of the St. Andrew's congregation I served, Tom Reid, brought together representatives from various health agencies along with a pastor (me) and a priest. I was a newcomer to the community and honestly, at age 34 I felt that I had little to offer. I learned, I let go of prejudices, I visited the sick in hospitals, and I presided at funerals. I am grateful that Tom included me. In retrospect I feel that the love of Christ led me to care about those who were often treated like lepers.
I've included a couple of the prayers made available by the WCC. I became emotional reading them. Perhaps you will offer them today.
We thank you, God of life.
Because of the testing that allows people living with HIV to get treatment,
because of the prevention and treatment defeating HIV, bringing down its level to the point that it is now longer transmitted,
because people living with HIV can live healthy and full lives,
We rejoice, gracious God, that you set us free from fear.
For the doctors, nurses and health workers taking care,
the policymakers and implementers figuring out how to get resources where it is most needed,
for Community leaders who lead by example challenging inequity and injustice,
for teachers with open hearts and minds that allow for honest exploration
and at the same time point to patterns that protect and give worth,
We celebrate, loving God, those doing good work.
God of the forgotten, God of the forsaken, encourage our voices to cry out, so that no one is left out.
Teach us to live simply, so that others can simply live following the example of your Beloved, Jesus Christ.
To strive and to make our resources life-giving for others,
so your love becomes real to those who feel forsaken, forgotten,
and no one is left with crumbs, but all are healed, and HIV becomes no more.
Religious leaders from several traditions at a symbolic bridge of hope in the interfaith prayer and memorial service in the Keizersgrachtkerk in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Sponsored by the WCC, the service was held on the first day of the 2018 International AIDS Conference.
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