Jesus once said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor; he has sent me to heal the brokenhearted, to preach deliverance to the captives, and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those that are oppressed; to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” (Luke 4:18-19)
The theme of 2007’s Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is “Breaking the Silence.” Among other things, it refers to breaking the silence with respect to HIV/AIDS and other issues related to human sexuality — the silence which only serves to reinforce and foster ignorance while increasing the danger, particularly to vulnerable women and children who are often the innocent victims of this pandemic.
Surely, in our day, this is yet another way to continue Jesus’ mission to open eyes that are blind, preach deliverance to captives and good news to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted and set at liberty those who are oppressed.
All to prepare the way for “the year of the Lord’s favor,” to prepare the way for the Kingdom, the Reign, of God.
That We All May Be One 
January 30, 2007 at 1:13 am |
Do you believe, bishop, that there are “guilty” victims of this pandemic?
January 31, 2007 at 1:26 am |
If you mean, do some people contract HIV/AIDS because of irresponsible, sinful sexual behavior? Of course. But some people contract it innocently — women, babies.
And, some people who are guilty of irresponsible, sinful sexual behavior do not contract HIV/AIDS. So, let us judge not…lest we be judged. It’s too simple, and even vicious, therefore to suggest (as some do) that HIV?AIDS is God’s punishment for sin.