homily_aidsmass2006

During these concluding days of the liturgical year, the Word of God offers ample
references regarding visions for us to consider. John the Evangelist shares his
apocalyptic visions about the end times – visions and occurrences that are both intriguing
and frightening at the same time. In this evening’s Gospel, Jesus urges his disciples to
be attentive to the things that they see around them – in other words to read the signs of
the times. We too because we are today’s disciples must be alert to the signs of the
times in which we live.

One of those signs that like the visions of John that we just listened to that are
simultaneously both beguiling and alarming is the global reaction to the persisting spread
of the pandemic of HIV-AIDS. We have lived with this reality for 25 years now in the USA
and our responses to the disease and to the sorrow that it has left in its wake have been
both inspiring and horrifying.

Thanks be to God, we can now speak about HIV-AIDS as an illness that is indiscriminate
in its reach and impact. It has touched the lives of infants within the womb, patients
infected through blood transfusions in hospitals, men and women, people of every class,
age, race, and ethnic community. The increasing attention given to this disease is a sign
of the mounting awareness of the sorrow that this plague has placed within the heart of
the human family – this growing awareness is also a sign of the solidarity that all people
must experience as we continue to search for cures for the disease and to comfort those
whose lives have been touched by it.

But there is also a disturbing vision that we cannot ignore or deny. Some people still wish
to focus exclusively upon how the HIV-AIDS is transmitted and those people who may have
suffered disproportionately from its presence. Some folks still wish to withhold their
compassion because of biases that continue to be a residual effect of the sin of hatred
and discrimination. The world has lived with HIV-AIDS for 25 years; however we have lived
with such bigotry for all of our human history.

This evening, in prayer and at the Eucharist we embrace those people who continue to
endure this disease and its repercussions, whether personally or because one of their
loved one suffers or has succumbed to this plague. We also pray for a softening of the
heart of humanity to be more compassionate in caring for those who may need our
solidarity the most.

Our world has been changed because of HIV-AIDS and we continue to need to change
hearts to respond in love to those whose lives have been turned upside down in the wake
of this new reality. The great quilt of names of people who have died from AIDS serves as
a sacramental reminder of the lives that have been taken from us because of this
pandemic. Wherever it is displayed it evokes a vision of wonder, awe, and sorrow that so
many wonderfully talented and vibrant people have been taken from us because of this
disease – and of our own too-frequent unwillingness to respond in a compassionate
fashion to this pandemic.

The Catholic Church both locally and universally has been able to present a face of
compassion that, while not yet perfect, is a sign of hope and a source of pride for us. It
would be best for all, if HIV-AIDS were not a factor of life for any person, but in the world in
which we live, I am deeply thankful for the people of good will who provide a vision of hope,
kindness, and empathy for those who live with this disease and those who grieve the loss
of a loved one from this illness.

These people, many who are present at this Mass and many others from the heritage of
Faith in the Archdiocese of Atlanta, provide for all of us a vision of Christ that is both
encouraging and challenging much like the themes from the Word of God that so
dominates this time of the Church Year. May we enter the New Year with more hope than
fear, more love than hate, more compassion than apathy, and more reasons to believe in
the dignity of all men and women rather than examples that betray that common dignity.

DISCLAIMER

Considering the nature of
the Internet, the
Archdiocese of Atlanta’s
HIV/AIDS Ministry cannot
take responsibility for the
contents of sites that may
be accessed through these
web pages. These links do
not represent, necessarily,
the position of the
Archdiocese of Atlanta’s
HIV/AIDS Ministry, much
less an archdiocesan
endorsement of a
particular site.

A mature selective criteria
on the part of the user is
necessary when using the
Internet. In general, we
strongly recommend
parents to supervise their
children while surfing the
Net. While avoiding
censorship, we make every
effort to post suitable
information and links
which may be of value to
understand HIV/AIDS. It is
the user's responsibility to
decide whether or not a
particular site is
appropriate, according to
the user’s personal criteria.