113 My Monologues & Musings : World AIDS Day
Oh, God of Health and Healing,
Today, in a very special way,
we bring before You all those millions of children all over the globe who are infected with HIV/AIDS pandemic disease.
As You know, it continues to be a much dreaded and more detested disease caused through the careless transfusion of blood or through the infusion of bodily fluids.
Most of the time the HIV/AIDS infected people are held in contempt as the disease is mostly and mainly caused by irresponsible sexual contacts of every shade.
May they own up their responsibility of contracting the disease if it was caused by their own irresponsible, careless, and promiscuous sexual activities and behaviour.
May they have the courage not to pass on the virus to others and correct themselves of their erratic ways of lifestyle.
May all those who suffer from the disease find healing of of body, mind, and soul: through the medical care,
through the caring love and
through empathy filled understanding of their loved ones and of their community.
Oh, God of Health and Healing,
We bring before You all those innocent children who happened to inherit the disease from their parents or through the transfusion of contaminated blood.
As You know those innocent Victims have been ostracized, isolated, segregated, and have been prejudiced against by many of us. They are often not welcome in schools and places of other common interest!
Oh, God of Health and Healing,
Oh, God of Health and Healing,
Even I had been not immune to such prejudiced attitude. Way back in the late eighties, as part of my Master's program I had to do a Semester near LA, in California.
One day being a Catholic priest, I was called to pray over and administer the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick.
I was told that the patient concerned was AIDS infected young girl who was dying of drug related gun-shot wounds. My initial reactions were of fear, of prejudice, and of unmerciful attitude. Though I did go and pray and administered the Sacrament, it was a more of a mechanical motion than of Pastoral Care!
That was me!
Later on, I was privileged to live for an year with a Community in the Midwest - USA, consisting of a very caring and enlightened Pastor, a dedicated lady, and a male nurse caring for the AIDS patients.
He and the rest of the team did educate me to rid of my fear and prejudices towards persons infected with HIV/AIDS virus.
Well, I have come a long way!
May the world keeps on conscientizing itself against the stigma of the disease!
Oh, God of Health and Healing,
May Your Children learn to avoid the perils of contracting this dreaded disease!
Oh, God of Health and Healing,
Bless all those sisters and brothers who are involved in the care of the HIV/AIDS patients!
Amen
JoAchen
Tuesday, 1st December, 2015
World AIDS Day
No comments:
Post a Comment