The State of Minnesota saw a 13% increase in the number of new HIV infections in 2009. This information along with all of the statistical numbers can be found at the Minnesota Department of Health's web site.
During my time there I was very moved by the stories of Deonta and Dean. They told their stories of how Deonta an 18 year old guy contracted HIV when he was 16 and Dean who is 22 contracted HIV when he was 18. Through the work of the Youth AIDS Project in Minneapolis, Minnesota Deonta and Dean a youthful couple now live in their own place and are leading fulfilling lives. You can read more about their story in the colu.mn.
Since attending AIDS Action day and hearing Deonta and Dean's story I have been thinking quite a lot about the Cross and the issue of HIV/AIDS. For many in our society HIV/AIDS is the all shameful disease. If you contracted it, it is because you were misbehaving in the first place. Though we have learned over the past 20 years that HIV/AIDS is not just a gay or bisexual man's disease, many still look at HIV/AIDS as a result of homosexual behavior, and that is why sexual activity and same sex relationships should be condemned and LGBT Rights should be avoided. Yet, in these two young men, I see two people who have been affected at such an early age taking on their cross without shame. Deonta and Dean are embracing the reality of where they are and instead of allowing HIV/AIDS to hold them down from pursuing life in all it's goodness, they are reaching out to tell others their story and witnessing to God's power when people surrender to God's will and live as they are with trust that God will see them through. Okay, neither one talked about religion. It is very possible that they are among many LGBT people who have thrown off all organized religions. Nevertheless, God still works in and through people, places and events and invites us all to a conversion of heart and life.
The Cross is that incredible something so full of shame, disgrace and guilt. At the Cross the Son of God who loved everyone he came into contact with, was crucified. As Jesus hung dying on the Cross he asked God to forgive those who had placed him there. (See Luke 23:34). Jesus forgave a repentant thief and cried out for God when Jesus thought he had been forsaken. When Jesus cried out: "My God, my God, why have you forsaken me?" (Matthew 27: 46), Jesus was not giving up on God, but rather was still holding on to his faith that God would eventually rescue him, which God did when Jesus was raised from the dead.
The Cross invites us all to remember that without God we cannot survive those moments when we feel that we are at the end of ourselves. When we see Jesus on the Cross we see evil at it's peak, yet even there it's hold is only temporary for those who trust in God. Our crosses do not go away, just as Christ's Cross was a reality that would not stop. However, we can face our most difficult times with total faith and trust that God will not abandon us, even when we feel we are abandoned and cry out to God wanting to know where God is. God may not reveal God's Self in the way we think God should, but when God does reveal where God is or what God is doing we can usually see that God was actually acting all along. What is more important is that we understand that God is active and concerned about every aspect of what we are facing in our lives.
As I listened to Deonta and Dean's story, I saw how they were carrying a tremendous cross together. But they were determined to not give up. In fact, they proved that when we all hang in there, even when circumstances seem hopeless, God does incredible things in our lives.
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves: Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls, that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body, and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for Third Sunday of Lent, BCP, Page 218).
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