Our society today is overwhelmed by the problem of HIV/AIDS. While there is a struggle to stop the pandemic of our days, the issue of Stigma and discrimination has become the most serious problem. The situation is no different from Old Testament times where the Lepers were considered as unclean and were sent out of the town. And plagues to a person or a community were judged as a curse or a punishment from God. But the situation did not remained the same. The coming of Jesus to this world made everything different. Jesus had risked himself and touched the lepers, the so called ‘unclean’ and made them ‘clean’. Healing ministry should not be understood in terms of physical healing alone. The ministry of Jesus was healing of the total person, which includes body, mind and soul. Physical healing is just one component of healing ministry where supernatural power invokes, but healing of mind and soul are equally important where our attitude, care, touch, words, acceptance plays an major role.
Nagaland is a Christian state where 98% of the population professes to be Christians; so called follower of Jesus Christ. The biggest question that comes to my mind in the context of HIV/AIDS is, what would Christ do for the HIV + and those who are vulnerable to HIV/AIDS, and what Christians are supposed to do?
Jesus was not a mere spiritual leader, a leader whose time was occupied with rituals, fasting, prayer, preaching and teaching, the inward spirituality in the person of Jesus was manifested through reaching the unreached People and the uncompromising attitude with the mal practices of His days. Jesus always had time for the stigmatized and isolated people. He is seen most of the time in the street with sinners, sick, helpless, friendless, those discriminated, rejected, condemned, and isolated by the community. He never forced a person to follow Him but the choice was left to the individual concern. He had no Church building yet multitude followed Him; didn’t have an Academic degree or training yet effective in His ministry. It was compassion that made him to reach out, no matter how difficult and hard it was.
Where is our spirituality today? Do our ritualistic practices alone justify our spirituality and fulfill what Christ expects from us? Forgetting reaching out to those who are condemned because of alcoholism, Drug addiction prostitution, marginalized street children and those who are Infected and affected by HIV/AIDS in particular, we isolate them with our actions more than words. Isn’t it just opposite to what Christ had done? If Jesus comes to visit Naga Christians and its Churches today, what would He say? Will He say “Well done my son, you feed me when I was hungry, gave me water when I was thirsty, welcomed me when I was a stranger, clothed me when I was naked, took care of me when I was sick, visited me when I was in Jail.” OR are we going to ask Jesus, “when did we see you hunger, thirsty, a stranger, naked, sick or in Jail?” (Mt. 25:33-37)
Who are the most rejected, condemned, and isolated to us in our society today? And what are we doing now?
Can we let the picture of forgotten Christ be revived and let it be seen in our Ministry today?
Maong Jamir, Dimapur
