Sermon for World AIDS Day: “God’s Promise for All Families”
Text: Jeremiah 33:14-26
Introduction
Beloved, today we gather on World AIDS Day, a day that calls us to pause and reflect on a crisis that has shaped our world for decades. It is a day to honor the lives lost, support those living with HIV, and recommit ourselves to the fight for justice, compassion, and hope.
Our scripture from Jeremiah reminds us of a profound truth: God is a God of promise, restoration, and boundless love. In Jeremiah’s time, the people of Israel and Judah felt abandoned, believing that God had turned away and that their covenant with God was broken. Yet, through the prophet Jeremiah, God speaks a word of assurance:
“The days are surely coming…when I will fulfill the promise I made to the house of Israel and the house of Judah.”
This message resonates deeply in our time, especially on World AIDS Day. It is a message for the millions who have been impacted by HIV and AIDS—those who live with the disease, those who mourn loved ones, and those who endure stigma and rejection. It is a reminder that God does not abandon parts of the family. God’s love, God’s covenant, is for all.
Let us reflect together on three key truths from this passage: God’s promise is for all, justice and righteousness require action, and God’s work of restoration is ongoing.
1. God’s Promise Is for All
Jeremiah declares that God’s covenant is unshakable, as constant as day and night. God’s love is not selective, and God does not abandon any part of the family.
Today, as we consider the impact of HIV and AIDS, we must confront the painful reality that society often picks and chooses whom it deems worthy of love, care, and dignity. HIV and AIDS have disproportionately affected marginalized communities—Black and Brown people, LGBTQ+ individuals, and those living in poverty. These communities often face double the burden: the physical and emotional toll of the disease, and the stigma and rejection that come with it.
But hear this: God does not reject the marginalized. God does not turn away from the suffering or the vulnerable. The covenant of love and restoration extends to every member of the human family. On World AIDS Day, we are called to reflect God’s inclusivity by standing with those who have been silenced or excluded.
As the church, we are called to be a reflection of God’s unchanging promise. We must reject stigma, challenge prejudice, and embrace every person as a beloved child of God.
2. Justice and Righteousness in Action
Jeremiah speaks of a righteous Branch who will spring up and execute justice and righteousness in the land. These are not abstract theological concepts but tangible, actionable values. Justice is what we do to make systems fair. Righteousness is how we treat one another with compassion and integrity.
For us, justice means advocating for equitable access to healthcare, ensuring that life-saving medications like antiretroviral therapies are available to all who need them. It means addressing the systemic inequities that allow HIV and AIDS to thrive in some communities while others remain untouched.
Justice also means education—breaking down myths and misinformation that fuel fear and stigma. Many still wrongly associate HIV with shame or immorality. As people of faith, we are called to confront these harmful narratives with truth and love.
Righteousness calls us to walk alongside those living with HIV, offering support and community rather than isolation. It means speaking out in spaces where silence has allowed injustice to prevail. On this World AIDS Day, we recommit ourselves to being agents of God’s justice and righteousness, ensuring that no one feels forgotten or unloved.
3. Restoration and Mercy
God’s promise in Jeremiah is a promise of restoration:
“I will restore their fortunes and have mercy upon them.”
This is the heart of God—a God who restores what has been broken and heals what has been wounded.
The global fight against HIV and AIDS has brought glimpses of this restoration. Advances in medicine have turned what was once a fatal diagnosis into a manageable condition for many. Communities have risen up to challenge stigma, and progress has been made toward eliminating mother-to-child transmission.
But the work is far from finished. Millions still lack access to the treatments they need. Stigma and discrimination continue to plague those living with HIV. Restoration begins with mercy, and mercy begins with us.
As followers of Christ, we are called to extend mercy by advocating for those left behind, by listening to the voices of those impacted, and by ensuring that every person knows their worth in God’s eyes. Restoration happens when we, as the church, commit to being the hands and feet of Christ in a world that desperately needs healing.
Conclusion: The Family of Families
Beloved, on this World AIDS Day, let us remember that we are part of a global family—a family bound together by God’s unchanging love. Just as God did not abandon Israel and Judah, God has not abandoned those impacted by HIV and AIDS. The covenant remains, and the promise of restoration is sure.
Let us be a church that embodies this truth, a church that reflects God’s justice, mercy, and hope. Let us declare boldly that God’s love picks no favorites and excludes no one.
“The days are surely coming,” says the Lord. May we be the people who help usher in those days—days of healing, equity, and unshakable hope for all.
Amen.
