Some Episcopal congregations will be celebrating the Second Sunday after Epiphany by which the first reading they will use will be Isaiah 62:1-25. This wonderful reading tells us how God is doing new and wonderful things among God's people. God tells us that no longer will we be called: "Forsaken" or "Desolate". Instead we will be called God's Delight, and that our God "will rejoice in" us.
This reading would suggest that God sees all of his people as having great possibilities. Through the new work that God is going to to do, God is promising to deliver God's people from oppression and to give us a new identity and purpose. Today's Out in Scripture suggests:
Isaiah 62:1-5 is part of a collection of prophetic speeches often known as 'Third Isaiah' (chapters 56-66). These speeches are directed to the Israelites who are in exile in Babylon. The tone of the words is of comfort and hope. In chapter 62, the prophet assures the people that God will not keep silent, nor will God rest until "vindication shines out like the dawn" and "salvation burns out like a torch" (verse 1). God's deliverance of the people from oppression will shine in such a way that all will see it. In addition, the exiles will be given a new name, a fresh, new beginning.Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people may identify with the exiles in this passage from Isaiah and with the prophet who speaks on behalf of God. In a time when the church is struggling with full inclusion of LGBT people, we can take comfort and hope in knowing God will not rest until there is a day when no-one will be in exile. LGBT people also join their voices with the prophet, covenanting not to keep silent, but instead to name and share their gifts with the larger church.
Other Episcopal congregations will be celebrating Martin Luther King Jr. The first reading for the Eucharistic Liturgy will be Exodus 3:7-12 the commissioning of Moses to go to Pharaoh to ask that the people of Israel be let go. This Scripture Reading also suggests a people held by oppression. As we prepare to remember the outstanding work of Martin Luther King, Jr. on Monday, we remember that he led America and many African Americans through a very difficult time. When African Americans were still being oppressed because of racism this outstanding person stepped forward and challenged the society of his time to a new understanding and a new civil rights movement was born.
In Pam's House Blend, Rev. Irene Monroe asks the question: "Would King have spoken out on LGBTQ Justice?"
King understood the interconnections of struggles. And an example of that understanding is when Martin Luther King said, "The revolution for human rights is opening up unhealthy areas in American life and permitting a new and wholesome healing to take place. Eventually the civil rights movement will have contributed infinitely more to the nation than the eradication of racial justice."
This statement clearly includes LGBTQ justice but would King have spoken on this subject at that time and even now?
King's now deceased wife says yes.
In 1998, Coretta Scott King addressed the LGBT group Lambda Legal in Chicago. In her speech, she said queer rights and civil rights were the same. "I appeal to everyone who believes in Martin Luther King's dream to make room at the table of brother and sisterhood for lesbian and gay people," she said.
Sadly, Bayard Rustin, the gay man who was chief organizer and strategist for the 1963 March on Washington that further catapulted Martin Luther King onto the world stage, was not the beneficiary of King's dream.
In the Civil Rights movement Bayard Rustin was always the man behind the scene and a large part of that had to due with the fact that he was gay. Because of their own homophobia, many African American ministers involved in the Civil Right movement would have nothing to do with Rustin, and they intentionally rumored throughout the movement that King was gay because of his close friendship with Rustin.
In considering LGBT justice, it is important to keep in mind that all of us who are considered "minorities" (a word I hate by the way) fight for the same causes essentially. All LGBT people want is to be recognized as equal members of society and that is all other minorities want as well. Yet, I have known all too many LGBT individuals who have no problem harboring a racist attitude. Likewise there are many African Americans such as Bishop Harry Jackson who have very anti-gay attitudes. Why can't we all see that we are fighting for the same causes.
In Paul's letter to the Corinthians chapter 12 1-11 it is apparent that the early Church had problems seeing the diversity of gifts in their time too. Just as many in our present day age do not see a different sexual orientation or gender identity/expression as a gift with great possibilities, so the Church in Corinth at the time of Paul was having a difficulty seeing how different people had different gifts. In today's Church as in the days of Paul, there are all kinds of people who bring their unique gifts in the service of God and the Church. Yet, because of people's presuppositions as to how things are suppose to be, people assume that if you are not a heterosexual then you are not quite right. The Episcopal Church and the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America looked at this very same issue last summer when they decided as Church bodies that LGBT individuals could be considered for discernment for all levels of ministry within the Church. These were outstanding days, because the Epiphany of the Lord was revealed as we have learned time and time again that different people come with different gifts and when they place them at the service of Christ and the Church amazing things can happen.
My partner Jason and I were privileged to be present for a reception of three Priests from other traditions who came with their unique selves and gifts to share with the Episcopal Church. Two of those Priests are gay men and you can read about them in this story link that I have provided.
In the Gospel of John 2:1-11 we read the story of Jesus changing the water into wine. As I wrote about this Gospel this past Friday, I am going to give you this weekends Out in Scripture commentary for a slightly different understanding.
In John 2:1-11, the turning of water into wine at the wedding feast of Cana is the first of seven signs Jesus performs in John's gospel. It is a traditional reading for this season — the first of many signs, epiphanies or manifestations. The signs function in the gospel to point to Jesus as the one sent from God (John 1:14) and to evoke faith in Jesus from the people who witness them. What seems to be the miracle in the story, based on the steward's reaction, is not only Jesus turning of the water into wine. The good news is expressed in the steward’s perception that the wine, the Jesus-made-wine, was the very best and saved for the last (John 2:10). Taste and see how good God truly is!
In the Collegeville Bible Commentary, New Testament Volume we read:
"John has also used this story to initiate his theology of glory."....and so revealed his glory" (v. 11). This is the beginning of a magnificent Johannine conception of glory as being God's manifested presence. God glorifies us when he manifests himself in us; we glorify him when we manifest him to the world. In this instance at Cana, God's presence is manifested in his Son, his Revealer." (Page 984)
This great reading suggests that when God takes something and puts it to God's use, wonderful and exciting things happen. Imagine what can happen when LGBT people place our sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions to use for God's work on earth in terms of working for justice and equality together how we can help change the world for the better. Think of the ways we can take the old water of prejudice and inequality and through the work of the Gospel of Jesus as our basis and help people understand that God desires to build a new society and a new Church where everyone can celebrate God's wonderful work together. God's abundant graces can work through our brokenness, our heart breaks, even the prejudices that we experience and turn them in to the wine of compassion, healing and work for justice, peace and the full inclusion of LGBT people in society and the Church.
Let today be a new day, as this Epiphany is about new beginnings. Let us offer our gifts to God, no matter what they are and put them to the service of God and the Church. May we look to Jesus as the One who came to make all things new and may Jesus make us new people to do a new work in a world stuck on the old ways of injustice and prejudice. Let Jesus use us to change that old water into the wine of compassion and mercy, and conversion of the hearts of people so that the work of justice and equality may indeed find room to be born, to be nurtured and to begin a new life today.
Almighty God, whose Son our Savior Jesus Christ is the light of the world: Grant that your people, illumined by your Word and Sacraments, may shine with the radiance of Christ's glory, that he may be known, worshiped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday of Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, Page 215).
O merciful Father, who taught us in your holy Word that you would not willingly affict us, look with pity upon the sorrows of the people of Haiti, the LGBT community here and in Uganda and Rwanda for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for People in Trouble or Bereavement, Book of Common Prayer, Page 831).
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