Loving One Another Includes the Immigrant and LGBT

I had a bit of a hard time picking out a Scripture for today's blog post. My choices were not very good. I really did not want to write about adultery, plucking eyes out or divorce as today's Divine Office Gospel was Matthew 5: 27-37.

This upcoming weekends Gospel of John 13: 31-35 is just what the doctor ordered after the last two weeks. Particularly where Jesus said: "I give you a new commandment, that you love one another. Just as I have loved you, you also should love one another. By this everyone will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another." (34 and 35).

In case it has not been said yet, last I heard every person in this country is an immigrant. In fact, not only are we all immigrants who's ancestry is part of another nation, but for many in the Native American Community, we are all land thieves. There is no single person here in the United States who has any more business being here than anyone else. Yet, because of the graciousness of God who has chosen to bless us as a people despite our history of prejudice and barbarianism we have been allowed to prosper and advance in technology, politics, religion and infrastructure. But if all of us are honest, we have all had to find our place in society to make a life for ourselves. No one has had it easy, everyone has had to work hard. Some people have barely had the opportunity to begin. Others have been fortunate to have the way made for them from day one.

The news of Arizona's new immigration law has been heart breaking. It should strike us all as being not only bad, but down right outrageous. We do not gain the respect of other people and nations, by trampling upon the rights of others to pursue happiness and safety. We do not exhibit Gospel like behaviors when we place immigrants and people within our own country at risk for racial profiling. The concern of the progressive news media has been correct, and I thank them for highlighting the danger of this kind of practice.

The Rt. Rev. Kirk S. Smith, Episcopal Bishop of Arizona has written of his deep concerns about the new immigration law.

My Dear Spanish-Speaking Brothers and Sisters in Christ,

Today is a sad day in the struggle to see all God's people treated in a humane and compassionate manner. I had hoped that our Governor and law-makers would listen to their consciences and not be swayed by the voices of bigotry and racism. With the Governor's signing of SB 1070, it seems that for now the advocates of fear and hatred have won over those of charity and love. Arizona claims to be a Golden Rule State. We have not lived up to that claim.

I know that the passage of this law is deeply troubling to many of you, especially those of undocumented status. I know that many of you fear for your jobs, your families, and your future in this state and in this country.

You are not the only ones affected. According to this law, anyone giving food or even water to an undocumented person in need could be subject to arrest. What would Jesus say?

I am writing to encourage you not to lose heart.

First, there is no need for panic. This law does not take effect for 90 days. During that time there will be many court challenges, including those coming from the federal government. The law might be tied up for months or years in litigation, and I believe that there is a good possibility it will never go into effect.

In the meantime, know that the majority of us in the Episcopal Church, and in many other churches and faith communities, stand with you in support and solidarity. We will continue to work as hard as we can to defeat this law and to work toward just and fair laws that protect the rights of all human beings. We all know that our immigration system is broken, but it cannot be fixed by scape-goating the most vulnerable of those among us.

Finally, know that God is with you in this struggle. Jesus always stands with the oppressed. You therefore have our concern, our prayers, and our support. Faithfully, + Kirk

There was another very interesting article written in the Minnesota Progressive Project about the whole immigration debate.

Conservatives hate illegal immigrants, but they love illegal immigration. Based on their approach to the issue, there is no other logical conclusion. Just look at who is the target of the conservatives anger. Conservatives have the power to end illegal immigration in a month, if they really wanted to. Don't believe me? Read on!

The very fact to me that many conservative Christians think that Arizona's Immigration law is a good idea, and that oppression of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people is also a charitable idea tells me that the commandment of Jesus Christ for Christians to love one another has yet to be understood let alone realized. When will Christians learn that with in the face of each other is the face of Jesus, the crucified and risen Christ? God has created and redeemed us all, and continues to sanctify us all through the Holy Spirit. When the children of God from immigrants to LGBT people experience such discrimination from people who claim to follow Jesus Christ, the Holy Spirit is grieved in ways we cannot imagine. Her gentle, life-giving message of mercy and compassion, inclusion and unity is violated when Christians fail to welcome the stranger, the immigrant, the homosexual, bisexual and transgendered individual. The Holy Spirit came to the Church on that first Pentecost to tell us all to love one another as Christ loves us, so that the world may know that we are the disciples of Christ. The Holy Spirit did not bless the early Church with a message of hate, bigotry and classification. So the Holy Spirit does not bless such messages in our own time.

When will the Church wake up and realize that meanness and non-inclusion is not the way of God? When will the Church understand that when we do not speak up on behalf of the immigrant or LGBT person who is not welcomed, we are not fulfilling Christ's command to love one another as Christ loved us?

The incident of Arizona's immigration law and the continuing struggle for LGBT equality is a wake up call to ministry and mission for the Church. As we continue through this Easter Season and prepare for the Season of Pentecost we would do well to contemplate within ourselves how we can welcome the risen Christ and the Holy Spirit in the immigrant and one another. All of us have those people and places that challenge our interior comfort zones. They are also opportunities in which the Holy Spirit can come to us with her gentle graces and help us experience conversion so that we can be more inclusive and help the Church be more inclusive.

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people; Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, Page 225).

God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, Page 100).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, Page 815).