Now when Jesus saw great crowds around him, he gave orders to go over to the other side. A scribe then approached and said, "Teacher, I will follow you wherever you go." And Jesus said to him, "Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests; but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head." Another of his disciples said to him, "Lord, first let me go and bury my father." But Jesus said to him, "Follow me, and let the dead bury their own dead." And when he got into the boat, his disciples followed him. A windstorm arose on the sea, so great that the boat was being swamped by the waves; but he was asleep. And they went and woke him up, saying, "Lord, save us! We are perishing!" And he said to them, "Why are you afraid, you of little faith?" Then he got up and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a dead calm. They were amazed, saying, "What sort of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him?"
Yesterday was the National Day Against Homophobia and Transphobia. On that day we call on people everywhere to denounce homophobia and to consider an attitude of acceptance for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. Over these past many months since President Obama signed the Matthew Shepard Hate Crimes bill into law, there have been many crimes committed against LGBT people and those associated with us. A group of churches in Michigan have filed suit against the Federal Government stating that the hate crimes law violates religious freedom and will force Pastors to no longer denounce homosexuality from their pulpits, though that is definitely not part of the bill.
The prejudice and exclusion of LGBT people in society and the Church is a storm with wild winds, and huge waves. Storms are scary. This year we have seen many States experiencing massive flooding. Even my home town of Wareham, Massachusetts was looking at the possibility of the Tremont Dam breaking loose and flooding the area where I grew up. These are things that happen, and not because Massachusetts legalized marriage equality either. They happen, and they are scary. But just like God was there in Jesus Christ with the disciples in the boat as it rocked and was blasted by the high winds and waves, so Jesus is with us as we face the storm of discrimination and exclusion.
The constant messages of prejudice that comes from those who interpret the Bible literally are designed to crush the lives of LGBT people, and it winds up crushing the faith of LGBT people. If all the religious right can throw at LGBT people is false claims that the Bible teaches against us, and that we should submit to ex gay ministries to change our sexual orientation or gender identity/expression when most of us go through such agony over who we are, it is not without consequences that many LGBT just give up on the Christian Faith all together. This is not the kind of Faith that Jesus wants to give to LGBT people, nor does he approve of the horrible violence that is heaped up on LGBT people in the name of Scripture.
As LGBT individuals we face many storms through out our lives. Coming out to ourselves, friends, families, church communities, schools, jobs and so much more. Many of us have faced horrible discrimination. Yet, even amidst all of these difficulties, God is with us as we face these things. Jesus has the power to calm the storms of discrimination. There are those reading this blog who will ask: "And why doesn't God do something about all the bigots?" And that is a very good question.
If we look at the past 15 to 20 years we have seen a wider acceptance of society towards LGBT people. The situation is far from perfect. But today, there are many places where telling someone you are LGBT will not bring you quite the kind of trouble that it used to. There are many places where it is still very dangerous to be out. In some of those places since being LGBT in others has become more accepting, those places where people are not are experiencing even more prejudice than they used to. Thanks in part to many organizations like Westboro Baptist and the Family Research Council, many places that are already difficult to be LGBT are now becoming even more difficult. However, there are also lots of places where PFLAG has been finding opportunities to plant new chapters where they help people deal positively with LGBT individuals, their families and friends. There are a lot more churches reaching out for LGBT people than there used to be. That to me is a sign that God is working to calm the storms around us. Just the news that the Episcopal Church ordained Bishop Gene Robinson and Bishop Mary Glasspool tells us that God is working with the Church to be a place where LGBT people are welcomed, affirmed and celebrated. We need to pray that Jesus will continue to calm the storms of prejudice and exclusion.
What role can we play in helping to calm the storms of prejudice and exclusion where we are? How can LGBT people continue to challenge a culture that still does not want to accept us, to change for the better? Where can we add our voice so that others will hear our stories and learn to respond with a sense of compassion and acceptance?
God is indeed working in our midst and in our community. We need to pray for the faith to believe that God is with us even amidst all our doubts and difficulties as we face prejudice and exclusion. We need to believe that God's world is inclusive and that we have every business challenging the Church and world to become more inclusive of LGBT people.
As we continue to wait to celebrate Pentecost when the Holy Spirit came upon those first Apostles, let us invoke her wonderful power and grace to help the Church and the world be transformed so that we may more and more love unconditionally and all inclusively.
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for the Seventh Sunday of Easter, the Sunday After the Ascension, Book of Common Prayer, Page 227)
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).
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, Page 826).
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