This is certainly what happened to me just before my grandmother died. My grandmother was excommunicated from the Catholic church back in the 1940's when she married a divorced man. She continued to faithfully serve the local Parish even though she could not celebrate the Sacraments by offering the nuns to use her home to teach religious education. Later on, she would finally leave the Catholic church when the local Priest refused to take part in an interfaith wedding of one of her children. Later as she was dying a Priest had told her that her excommunication had been lifted in 1973 and she received her last Communion before she died. Given all that she had done for the church I felt that if she did not want a funeral Mass, then the least she deserved was a memorial Mass after she had been buried. And my grandmother told me that God gave me a good heart and that if I wanted to have a memorial Mass said for her after she died, that I should go ahead and do it. Later on, we did celebrate together a wonderful Mass in her memory.
In today's Gospel, Jesus is preparing his disciples for his departure. The Gospel is John 14: 23 to 31. Jesus is telling the disciples that the Holy Spirit, the Advocate would come and remind them of everything he had taught them. And then he said those wonderful words: "Peace I leave with you, my peace I give to you."
The Holy Spirit reminds us of everything that Jesus said and taught. She reminds us of God's unconditional and all inclusive love that was given in and through Jesus Christ, God's perfect Self revelation. God's love was perfectly expressed as Jesus welcomed the strangers, healed the sick, raised the dead and was inclusive of those who were marginalized by society and the religious community of his time. Jesus gave his own life and rose victorious from death and promised eternal life to those who would follow him, and learn to love as Jesus loved. In Jesus those who are marginalized are called to be members of God's holy people. In Jesus, God calls those who are arrogant and hard of heart to humble themselves and love others with a tender and inclusive love. The Holy Spirit leads us in the Way, Truth and Life that is Jesus Christ, and helps us remember that none of us are totally perfect in the eyes of God, and that only through the love of God in Jesus can we hope to share in everlasting life with God.
The Holy Spirit represents the feminine, motherly side of God. Like all mothers, God the Holy Spirit looks after us, nurtures us and empowers us so that we may know God better as we grow in love and wisdom. Like a mother, God the Holy Spirit is closest to us when we are hurt and discouraged and helps us know God's wonderful presence and that all is not lost as long as we trust in God. The Holy Spirit speaks to our hearts and transforms us when we are in error or mislead. The Holy Spirit visits with us and helps us know that our sins are forgiven and that all of us are children of God.
Today's second reading is from Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5. Out in Scripture has the following to say about this reading. For the purpose of emphasis, I have italicized and printed in bold the words: abomination and shame.
Revelation 21:10, 22-22:5 echoes the themes of blessing and hope in the revelation to St. John. It is a word of hope for God's ultimate and eternal blessings to those who have been faithful in spite of being excluded, oppressed or even exiled. However, that initial exclusion can be problematic to many readers. Revelation 21:27 says that "anyone who practices abomination or falsehood” (New Revised Standard Version) or "does what is shameful or deceitful” (New International Version) will not enter the city. Most members of the LGBT community know the pain of having the words "abomination” and "shame” as labels placed on them and their lives. LGBT people should not internalize these words as a particular condemnation of them. All of humanity is subject to the shame of idolatry. It is not sexual orientation or gender identity that creates an "abomination” but our raising those things of the created order to the level of "gods” in our lives.
God calls us to be good stewards of all the gifts and blessings given to us, including human sexuality. When we make idols of money, power, institutions, relationships and, yes, even our sexuality, then we are in danger of not entering the city of light — simply because we'd rather stay in the shadows.
In today's first reading from Acts 16:9-15 Paul is about to take the message of Christianity into new territory. The message will find it's way into places that are unknown and there will also be new kinds of people, cultures and behaviors. The history of the Christian Church is unfortunately known for having gone into places where established cultures, religion and traditions became conquered and reshaped according to the way of the Anglo-Saxons or Puritans. Such is the case with many Native Americans and Two Spirit Nations. Maybe that is why what has been happening with the anti-immigration law in Arizona is so upsetting. Perhaps that is why many evangelicals and fundamentalists are siding with conservative, white, straight males to dominate and keep other ethnic groups suppressed in the "land of the free and the home of the brave."
If only Christians could keep in mind that what the Holy Spirit came upon the early Church to do, was to tell the world of God's incredible love for them in Jesus Christ and invite them not compel and control them into a relationship with God, then perhaps the Christian Church would not be seen as another political action committee. If Christians better understood that the Bible really does not condemn monogamous committed same-sex relationships or alternative gender expressions or identities, then perhaps conservative Christians would get off the anti-gay and anti-transgendered crusades that destroy people and families. If such attitudes became part of the Christian Church then people would really see that Bishop Robinson needing to wear a bullet proof vest at his ordination and consecration, was not only awful, but really a terrible thing to put anyone through.
The Gospel of Jesus Christ and the message that the Holy Spirit was sent to help the Church spread throughout the world is a message of love and compassion for all people. It was not a message of how to subordinate women, denigrate African Americans, Native Americans, Latinos, Muslims, lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered people, or anyone that is challenged or not a healthy, white, straight male.
As we prepare to celebrate the Ascension of Christ and the great feast of Pentecost, let us ask the Holy Spirit to come and change our hearts, minds, world, society and the Church for the better. To help all of us move beyond our prejudices and attitudes of exclusion. All of us if we are honest have some thing some where, where we need to let God change us about one person or about a group of people that are different than ourselves.
O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Sixth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, Page 225).
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)
O merciful Father, who taught us in your holy Word that you would not willingly afflict us, look with pity upon the sorrows of those affected by the recent floods in Tennessee for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish them soul 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 those in trouble or bereavement, Book of Common Prayer, Page 831).
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