Matthew 25:31-46 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, `Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' Then he will say to those at his left hand, `You that are accursed, depart from me into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his angels; for I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me nothing to drink, I was a stranger and you did not welcome me, naked and you did not give me clothing, sick and in prison and you did not visit me.' Then they also will answer, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and did not take care of you?' Then he will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did not do it to one of the least of these, you did not do it to me.' And these will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous into eternal life."
"Florence Nightingale was born in Florence, Italy, on May 12, 1820. She was trained as a nurse at Kaiserwerth (1851) and Paris in 1853 became superintendent of a hospital for invalid women in London. In response to God's call and animated by a spirit of service, in 1854 she volunteered for duty during the Crimean War and recruited 38 nurses to join her. With them she organized the first modern nursing service in the British field hospitals of Scutari and Balaclava. By imposing strict discipline and high standards of sanitation she radically reduced the drastic death toll and rampart infection then typical in field hospitals. She returned to England in 1856 and a fund of 50,000 pounds was subscribed to enable her to form an institution for the training of nurses at St. Thomas Hospital and at King's College Hospital. Her school at St. Thomas Hospital became significant in helping to elevate nursing into a profession. She devoted many years to the question of army sanitary reform, to the improvement of nursing and to public health in India. Her main work, Notes on Nursing, 1859, went through many editions.
An Anglican, she remained committed to a personal mystical religion which sustained her through many years of poor health until her death in 1910." (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, Page 522).
Wow, what a story! A woman who lived from 1820 to 1910 who took the bull by the horn and made reform happen. Florence Nightingale saw important needs in front of her, and she went after those needs because it was the right thing to do. Her faith in God and her understanding of who she was enabled her to not just be one who followed the crowd of what was popular, but made the decision to infuse society around her to make changes that would ultimately affect those who are sick or wounded in the war. She used the talents that were given to her, invested them and returned them one hundred fold and everyone with whom she came into contact benefited in ways that could only be imagined by some.
When those first folks at Stonewall Inn began their riot in 1969 did they ever think that we would get to a time when many States would have enacted gay rights ordinances? Would the folks in 1969 have ever guessed we would be here in 2010 hearing Judge Walker from California last Wednesday saying that Prop 8 that banned same-sex marriages in California was "unconstitutional"? Did they ever think we would hear today that next Wednesday, August 18th the stay against same-sex marriages in California would be lifted, and same-sex couples who love each other can become married citizens in California?
Social reform begins with a willingness to go up against the status quo. Being a social reformer means seeing a problem, an issue for what it is, when it is down right wrong. Social reform starts when one person begins pulling together all kinds of people with the same concerns and begins a movement to tell the Church and society that what they are doing is wrong. It took those first folks at Stonewall to finally say enough is enough and Harvey Milk to say enough is enough in California to begin helping to change what had been accepted at the time, to become what we see today that discrimination against people because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity is wrong. We are not at the finish line by any means. The work towards full equal protection has many more lumps and bumps before every person is truly free to pursue "life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness" without race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, immigration status, gender, country of origin being a "reason" to be treated as second class citizens. This is as much the case in the Church as it is American society.
As we see in Florence Nightingale, as in the Person of Jesus Christ, reform begins and carries on when people's hearts are moved. Jesus Christ saw in his own time people who were going without, while others who had more than enough were ignoring God's presence in those who were of need. In Florence Nightingale just providing good nursing care was not enough. Florence Nightingale had to see to it that good sanitation and adequate care was given to those who were sick. Are we satisfied with giving the poor and those on the margins of society what they need to "just get by" or does Jesus Christ in the face of the stigmatized deserve a greater quality of care? Do we see that a Department of Defense study full of degrading questions to heterosexual soldiers about their LGBT comrades is like throwing "scraps" at those who want to serve in the US Military openly, but cannot because of Don't Ask, Don't Tell? When Jesus Christ comes wanting to serve in the Military to fight for our freedoms, are we telling him no, because of his sexual orientation or gender identity/expression? Do we see the face of Jesus Christ in the soldiers who are being dismissed under Don't Ask, Don't Tell? Are we willing to fight so that Jesus Christ can serve regardless of his sexual orientation and/or gender identity?
Your answer might come by asking the question: "we do not know Jesus' sexual orientation and/or gender identity, so when did we dismiss him under Don't Ask, Don't Tell?" Jesus said: "Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Mt 25:40). The LGBTQ person is among the members of Christ's family as much as anyone else. The immigrant that could be harmed if Congress is allowed to overturn the 14th amendment is part of Christ's family. Those who would be harmed if Congress privatizes Social Security are members of Christ's family. Are we concerned about members of Christ's family? If we are concerned, what are we doing about it?
Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 14, Book of Common Prayer, Page 232).
Life-giving God, you alone have power over life and death, over health and sickness: Give power, wisdom, and gentleness to those who follow the lead of Florence Nightingale, that they, bearing with them your presence, may not only heal but bless, and shine as lanterns of hope in the darkest hours of pain and fear; through Jesus Christ, the healer of body and soul, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen. (Collect for Florence Nightingale, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, Page 523).
Look with mercy, O God our Father, on all persons who have become ill, weak, distressed, or isolated. Provide for them homes of dignity and peace; give them understanding helpers, and the willingness to accept help; and increase their faith and their assurance of your love. This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for those who need continual care, Evening Prayer, Missions of St. Claire Website).
No comments:
Post a Comment