This past Wednesday, I learned some powerful lessons. A week ago Thursday our the managers of the apartment property where we live sent out notices. The notices said that they were going to have our parking lots swept and to have our cars moved to a different location by 9:15am this past Wednesday morning. My life between the Thursday before last when the notices came out, and Wednesday morning about 11:00am had been so hectic that even with the notice staring me in the face on my side table, I had still forgotten all about moving my car by 9:15am. Wednesday, I got up at about 11:00am exhausted by all that had happened ready to take our cat to the vet for a 3:00pm appointment, when I heard the parking lot sweepers. "Oh no!" I thought. I realized that I had forgotten all about the parking lot sweeping and I had left our car right in their path from the night before. Sure enough, the car was gone.
I panicked for a little bit and realized that I needed to call Jason at work and tell him that we would have to use quite a bit of the money he had just earned (it was pay day) to get the car out that day. In the middle of my self disappointment at forgetting all about it, my partner reminded me that this happened on pay day, with the money already in our credit union account. instead of in the middle of the week when we might not have much money to do anything about it. That was one sigh of relief that made me feel a little bit better. Was the worst over? Not really.
The tow company that towed the car was all the way in St. Louis Park, and they do not take check cards. Only cash. So I realized the only way I was going to get that car successfully on Wednesday, to avoid having to pay a storage fee on Thursday, was to call a taxi cab to drive me to the credit union for cash and then to the place in St. Louis Park where our car was. So I did that. It took a big chunk of money to do both, but we got the car out, I drove it home and got ourselves some supper and the rest of was almost better.
What happened next?
I heard the news that on Wednesday afternoon that the State Senate of Minnesota had passed the constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot in 2012 to make marriage equality for LGBT couples illegal, if the voters pass it. That was a bad end to a bad day.
As I went through the rest of the evening, I was reminded of several things.
One, I have a caring and understanding partner who could help me look up about a not so good situation.
Two, We had the cash to withdraw and pay a cab driver and pay to get the car out.
Three, though a constitutional amendment was passed by the Senate, it has not yet passed in the House, it is not over just yet.
Four, all the graces I had received in the middle of this not so good day, had come because of the good graces of the risen Christ our good shepherd.
It wasn't such a bad day after all.
In addition to this story of our lives, I want to write very briefly about two of the three readings from today's Liturgy.
Now this sounds like a Christianity I would like to be part of. The Apostles got together with those they had Baptized, broke the bread of the Eucharist, taught and shared with each other and prayed. What is even nicer is that people gave up something for those who were in need. Their numbers were added to because of the goodness of all who were sharing in what they did together.
This sounds like a great caring family. This does not sound like some church council assembly where they drafted documents or defined dogma. There is a good chance that they were not so opposed to the subject of gay marriage. There is evidence that in the first few hundred years of Church history, that they actually celebrated same-sex marriages. The more important thing, was that they were together, celebrating, sharing and taking care of others in need. How great it could be if the Christian Church as a whole could return to that kind of ministry.
I must tell you that I love the imagery of Jesus as the good shepherd. I do not really like the Gospel verses that are written to describe Jesus as the good shepherd or the gate keeper. I like the idea of Jesus being the shepherd that takes care of and tends to his people and helps them be nourished by the Eucharist and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I do not like the language that suggests that if we are not of the sheep fold of Jesus then we must surely be lost.
That very kind of thinking has helped lead many to that supercessionism that has damaged the relationship between Christians and other religions, etc. The idea that if we are Christians we are superior to any other philosophy or anything that is not what we have idealized Christianity to be or mean.
That is the case, until you read a little further down after where our Gospel for today stops and we read: "I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice." (John 10: 16). Now that sounds more of what I like to think of Jesus as the good shepherd. It does not matter what fold you are from or part of, or not part of. Jesus is interested in all.
This is certainly a very different ideal from what Christianists would like the followers of Christ to believe. The view of Christianists is that if you are to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, you must confess your sins, say the sinners prayer, and become an agent against abortion, homosexuality, a Republican and someone who doesn't need to care about anything come hell or high water. Just evangelize the earth for Jesus Christ, and you will go to heaven.
Actually that is not the picture of being a follower of the risen Christ that we are given in today's Gospel. A follower of Christ crucified and risen is not one who has a life insurance policy that is too good to fail. A follower of the Easter Christ is one who hears the voice of Christ, sees the presence of Christ in all people and knows that in all persons regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/religion, gender, health status, wealth status, occupation, language, etc, is the stamp of the image of God who has made all and loves all. To be among the fold of Christ the good shepherd is to realize that the people that are being marginalized by the Church and society are those among whom are also Christ's wanted flock. And that it is not our place to judge how another person should behave, believe of do just to validate them according to our preferences.
As we meditate on the idea of Jesus as the good shepherd, we would all do well to pray for the grace of Jesus Christ to help us to see all people as among God's created beauty and serve those who are left behind.
LGBT are among God's sheep. Finding shepherds to guide and help heal them is no small or simple task. As LGBT people, whether we believe of not need to continue to challenge the ordained shepherds of Christ's Church to learn to see the flock of Jesus beyond the prejudices and ideologies that keep people separated, instead of together. While they are shepherds, they are servants of Christ the good shepherd, not Christ as God's Self. They are imperfect people. They have biases. They have hurts. They are sometimes ignorant. They often offend and are wrong. And yes, they should be told and corrected when they are.
Today, Jason and are celebrating together one year ago today when we were received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Brian Prior of Minnesota. We are ever so thankful for the gift given to us by the Episcopal Church. We also recognize that our Bishop, nor the Clergy at St. Mark's are prefect people. But we do offer our prayers for them and for all who lead God's people, that they may all be open to God's grace for the ministry to which they are ordained to serve.
May Jesus Christ the risen good shepherd lead all of God's people in to better days ahead. Amen.
Prayers
I panicked for a little bit and realized that I needed to call Jason at work and tell him that we would have to use quite a bit of the money he had just earned (it was pay day) to get the car out that day. In the middle of my self disappointment at forgetting all about it, my partner reminded me that this happened on pay day, with the money already in our credit union account. instead of in the middle of the week when we might not have much money to do anything about it. That was one sigh of relief that made me feel a little bit better. Was the worst over? Not really.
The tow company that towed the car was all the way in St. Louis Park, and they do not take check cards. Only cash. So I realized the only way I was going to get that car successfully on Wednesday, to avoid having to pay a storage fee on Thursday, was to call a taxi cab to drive me to the credit union for cash and then to the place in St. Louis Park where our car was. So I did that. It took a big chunk of money to do both, but we got the car out, I drove it home and got ourselves some supper and the rest of was almost better.
What happened next?
I heard the news that on Wednesday afternoon that the State Senate of Minnesota had passed the constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot in 2012 to make marriage equality for LGBT couples illegal, if the voters pass it. That was a bad end to a bad day.
As I went through the rest of the evening, I was reminded of several things.
One, I have a caring and understanding partner who could help me look up about a not so good situation.
Two, We had the cash to withdraw and pay a cab driver and pay to get the car out.
Three, though a constitutional amendment was passed by the Senate, it has not yet passed in the House, it is not over just yet.
Four, all the graces I had received in the middle of this not so good day, had come because of the good graces of the risen Christ our good shepherd.
It wasn't such a bad day after all.
In addition to this story of our lives, I want to write very briefly about two of the three readings from today's Liturgy.
Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV)
Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.
Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.
Now this sounds like a Christianity I would like to be part of. The Apostles got together with those they had Baptized, broke the bread of the Eucharist, taught and shared with each other and prayed. What is even nicer is that people gave up something for those who were in need. Their numbers were added to because of the goodness of all who were sharing in what they did together.
This sounds like a great caring family. This does not sound like some church council assembly where they drafted documents or defined dogma. There is a good chance that they were not so opposed to the subject of gay marriage. There is evidence that in the first few hundred years of Church history, that they actually celebrated same-sex marriages. The more important thing, was that they were together, celebrating, sharing and taking care of others in need. How great it could be if the Christian Church as a whole could return to that kind of ministry.
John 10:1-10 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.
So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."
I must tell you that I love the imagery of Jesus as the good shepherd. I do not really like the Gospel verses that are written to describe Jesus as the good shepherd or the gate keeper. I like the idea of Jesus being the shepherd that takes care of and tends to his people and helps them be nourished by the Eucharist and the comfort of the Holy Spirit. I do not like the language that suggests that if we are not of the sheep fold of Jesus then we must surely be lost.
That very kind of thinking has helped lead many to that supercessionism that has damaged the relationship between Christians and other religions, etc. The idea that if we are Christians we are superior to any other philosophy or anything that is not what we have idealized Christianity to be or mean.
That is the case, until you read a little further down after where our Gospel for today stops and we read: "I have other sheep that are not of this fold. I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice." (John 10: 16). Now that sounds more of what I like to think of Jesus as the good shepherd. It does not matter what fold you are from or part of, or not part of. Jesus is interested in all.
This is certainly a very different ideal from what Christianists would like the followers of Christ to believe. The view of Christianists is that if you are to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, you must confess your sins, say the sinners prayer, and become an agent against abortion, homosexuality, a Republican and someone who doesn't need to care about anything come hell or high water. Just evangelize the earth for Jesus Christ, and you will go to heaven.
Actually that is not the picture of being a follower of the risen Christ that we are given in today's Gospel. A follower of Christ crucified and risen is not one who has a life insurance policy that is too good to fail. A follower of the Easter Christ is one who hears the voice of Christ, sees the presence of Christ in all people and knows that in all persons regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/religion, gender, health status, wealth status, occupation, language, etc, is the stamp of the image of God who has made all and loves all. To be among the fold of Christ the good shepherd is to realize that the people that are being marginalized by the Church and society are those among whom are also Christ's wanted flock. And that it is not our place to judge how another person should behave, believe of do just to validate them according to our preferences.
As we meditate on the idea of Jesus as the good shepherd, we would all do well to pray for the grace of Jesus Christ to help us to see all people as among God's created beauty and serve those who are left behind.
LGBT are among God's sheep. Finding shepherds to guide and help heal them is no small or simple task. As LGBT people, whether we believe of not need to continue to challenge the ordained shepherds of Christ's Church to learn to see the flock of Jesus beyond the prejudices and ideologies that keep people separated, instead of together. While they are shepherds, they are servants of Christ the good shepherd, not Christ as God's Self. They are imperfect people. They have biases. They have hurts. They are sometimes ignorant. They often offend and are wrong. And yes, they should be told and corrected when they are.
Today, Jason and are celebrating together one year ago today when we were received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Brian Prior of Minnesota. We are ever so thankful for the gift given to us by the Episcopal Church. We also recognize that our Bishop, nor the Clergy at St. Mark's are prefect people. But we do offer our prayers for them and for all who lead God's people, that they may all be open to God's grace for the ministry to which they are ordained to serve.
May Jesus Christ the risen good shepherd lead all of God's people in to better days ahead. Amen.
Prayers
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).
O God of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.(Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 818).
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