Scriptural Basis
Matthew 5:13-19 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under foot.
"You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.
"Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets; I have come not to abolish but to fulfill. For truly I tell you, until heaven and earth pass away, not one letter, not one stroke of a letter, will pass from the law until all is accomplished. Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments, and teaches others to do the same, will be called least in the kingdom of heaven; but whoever does them and teaches them will be called great in the kingdom of heaven."
Blog Reflection
As we commemorate Leo the Great we are reminded of his many accomplishments. The greatness of this saint is found in the wisdom Leo had to convey what our Christian faith meant in a time when there was economic, political and social chaos as the Roman Empire was falling apart. Everything that had been built in Rome was crumbling and the barbarians would later come in to destroy as much of thecivilization as they possibly could.
Leo's great passion for the belief that Jesus is both God and human are still found in seminary libraries world wide. Many of Leo's sermons are found in the Roman Office of Readings as part of the Liturgy of the Hours. Among his greatest writings appears on Christmas, as Leo writes of the mystery of the incarnation of God becoming human and dwelling among us.
Among the many difficult issues we face as Christians working for justice and equality for marginalized individuals in the Church and society, comes from the notion that what Christians believe and how we deal with those different from ourselves are some how separate. One is not needed to help with the other.
As Christians we may believe that God's perfect revelation was through Jesus Christ and that the Apostles helped to establish the Church on earth. The fulfillment of our Baptismal Covenant includes seeking to serve Christ in all persons, loving our neighbors as our selves AND to strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human being. Knowing these things and working for that justice, peace and respect for dignity cannot stop at an individuals sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression or for any other reason.
The awesome things that Christians believe and pray, ought to guide us to a greater use of reason and understanding of how things in the world are, not how we might like them to be.
There are individuals who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and/or queer.
There are other religions besides Christianity, many of which seek the same justice, peace and respect for the dignity of all human beings, just not under the Judeo-Christian name, bible or belief system.
There are other cultures, languages, skin colors, expressions of self, behaviors that are not all wrapped up in the small corner called the Christian religion.
They all have a place of importance. They are all worthy of respect and the defense of their dignity.
There are many Christianists and arch-conservatives who believe that homosexuality, abortion, liberal and more progressive forms of Christianity, the securing of the freedoms of other religions and cultures are some how contributing to the collapse of American society. They preach and teach that the United States that was "founded as a Christian nation" is being lost to Satan because seven States have legalized same-sex marriage and Muslims are building mosques in America. In their opinion, their mission is to spread the Gospel through causing people to fear catastrophic destruction of places like Mississippi that just voted down the so-called "Person-hood Amendment." If there were to be a sudden snow storm that covered Iowa, the Christianists would say it is because the Republicans did not win control over the Iowa State Senate so as to repeal marriage equality.
The problem with the kind of thinking and behaving I have written about in the previous paragraph, is that it presumes that the God whom Christians believe was in Christ just cannot and does not work in the lives of women who have had abortions or are pro-choice, LGBT people and many others. Such thinking puts God the Holy Spirit into a nifty Pandoras Box so that God and others unlike what conservatives think people should be can be controlled, exploited, oppressed and violently manipulated.
The God that Christians worship is not a mean angry psycho-path.
God is a gracious, generous, merciful and loving God.
God came to us in Christ to tell us that we do not have to be afraid to be who we are. Jesus Christ and the life Jesus lived showed us the way to see that in God's eyes and heart, everyone is loved and can find salvation, peace and joy. To know Jesus and the forgiveness of our sins means that LGBT people do not have to lie about ourselves to our friends, families, communities etc. We have been redeemed by the blood of Jesus Christ to live the fullness of who God has created us to be. Our Triune God who is Creator, Servant and Life-Giver wants us all to experience God's unconditional and all inclusive love, share in the goodness of all God has for all of God's people, and one day have eternal life.
Our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are gifts of the God who we traditionally call Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Our sexuality by which we love our partners physically, and all others emotionally is a gift of the God who became human to tell us that we are cherished lights for all the world to see the glory of God.
The mission of the Christian Church, which Leo the Great helped to expand and prepare is to share the message that God is love, and there are no exceptions.
Prayers
O Lord our God, grant that your Church, following the teaching of your servant Leo of Rome, may hold fast the great mystery of our redemption, and adore the one Christ, true God and true Man, neither divided from our human nature nor separate from your divine Being; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 675).
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. (Book of Common Prayer, page 815).
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