Today's Gospel Reading from Matthew chapter 20: 20-28 sounds a lot like the day after Thanksgiving when some people at the dinner table might have had a squabble. James and John's mother came to Jesus with a request not fully understanding what she was asking. And because of James and John the other Disciples became angry with them and Jesus has to calm them down. Jesus plays the role of quite the good referee first taking care of the issue with James and John and then talking to the other Disciples. Jesus' main interest appears to be making peace amidst the arguments of those who are having their temper tantrums. But the answers Jesus gives his followers sound anything but peaceful. It sounds like: "Hey boys, everyone will get theirs in the end."
Today is the day after Thanksgiving with only two days before Advent officially starts. We have left over food from our Thanksgiving Day feasts, dishes to wash, perhaps still guests to attend to and parties to go to. There are phone calls to make. Perhaps there are some hurt feelings from the day before. Perhaps Thanksgiving was not very happy for someone. Yet, in two days we will begin celebrating Advent when we wait in anticipation of the Lord's coming. What always tends to get to me this time of year is how Thanksgiving becomes Christmas without some time being paid attention to Advent. While it is great to go get those gifts and put up the decorations, the fact is there is some time of waiting in anticipation and hope that comes between Thanksgiving and during the Advent Season that really could use some down time. Time to think about how we can be servants to those who are needy, without their civil rights, health insurance and be the voices for the voiceless. The work of Justice is a work that never quite takes a holiday.
Yesterday we all received some very disturbing news. The Catholic church in Ireland covered up years of child sex abuse. We cannot hear news like this without walking away down right furious. This is an outrageous abuse of not only children but ecclesiastical authority. The world ecclesiastical by the way is suppose to mean "wisdom." There is no wisdom in church leaders who cover up injustice for the sake of their reputation. And there is no wisdom in a Pope who blames such activities on the number of gay clergy in the church. The very fact that all of this was covered up for as long as it was tells me that the leaders of the Catholic church are much more concerned about their immediate appearance rather than the long term consequences on children and on those Priests who were obviously ill due to their inability to create healthy intimate relationships. Episcopal Priest Fr. Paul Bresnahan in his blog An Invitation to An Inclusive Churchwrote: "we figured out 600 years ago that it is a good idea to allow the clergy to marry. This is a splendid way to channel clerical libidinal energy. It is no assurance of rectitude, but the instances of clergy misconduct are far more likely to be held in check if there is a marriage within which to practice intimacy than if there is celibacy with no such outlet. Terrible things can happen to a church with celibacy as the only libidinal outlet as we well know, and the Anglican/Episcopal Church figured that out a long, long time ago." This very event that has been released from Ireland shows that the leaders of the Catholic church need to be reminded of Jesus' words in today's Gospel just as much as we do. "Whoever wishes to be great among you must be your servant, and whoever wishes to be first among you must be your slave; just as the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life a ransom for many." (Matthew 20:26-27).
As we approach the great Season of Advent I think all Christians and people of good will would do well to ponder on how and where we can be a voice for the injustice that is taking place both in the Church and in society. As the Ugandan Parliament considers the draconian measure that homosexuals should be put in prison or put to death, I think we need to give ourselves permission to be angry about those things and call upon church leaders and political leaders to be voices of liberation in the midst of injustice. Write letters to the Presiding Bishop of the Episcopal Church. The email address for the Presiding Bishop is pboffice@episcopalchurch.org. If you are the member of another denomination or if you are part of an advocacy organization for LGBT people ask your organization to speak out about the bill before the Ugandan Parliament. Don't let these individuals earn all that money and not ask them to speak up for the most endangered of society. After the long list of individuals who were murdered last year because they were transgendered, I think we need to speak up and let Church leaders and others know that these kinds of numbers are not okay. The approach of Advent is a call to remember that one day Christ will come again, but until then there is much work to be done. LGBT individuals have been a united voice for our equal rights and those of others and now is not the time to stop voicing our concerns. The LGBT Community has such a bold and beautiful message that we can love and call others to love us and be faithful stewards of all that God has given. In so doing, we share in the service, mission and even the "cup" of Jesus Christ. When we take what we have been given, even though it is despised by society and the Church and use it to bring about justice for all who are oppressed we fulfill the call of Jesus to serve.
O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races and cultures in this world. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and show us your presence in those who differ most from us, until our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (From the Book of Common Prayer, #7 For the Diversity of Races and Cultures, Page 840).
No comments:
Post a Comment