Today the Church remembers St. Martin of Tours. St. Martin is most remembered because one day he was riding his horse on a long cold road. Suddenly he came upon a poor man who was naked. St. Martin tore half of his robe and gave it to the poor naked man. Later that night St. Martin had a vision of Jesus Christ wearing the other half of his robe.
St. Martin personifies the teaching of Jesus in the Gospel of Matthew chapter 25: 31 to 46. Jesus was teaching about feeding the hungry, giving drink to the thirsty, visiting the sick, meeting the stranger and that "just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me." (Verse 40).
We continue to live in a society where most of us, including Christians are way too comfortable with how much we benefit at the expense of those who are poor, naked, without family and friends or health insurance. Many Caucasian, straight, educated and healthy males benefit every day at the expense of those who are not Caucasian, who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered, who are not educated or without good health and/or the means to get well. We develop an attitude of apathy for people who would otherwise inconvenience us. The problem with this attitude is the person who might be inconveniencing us most, is Jesus himself.
I read a very moving story from Bishop Gene Robinson's Book: "In the Eye of the Storm".
"There was a young seminarian who worked one summer with an old priest at a homeless shelter where they had a noontime feeding program. On this particular day, there was an unusually large number of people who came to be fed. The priest and the seminarian were just exhausted--it was nearly three o' clock before the last person left. The priest asked the seminarian to close the front door, thinking that this long and difficult day was about to be over, he saw yet one more homeless man making his way up the walk. In his exhausted state, thinking he had no energy left to give, he exclaimed, "Jesus Christ!"
And the old priest remarked: "It just might be." (Page 124).
How is Jesus coming to us and asking us to feed and cloth him? In whom is Jesus coming to us in the stranger asking to be welcomed? Are we open to serving Jesus by helping our sisters and brothers in need?
How can this message be related to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people? There are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people who come to Christians every day, looking for acceptance, compassion, to be fed with the food of love and understanding. There are LGBT and questioning youth who are homeless because they have been kicked out of their homes. A significant number of youth suicides every year are related to LGBT and questioning youth. Are Christians concerned that LGBT sisters and brothers are being turned away or treated with contempt? Do Christians understand that by turning LGBT individuals away from the Church, they are also turning Jesus himself away?
If Jesus were to come to many Christian churches and tell someone that he is gay, would Pastors tell Jesus that he should do all that he can to change his orientation or he will go to hell? Unfortunately, this is exactly what is happening to many LGBT individuals who come to the Church. This is how Jesus is being treated by many Christian leaders. When Jesus comes as a confused youth stranger wondering what his sexuality is, he is being told not to love someone of the same sex. Jesus is being told to go to an ex-gay ministry to change his sexual orientation. Jesus is being sent away angry and confused. This is what is happening to LGBT and questioning people who come to many in the Christian Church. And as it was done to the least, so it was done to Jesus. Are Christians really concerned about that?
As America continues to work through the health care reform debate. The issue has gone further and further away from the people who need the health care reform. The health care debate has now become about what political leaders can earn the money paid to them by the wealthy health insurance companies. And so I have to ask the question: Who would Jesus take money from so that others could not have adequate health care coverage?
Today as we remember St. Martin of Tours I think we need to ask ourselves if we are honestly concerned about Jesus and serving him in our sisters and brothers? Are we welcoming Jesus as he comes to us or are we wanting him to be as we would want him to be? When LGBT people come to the Church and ask to be accepted, loved and affirmed, are we seeing Jesus Christ in them?
Christian love is simply admiration of Christ when we do not allow the needs of our sisters and brothers to inconvenience us. When we do not allow our hearts to be moved by the tears and pain of those who come to the Church, the love of Jesus Christ has yet to go from the head to the heart. Our Eucharist has yet to transform us in to the Body of Christ when we disregard Jesus in the poor, the marginalized and unusual of society. The Gospel remains just a story on a page if we do not allow Jesus Christ to move us from our comfort to where our love for Jesus becomes action for our sisters and brothers.
Almighty and most merciful God, we remember before you all poor and neglected persons whom it would be easy for us to forget; the homeless and the destitute, the old and the sick, and all who have none to care for them. Help us to heal those who are broken in body or spirit, and to turn their sorrow into joy. Grant this, Father, for the love of your Son, who for our sake became poor, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer #35 for the Poor and Neglected, Page 826).
No comments:
Post a Comment