I wish for us to being this blog with a special prayer for the LGBT citizens of Uganda and Rwanda. The prayer is "for a person (for this purpose I will say For People) in trouble or bereavment. It is taken from the Book of Common Prayer, page 831 and adapted for the purposes of those for whom we are praying.
O merciful God, who taught us in your holy Word that you would not willingly afflict us, look with pity upon the sorrows of the *LGBT Citizens of Uganda and Rwanda for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their souls with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
In the Divine Office today, The Revelation of John records: "At once I was in the Spirit" (Rev. 4:3). How is God revealed for us? How does God reveal God's Self through us? In these days before Christmas we are hearing oh, so much bad news about health care reform and the anti-homosexuality bills in Uganda and Rwanda. How is God revealing God's Self to and through us in these days? Are we instruments of God's Spirit or are we obstacles for God's Spirit?
Yesterday as I was in a waiting area for an appointment I read an interesting poster. It said: "The difference between a stepping stone and a stumbling block is how you see it." That gave me a lot to think about. It means that I (or anyone else for that matter) can look at any one thing that appears to be an obstacle or "stumbling block" and turn it into an opportunity; a "stepping stone." Too many Christians look at the issue of sexual orientation and/or gender expression and/or identity as "stumbling blocks" in the Christian Faith. What if we as LGBT people learned to share our the Gospel Stories of our lives from the perspective that being LGBT is a stepping stone for the Church rather than a stumbling block? Might conservative evangelicals that profit over $5.8 million dollars in profits loose their income if LGBT Christians helped others see that we are "stepping stones" for Christians to grow in their knowledge and love of God, rather than "stumbling blocks"?
If we desire to help change the anti-gay culture within politics and the Church I believe one of the things LGBT Christians must do is help change the view of LGBT being "stumbling blocks" to "stepping stones." Allow me to develop this thought a bit more.
LGBT Christians identify with the Person of Jesus Christ in a lot of ways. LGBT people live on the margins of society as did Jesus and John the Baptist. All LGBT people want is the right to marry, work, serve and participate in society and the Church. All Jesus wanted was to bring the marginalized out of the side margins and into participation with God's people and society. LGBT people are scorned, mocked, rejected and despised for seeking inclusion. So was Jesus. LGBT People challenge the status quo of society. So did Jesus. LGBT people call for a renewed understanding of justice. So did Jesus. LGBT people are seen as "stumbling blocks" for society and the religious establishment. So was Jesus. Jesus is so not just a "stepping stone" but the "cornerstone". Jesus invites us to be part of the structure and go from "stepping stones" to becoming "building blocks" for justice and equality in the Church and society.
In our prayer life this Advent, perhaps we can pray about how we can be stepping stones as LGBT Christians. Realizing of course that we cannot do anything about how other Christians see us. As much as we work to be "stepping stones" unfortunately there will remain those who see us as "stumbling blocks." How can LGBT Christians put ourselves forward as "stepping stones" for those who see us as "stumbling blocks"? How can we begin to help build new societies of justice and equality as "stepping stone's to "building blocks" even though there are those who see us as "stumbling blocks"?
One answer I might offer is that as we spend our time "in the Spirit" as we pray and offer ourselves in service of God and others, we might ask God and ourselves how we can serve as "stepping stones" for others to see that we are so not "stumbling blocks."
God, you have made of one blood all the peoples of the earth, and sent your blessed Son to preach peace to those who are far off and to those who are near: Grant that people everywhere may seek after you and find you; bring the nations into your fold; pour out your Spirit upon all flesh, and hasten the coming of your kingdom; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Book of Common Prayer, Page 100).
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