In today's Office we read that Jesus found Philip who would be one of Jesus' disciples and said: "Follow me" (See John 1:43-51). In addition there is a wonderful call given to us through the writer of the Hebrews today. In Hebrews 3:1 the writer begins with: "Therefore, brothers and sisters, holy partners in a heavenly calling,,,"
How does one say WOW!? All of God's creation is called to recognize Jesus, God's perfect revelation as the Lamb of God who will take away our sin. Furthermore, all who desire to follow him, have answered God's call and then are invited to go and see where Jesus is staying. What's more, we are considered "holy partners in a heavenly calling." So much good news, so many blessings, it is like Christmas day all over again.
As we continue through this season of Epiphany when God manifests God's Self through God's incarnate Word, God also invites all of us to know Jesus better, to follow him and to become holy partners in the work of God's salvation and redemption. When we go to see where Jesus stays, we see that he stays with those who are marginalized and considered outcasts of society. God calls those who catch fish for a living, or collect taxes, even those called sinners by society to come and follow Jesus and become holy partners in the heavenly calling of letting the world know of God's unconditional and all inclusive love. We are called to recognize God's incredible gift of God's perfect revelation in Jesus and to share the gifts that have been given to each of us through God creating all of us in love, to help share the Gospel.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people are called by God to recognize our unique gift of loving other people and to use it to share God's love and compassion with others who are regarded as outcasts of society. Many LGBT individuals think that God has no use for them because of what people from the religious right have said about them based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. This is why the organization called Soul Force calls what the religious right does Spiritual violence. Our sexuality is God's gift to us, to share with our lovers, partners, boy/girl friends and other friends in various ways that they are loved by God and that their presence in this world is valued by us and by their Creator. When Pope Benedict says that gay people are a threat to humanity, he is committing Spiritual violence toward LGBT people. The very people God creates with a unique capacity to love in a different way than what others call "normal" is blessed by God. Jesus loved other people in unique way, so God has blessed LGBT people with that wonderful and unique way to love.
When Jesus answered his soon to be disciples to"come and see" he is invited them and all Christians to learn to love and know God in new and different ways. The times in which Jesus lived and loved, were times when the religious establishment had made rules about who was to be welcomed in to God's house and community, and who was not. They were suppose to be of a particular way of living, thinking and behaving. If they did not live, think or behave in the way they were expected, they were suppose to stay away from God's house and community. This sounds an awful lot like what LGBT people experience from the religious right. A people with a wonderful way of loving that is not quite what heterosexism says. Heterosexism is that sin that makes sure that heterosexuality is understood as normal, appropriate and healthy, while anything other than including homosexuality and bisexuality and transgendered people are to be seen as deranged, unhealthy, inappropriate. Jesus in his ministry and life made those who were understood to be abnormal, unhealthy and inappropriate know that God has a very special place for them within God's community of love. In Matthew 19:10 to 12, Jesus made very clear that the "eunuchs" the homosexuals of his time were blessed of God. That means LGBT people are called to see where Jesus stays, that we are God's holy partners in the heavenly calling and that we are to follow Jesus and find redemption and salvation through him.
What wonderful, wonderful news. This means that Pat Robertson is not only blatantly wrong about the earthquake hitting Haiti because they made a pact with the devil centuries ago, but he is also wrong about condemning LGBT people. It also means that the Supreme Court has made an unjust decision on not allowing the proceedings of the Prop 8 trial to be made public through UTube. It means that the National Organization for Marriage is not protecting the rights of others when they raise money and use it to take marriage equality laws away from States that pass them. It means that LGBT people are included as God's holy partners in helping the world know that God loves us all. The Gospel message is our commission to continue our work for LGBT equality under the laws of our land. This is why we must call on our civil and religious leaders to stop the oppression of LGBT people.
How will we follow Jesus as holy partners today?
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect for First Sunday after Epiphany, The Baptism of the Lord, Book of Common Prayer, Page 214).
O merciful Father, who taught us in your holy Word that you would not willingly afflict us, look with pity upon the sorrows of the people of Haiti, the LGBT community here and in 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. (Prayer for those in trouble or bereavement, Book of Common Prayer, Page 831).
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