Yesterday, Jason and I enjoyed a wonderful Sunday Eucharist at St. Paul's Episcopal Church in Duluth, Minnesota. It was our last activity before we left Duluth to return home after having spent the last two days at the DFL Convention. My mind was all wound up with the endorsement process. I was thinking a lot about how disappointed many of us were that our candidates did not get very far. I was also thinking about how the candidate that did get the endorsement really embraces all of the issues many of us brought to the convention. If Margaret Anderson-Keliher does become the next Governor of Minnesota she will be the first woman to hold that office. She has promised to sign the Minnesota Health Plan which includes single-payer into law in two years. She has also made a commitment to marriage equality. I was thinking about all of these issues and as we were preparing for the Liturgy, listening to the choir rehearse I was reminded that it was the 4th Sunday of Easter when we meditate on Jesus as the Good Shepherd.
In the Gospel for Sunday's Eucharist Jesus answered someone who wanted to know if he was Messiah that they were expecting. Jesus answered saying: "I have told you and you do not believe. The works that I do in my Father's name testify to me; but you do not believe, because you do not belong to my sheep. My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish. No one will snatch them out of my hand. What my father has given me is greater than all else, and no one can snatch it out of my Father's hand. The Father and I are one." (John 10:25-30).
Sometimes as we toil through life with all of it's disappointments and challenges it is easy to forget who is really the Shepherd. As Christians one of our most important understandings is that we are never alone in our lives. In Jesus, God is ever close to us to guide and direct our lives. Jesus cares intimately about each of us and wants to be involved in every aspect of our lives. All of us are among God's flock. The flock that Jesus tends is full of diversity. Each member of Christ's flock has something uniquely wonderful about them that makes them special to Jesus the Good Shepherd. Jesus is the Shepherd that has placed himself between the sheep and the wolves. Jesus has faced his death on the cross in order to safeguard his sheep. And every one of us was important to Jesus when he experienced his passion and death. And for every one of us, Jesus the Good Shepherd has risen from the dead. The life of God's people is now safeguarded by Jesus the Good Shepherd.
This is why the anti-gay rhetoric of the religious right is so troubling and damaging. It turns those who are suppose to be ministering on behalf of Christ the Good Shepherd into wolves who are looking to devour those sheep who do not live up to their expectations. Even the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered members of Christ's flock are precious to Jesus. The LGBT members of the flock of Christ are protected and cherished by the Good Shepherd. They are not to be picked out and ravaged on by ex-gay ministries and those who wish to exploit them for political gain. Just because LGBT people love differently is no reason to place them in harms way and determine that they have no place in God's flock unless they change their sexual orientation or gender identity/expression.
I was particularly troubled this past Friday night when I watched Larry King Live. I was disturbed because Larry interviewed Christian artist Jennifer Knapp who recently came out and acknowledged herself to be a lesbian. The interview conversation included anti-gay Christian Pastor Bob Botsford and Ted Haggard. Basically the girl was out numbered. While I did appreciate Ted Haggard's willingness to refute Bob Botsford by reminding him that Jesus is really the judge of Jennifer Knapp's soul, the fact is she was put in a position that was unfair. In light of this weekends Scriptures this is a prime example of how a Pastor who is suppose to represent Christ the Good Shepherd operates instead like a ravenous wolf who just wants to devour the sheep for the sake of his own personal purposes.
I was also disturbed when I heard the news that the Governor of Arizona signed the bill into law that allows for racial profiling of anyone who's skin color the police question. Such laws are based on racial bias and will lead to bullying by Arizona police. Things like this do not reflect Christ as the Good Shepherd. Instead they release the sheep onto wolves who will prey upon many of the good sheep.
As Christians it is our business to respond to the outrageous attacks of wolves upon the sheep of Christ's flock. It is the business of Christians everywhere to speak up peacefully and respectfully when the poor and marginalized sheep of God's flock are assaulted by discrimination and oppression. Christians have the permission and blessing of Christ the Good Shepherd to remind those who assume for themselves the role of shepherd yet act like ravenous wolves, to return to their place of humble service and care for those whom they wish to devour through abusive behaviors. Every sheep of God is a beloved child of God, with whom God is well-pleased. All of God's sheep are precious and are to be loved.
How do LGBT Christians live out their calling as sheep of Christ's holy flock? How do LGBT Christians express our gratitude to Christ the Good Shepherd? What role are we playing in reminding servants of God that they are servants and not the Shepherd? How are we serving Christ's flock in our unique ways?
O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we heard his voice we may kow him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, Page 225).
Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, Page, 826).
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