"Do not judge, so that you may not be judged. For with the judgment you make you will be judged, and the measure you give will be the measure you get. Why do you see the speck in your neighbor's eye, but do not notice the log in your own eye? Or how can you say to your neighbor, 'Let me take the speck out of your eye,' while the log is in your own eye? You hypocrite, first take the log out of your own eye, and then you will see clearly to take the speck out of your neighbor's eye. "Do not give what is holy to dogs; and do not throw your pearls before swine, or they will trample them under foot and turn and maul you. Ask, and it will be given you; search, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened for you. For everyone who asks receives, and everyone who searches finds, and for everyone who knocks, the door will be opened. Is there anyone among you who, if your child asks for bread, will give a stone? Or if the child asks for a fish, will give a snake? If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father in heaven give good things to those who ask him! "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you; for this is the law and the prophets."
When ever you talk to someone and tell them that there are still churches that discriminate against lesbian, gay, bisexual and/or transgendered people, one of the most common responses is: "Well, doesn't the Bible tell us not to judge? Here is the Church judging, wow!"
I once heard a Catholic Priest give an interesting interpretation of this Gospel from Matthew. The Priest said that actions speak for themselves, but what we cannot judge is people's motives for what they do. There could be some truth to that. We do not necessarily know what is in another person's heart or mind when they do a particular thing. However, what I do know is that most judgments are seen as pretty yucky and despicable until the topic stops at homosexuality, bisexuality and/or transgendered persons. Then it seems like it is open season, and there is just no defense that one can consider or talk about.
What is interesting is that the part about judging others is quite short and it does give a pretty interesting comparison when it talks about judging someone else's situation while we have one of our own that we have a hard time managing. This particular part seems quite applicable to the situation of child sex abuse by Catholic clergy, and the church leadership accusing homosexuals of being the source of their problem. It seems hardly appropriate to be blaming the problem of sexual violence of children by ordained Catholic Priests upon men and women who seek healthy, wholesome relationships with people of the same sex.
At the end of today's Gospel we hear the famous "Golden Rule" "In everything do to others as you would have them do to you..." In today's Forward Day by Day the author is quite correct in saying that some countries and businesses in our time appear to state: "Remember the Golden Rule, whoever makes the gold makes the rules." (See Page 8). It does appear that corporations and businesses that can throw as much money as they wish to help win elections as the Citizens United Ruling of the Supreme Court suggests that those who make the money do get to make the rules. When individuals who need health insurance, jobs, money, natural resources that are not polluted with oil and immigration reform cannot get those things because corporations call all the shots, it does appear that those who make the gold, make the rules. We can hardly call ourselves a democratic society.
I think what is most important in discussions like these is that we recognize that in each person is the face of God, and that God is the one who judges what is in another person's heart and mind. And just as we would not want any one person to call judgment upon us, with their own difficulties in their lives, so we would do well to avoid such for others. This is really worlds away from calling society and the Church to the full inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people. Discrimination is one of those things that does rear it's ugly head through people's behaviors and attitudes. Calling upon people to recognize that each person has been created and loved by God so that they can pursue happy and fulfilling lives and not become obstacles to equal rights protection is not judging others, as much as it is inspiring others to live out the Golden Rule. The Golden Rule is not really about the "rule" as it is about loving God, others and ourselves. For LGBT people, loving God and others includes helping others to rid themselves of attitudes of bias so that they can learn to love more unconditionally and inclusively.
One such woman who has really turned her experience of judging others into loving unconditionally is Mary Lou Wallner of TEACH Ministries. Mary Lou Wallner's daughter Anna committed suicide after an exchange of letters between her and her Mom Mary Lou when Anna came out to Mary Lou. Her compelling story is told in part on the movie For the Bible Tells Me So. Through the telling of Mary Lou's tragic story, she also demonstrates what happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to change us into loving and accepting people. Mary Lou now tells her story across the Nation and helps lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people find in their own lives a sense of love and acceptance. And for those who find themselves faced with using the Bible in inappropriate ways towards LGBT people, Mary Lou's compelling story can help people understand that what the Bible says and what the Bible reads about homosexuality are not one and the same thing. Mary Lou's story is how one woman's journey from judging her daughters homosexuality that lead to death and destruction, has now become a person who lives the Golden Rule to help many others avoid such a devastating end as the relationship between Mary Lou and Anna. May all of us learn from Mary Lou and Anna's amazing story.
Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, Page 225).
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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