Jeremiah 22:13-16 (NRSV)
Woe to him who builds his house by unrighteousness,
and his upper rooms by injustice;
who makes his neighbors work for nothing,
and does not give them their wages;
14 who says, ‘I will build myself a spacious house
with large upper rooms’,
and who cuts out windows for it,
panelling it with cedar,
and painting it with vermilion.
15 Are you a king
because you compete in cedar?
Did not your father eat and drink
and do justice and righteousness?
Then it was well with him.
16 He judged the cause of the poor and needy;
then it was well.
Is not this to know me?
says the Lord.
The reading calls us to consider what kind of house we are trying to build. The Church is not great because of the beauty of our buildings as much as I love them, nor the splendor of our Liturgies. For they never cease to inspire. The Church is great when justice for the oppressed and care for those who are stigmatized become so important that we would not want to leave them oppressed or alone. The Scripture in no way suggests that we should always be miserable so as not to celebrate or sing. As the reading from the Prophet says: "Did not your father eat and drink and do justice and righteousness? Then it was well with him. He judged the cause of the poor and needy; then it was well. Is not this to know me?" says the LORD."
Canon Richard Norman of St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral noted during his sermon yesterday that St. Francis was challenging the Church in a day when it was militant, reminding us that we should not neglect those who are marginalized, poor or in distress. Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgendered, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) people are today challenging the Church in a time when conservative Christians want to be militant about keeping sexual and gender diversity from being included among God's holy people. Senator Jim DeMint remarked that he believes that gay people and unmarried women should not be teaching in our schools, for example. The Briggs movement is once again being raised up in our nation by those who claim to be ardent followers of Jesus Christ.
St. Francis embraced a life that was about simplicity and genuine Christian Charity. St. Francis believed that unnecessary attachment to earthly things is detrimental to our Spiritual health. Most of us, including myself have our favorite things that we hold on to for dear life. We often forget that everything we have and use is on loan for the period of our life time only . Like everything in this world, things pass away. The most important things according to St. Paul is "faith, hope and love and the greatest of these is love" (See 1 Corinthians 13). Yet today in Galatians 6:14-18 Paul challenges us to embrace the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. What that cross means to each of us will be different, but each of us will have to come to terms with the cross of Jesus Christ being our cross as well.
May I never boast of anything except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ, by which the world has been crucified to me, and I to the world. For neither circumcision nor uncircumcision is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule-- peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God.
From now on, let no one make trouble for me; for I carry the marks of Jesus branded on my body.
May the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit, brothers and sisters. Amen.
What if we were to rewrite some of this reading from Paul to say: "For neither heterosexual or non-heterosexual is anything; but a new creation is everything! As for those who will follow this rule--peace be upon them, and mercy, and upon the Israel of God."
As the Church continues to grow and expand through Scripture, Tradition and Reason I hope we are all coming to a place where we realize that many of the things we hold on to, including our prejudices are obstacles to the Gospel becoming known by other people, and keeps peace between people from being a reality. There is probably no better example of this in this past week than the five gay youth who took their lives. When we do not allow our understanding of the Bible to expand and grow beyond our prejudices there are those around us who pay the price for our lack of willingness. Embracing the cross can also mean letting go of our fears about people who are different than ourselves and finding a new peace in the service of the underprivileged of society and the Church.
Matthew 11:25-30 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "I thank you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will. All things have been handed over to me by my Father; and no one knows the Son except the Father, and no one knows the Father except the Son and anyone to whom the Son chooses to reveal him.
"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
St. Francis understood what Jesus knew, that his work was to call unto himself all who were weary and carrying heavy burdens. LGBTQ youth are most vulnerable to the pressures of a Church and society that does not see sexual and gender diversity as worthy of equality. When they experience bullying over their sexual orientation and/or gender diversity, the burdens they carry are most painful and weigh them down. When they hear preachers quoting 1 Corinthians 6:9 out of context to condemn homosexuality when it does not, they are much too likely to take that to heart and condemn themselves should they get physically excited in their high school gym locker room. Focus on the Family, the Family Research Council,the National Organization for Marriage, the Catholic church and the Archbishop of Canterbury with their statement about homosexuality being "unnatural" and their erroneous use of Romans 1: 26-27 to justify spiritual and political violence towards LGBTQ people can only cause destruction in the lives of those most vulnerable. When the Church promotes heterosexism, they are not helping to lighten heavy burdens.
St. Francis and Jesus challenges us to put a name and a face on every human person. To recognize the imprint of God's image and beauty in everyone. We are challenged by Francis and Jesus to love beyond our comfort zones and to challenge the Church and society to reorganize our priorities. Doing so will require us to take our place at the foot of the cross of Jesus Christ and confess our sins of selfish greed and bias. We will be encountering a loving and holy God who is always forgiving and merciful. God the Holy Spirit will call us to a new way of living. She will ask us and help us to put our own personal and spiritual priorities in order. Recognizing that the work of justice and equality is the work of every Christian in one way or another. Whether that means taking the time to rethink our understanding about homosexuality in the Bible, or sharing our stories with others so that they may better comprehend what sexual and gender diversity means. If that means we volunteer at a place that helps those who live with HIV/AIDS, an LGBTQ Youth Homeless Home or helps women recovering from sexual violence, we are still doing the work of St. Francis and Jesus. Beginning somewhere is better than continuing on a path that is destructive to the Church, Society and ultimately ourselves.
Most high, omnipotent, good Lord, grant your people grace to renounce gladly the vanities of this world; that, following the way of blessed Francis, we may for love of you delight in your whole creation with perfectness of joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for St. Francis of Assisi, Holy Men, Holy Women, Celebrating the Saints, page 623).
Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).
The following is a Litany for Children at Risk from bullying.
A Litany for children at risk from bullying --by Maria L. Evans
O God of justice and mercy, we pray that no more daughters and sons in this world die as the result of bullying simply because of who they are; be it race, religion, sexual orientation, or social awkwardness. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That our schools become places of nurturing and hope rather than shame and derision. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That our teachers instill values of charity and acceptance in all children so there is no need for one child to feel superior over another. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That parents can put aside what they were sometimes taught, in order to promote tolerance and diversity at home. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That our communities support children who feel “different from the others” and show them lives that are theirs to claim, lives they cannot begin to imagine to see at home. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
That all children can grow up feeling self-empowered and truly loved simply as themselves, and not suffer beatings and psychological abuse at home or school. Lord, in your mercy,
hear our prayer.
O Lord, you understand this above all others, for your only Son hung among thieves on a rough wooden cross on a barren hill, just as Matthew Shepard hung from a rail fence on a lonely road. Be our light in the darkness, Lord; protect our children and fill them with the love of your Holy Spirit; hold them in your Son’s loving arms in their most fearful hours, and be with them always.
Amen.
Also see this from Integrity USA.
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