Now when Jesus returned, the crowd welcomed him, for they were all waiting for him. Just then there came a man named Jairus, a leader of the synagogue. He fell at Jesus' feet and begged him to come to his house, for he had an only daughter, about twelve years old, who was dying.
As he went, the crowds pressed in on him. Now there was a woman who had been suffering from hemorrhages for twelve years; and though she had spent all she had on physicians, no one could cure her. She came up behind him and touched the fringe of his clothes, and immediately her hemorrhage stopped. Then Jesus asked, 'Who touched me?' When all denied it, Peter said, 'Master, the crowds surround you and press in on you.' But Jesus said, 'Someone touched me; for I noticed that power had gone out from me.' When the woman saw that she could not remain hidden, she came trembling; and falling down before him, she declared in the presence of all the people why she had touched him, and how she had been immediately healed. He said to her, 'Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.'
While he was still speaking, someone came from the leader's house to say, 'Your daughter is dead; do not trouble the teacher any longer.' When Jesus heard this, he replied, 'Do not fear. Only believe, and she will be saved.' When he came to the house, he did not allow anyone to enter with him, except Peter, John, and James, and the child's father and mother. They were all weeping and wailing for her; but he said, 'Do not weep; for she is not dead but sleeping.' And they laughed at him, knowing that she was dead. But he took her by the hand and called out, 'Child, get up!' Her spirit returned, and she got up at once. Then he directed them to give her something to eat. Her parents were astounded; but he ordered them to tell no one what had happened.
Last night I engaged in a conversation with a group of people. I felt the need to become involved, because the individual who began the conversation began by making her Facebook Profile Picture a Cross that was crossed out, meaning no Christianity. I started my remarks by stating that not all Christians are like the Christianists and arch-conservative Catholics who are literally waging a war against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people. The remarks that have followed from politicians and Christianist groups following the tragedies of the past weeks have been gross to put it politely. As I continued through the conversation one young man remarked: screw you to the Bible, the Church and all of Christianity. Why should they care what the Bible says? I attempted to explain to him that I too am outraged by what I read, but that not all Christians are like that. There are Christians who embrace LGBTQ people, youth and all. I further stated that the issue is not Christianity, but how it is being used.
Jesus and Christianity have been getting a bad name over these last few months. Between the Christianists fight over the Islam, Arizona's immigration law, the Tea Party, and the recent suicides among LGBTQ youth. When issues like these demonstrate a closed mindedness, a refusal to love beyond our own biases, an attitude that Christians hold a monopoly on truth, Jesus Christ and all of Christianity gets a bad name. When the Roman Catholic Archbishop of St. Paul and Minneapolis sends out a DVD against same-sex marriage to all Catholics in Minnesota at a cost of $4 million with $1.4 million coming from the Knights of Columbus, Jesus Christ and Christianity get a bad name.
Today in our Gospel from the Daily Office we read about two people who gave Jesus a really good name. They were not the most popular of society. They did not run for a public office. One of them was an elder of the local synagogue. The other was a woman who was suffering from hemorrhages. This woman who was considered by many as a piece of property that was worthless. She was a woman, and an unhealthy woman. So she would have been a second class person because she was a woman, almost a third class person because of her illness. Yet this woman knew that there was someone who could help her. She knew that she did not have to talk to Jesus, but only touch the hem of his garment and she would be made well. She didn't care how great the crowd was. She did was not concerned with speaking to him. She had a faith that Jesus later recognized, through which she knew that all she had to do was touch his garment.
When Christanists give Jesus a bad name, what happens is people who want to get close enough to Jesus just to be able to touch him through Christians, are shamefully chased away through "spiritual malpractice and doctrinal abuse". LGBTQ people have been created as we are and are invited by the Holy Spirit to approach Jesus in prayer, worship and faith. Christianists and arch-conservative Catholics, and even members of groups like the Anglican Church of North America, tell LGBTQ people that they should only approach Jesus to change our sexual orienation and/or gender identity/expression. They make the false assertion that sexual and gender diversity grieves the heart of God. Rev. Susan Russell said:
Jesus said love your neighbor – not love you neighbor unless your neighbor is gay.
Homosexuality doesn’t grieve the heart of God – homophobia does. Bullying does. Violence against any beloved child of God does.
And you are a beloved child of God. Created in God’s image exactly as God intended you to be.
God who doesn’t just want your life to get better – God wants your life to get fabulous.
LGBTQ people have the opportunity to help Jesus get a good name. As we face the tragedies and call on Church leaders, our Government and ourselves to work towards equality and justice for LGBTQ people, Jesus Christ walks the road with us. We are never alone. Jesus knows what it is to work for justice and sometimes get half baked justice in return. We have the opportunity to challenge our Church leaders, Priests, Bishops, Vestries, Diocesan Conventions and so many more to keep working towards a day when no child of God is refused Communion, Baptism, Marriage, Orders, Confirmation or any rites, or responsibilities for any reason. By challenging the Church and society to become more accepting and affirming of the equality for LGBTQ people, we help Jesus Christ get a better name. All we want is to be able to touch Jesus and experience the goodness of God's blessing in our lives so that we find love and meaning in new and wonderful ways. We are all tired of asking and feeling like we are getting no where. However, Jesus challenges us to keep seeking, knocking and asking through which all of God's children will abundantly receive. We are never helpless, we are never alone and with God as our guide and helper, we shall prevail.
As we continue to celebrate this Coming Out Week, we are all called to continue to pray for and work for safe and healthy environments for everyone.
Lord, we pray that your grace may always precede and follow us, that we may continually be given to good works; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 23, Book of Common Prayer pages 234-235).
Accept, O Lord, our thanks and praise for all that you have done for us We thank you for the splendor of the whole creation, for the beauty of this world, for the wonder of life, and for the mystery of love.
We thank you for the blessing of family and friends, and for the loving care which surrounds us on every side.
We thank you for setting us at tasks which demand our best efforts, and for leading us to accomplishments which satisfy and delight us.
We thank you also for those disappointments and failures that lead us to acknowledge our dependence on you alone.
Above all, we thank you for your Son Jesus Christ; for the truth of his Word and the example of his life; for his steadfast obedience, by which he overcame temptation; for his dying through which he overcame death; and for his rising to life again, in which we are raised to the life of your kingdome.
Grant us the gift of your Spirit, that we may know Christ and make him known; and through him, at all times and in all places, may give thanks to you in all things. Amen. (A General Thanksgiving, Book of Common Prayer, page 836).
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