St. Martin of Tours, Veteran's Day and DADT

Matthew 25:34-40 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Then the king will say to those at his right hand, `Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.' Then the righteous will answer him, `Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?' And the king will answer them, `Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.' "

St. Martin of Tours is one of the great Saints of our Church because of his incredible experience of seeing Christ in someone cold, hungry and naked.  While riding his horse one day Martin came across a poor, naked man.  Martin took his sword and cut his cloak in half and put one half around the man.  Later that night Martin had a vision of Jesus wearing the other half of his cloak.  St. Martin of Tours personified the Gospel of Jesus by recognizing him in someone in need.

As Christians we are called to recognize the presence of God in all people.  This includes those of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer.   Individuals of sexual and gender diversity are among members of Christ's family.  When LGBTQ people are welcomed by churches, they are welcoming Jesus.  When we recognize our prejudices for what they are and make room for others different than ourselves, we are making room for Jesus.  When we exclude people, we are telling Jesus that there is no room for him in the inn.

Likewise for LGBTQ folks St. Martin of Tours is a reminder for us to be welcoming of others as well.   Our communities cannot effectively achieve equality and inclusion if we are not concerned about the equality and inclusion of others.  Racism, religious bias, the lack of acceptance of transgender members of our communities, as well as stereotypical statements made about bisexual people are all misplaced in communities such as ours.   I have heard many gay men make the comment that they do not believe there is any such thing as a bisexual person.  There are many bisexual women and men who find themselves torn asunder by attractions to both sexes and how they are going to live that out in a healthy way.  Transgender folks are often treated as the tail end of our communities as if they do not have any business being one of the letters that describes the diversity within the LGBTQ family.  Those of us who are LGBTQ and part of Christian churches receive a great deal of hateful comments for belonging to welcoming communities.  As are Catholics who are willing to stay in the church and continue to work for reform even as the odds are stacked against them.

We need to pray for hearts and minds that are open to seeing Jesus in everyone on his terms not ours.  God who has created everyone just as they are, are who they are because of God's gracious and extravagant love.  God is searching for us in all of the various people that come into contact with us.  We need to be searching for God in all of the people we meet.   We would do well to pray for how we might serve God in our sisters and brothers as they come to us, not as we would like them to be.  We should pray for the grace and strength to face our preconceived notions and stereotypes that keep us from embracing Jesus in every daughter or son of God that we meet.

Today in America we celebrate the brave women and men who defend the freedoms that we all enjoy.  We are forever in debt to those who chose to take up the call of service.  Those who sacrificed the comforts and privileges that we take for granted to stand in our place and defend us without counting the cost.   As a nation of so many brave women and men, it is outrageous that our vets are not taken care of better than they are.  Our Congress and other Government leaders have not done nearly enough to be sure that America says thank you to our vets, by taking good care of them.  This needs to change.

At the same time we have to recognize and call to mind those women and men who desired and still desire to serve our military but cannot do so openly because of their sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression.  Don't Ask, Don't Tell is a horrible chapter in America's history.  The number of women and men who have been discharged because of DADT are becoming too many to count.  In a nation that claims to be a country of freedom and justice for all, DADT is hypocrisy in the strongest terms.  DADT is a huge waste of tax payer dollars and an abuse of military power.   The countless LGBT American's who have been discharged for being willing to place their lives on the lines, but denied the right to do so is inconsistent with American and Christian values.  When our Democratic House and Senate return for the lame duck session of Congress, DADT should be repealed without delay.   I would like to challenge all of my readers today, tomorrow or next week to pick up a phone, or write an email, sign a petition and encourage our Senate to repeal DADT.   On this Veteran's Day, we should be honoring all of our vets, not kicking some out because they are LGBT.  

As we meditate upon a great man like St. Martin of Tours and honor our vets, let us remember to honor Jesus Christ in one another.  For all of us are members of the family of Jesus.

Lord God of hosts, you clothed your servant Martin the soldier with the spirit of sacrifice, and set him as a bishop in your Church to be a defender of the catholic faith: Give us grace to follow in his holy steps, that at the last we may be found clothed with righteousness in the dwellings of peace; 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. Martin of Tours, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 675).


Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for those in the Armed Forces of our Country, Book of Common Prayer, page 823).

Grant, O God, that your holy and life-giving Spirit may so move every human heart, that barriers which divide us may crumble, suspicions disappear, and hatreds cease; that our divisions being healed, we may live in justice and peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.  (Prayer for Social Justice, Book of Common Prayer, page 823).