Second Sunday of Advent: The Misfits of the World Help Bring Change

Last night Jason and I watched Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.  The songs about "misfits" and all of the teasing of Rudolph because he has a red nose and Hermey wants to be a dentist, tell a lot about how people react to others who are different.  Unless you act a particular way, dress in certain clothes, wear a particular hair style you are "out of touch" with the times.  In the political atmosphere of our nation, unless you are an individual who is employed, born in this nation by citizens who have always been here, heterosexual, a white farmer you are out of luck.  The poor, unemployed, immigrants, sick, LGBT and so on are to be left out of political, social and religious circles if only just because.  It takes individuals who are different than all others to raise the consciousness of peoples, institutions and whole groups of people.  People who are tired of being persecuted and told they are worthless need to step forward and not be afraid of what makes us different and become a voice of reason where there is none.

The description with which I have begun this blog entry fits the description of John the Baptist.  An individual who dressed in camel skins, lived in the wilderness and feasted on locusts and honey was called to help prepare the way for God to enter the world and change it all for the better.  He was an individual who was considered a "misfit' by those of his day.  Yet, he delivered a message that stirred people's hearts and called on the need for justice and repentance.  Sadly, his image and message have been distorted by those who want to suggest that John the Baptist represents the justification of anti-semitism, different sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions and so on.  When figures like John the Baptist and Jesus are used to justify scapegoating, prejudice, violence and unacceptable capitalism Christianity and it's message get a bad name.  Preparing the way for God to work in our world, means being willing to speak up and work for the elimination of scapegoating, prejudice and violence.  Even if our adversaries use corruption to "force" the distorted message of Christianity upon willing individuals.  We have every business and reason to speak up and say it is wrong.

This weekends readings from Isaiah 11:1-10, Psalm 72, Romans 15: 4-13 and Matthew 3: 1-12 tell of a massive change that is initiated by God, but one in which conflicting individuals are called to seek peace with each other for the benefit of a new and inclusive community.  Though I must disagree with the suggestion of violence that is referred to in Isaiah 11: 1-10, especially a violence that is initiated and encouraged by God, the idea that God desires a change in the world is more than valid.  The image of the "wolf lying down with the lamb" brings about the idea of opposing individuals coming together in peace, to seek and work for peace and being to live in peace with each other.   This kind of idea of individuals with opposing understandings is exemplified in what is happening within our own Anglican Communion, including the Anglican Covenant.  The Anglican tradition is one in which individuals with a variety of understandings and opinions worship together and pray together in common.  The present Anglican Covenant seeks to punish those who do not see things in a particular way.  It is far from a wise idea.  We need to keep everyone at the tables talking together, so that LGBT individuals who have felt alienated and misfitted to be members and serve in the Church, can discover God's love and worship in inclusive communities.  The idea of telling the Episcopal Church that they must be "dropped" from the Anglican Communion over women Priests and Bishops, as well as LGBT individuals and ratifying such a decision in a "covenant" does not represent the best within the Christian faith.  Especially when one of the Primates involved in such a decision has helped to write a bill in Uganda to suggest the imprisonment and killing of homosexuals.  

John the Baptist a "misfit" called individuals to repent of their personal and social sin.  He called individuals that did not want to hear that they have been giving into corruption and evil, to recognize that they need God to change their ways.  As lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people we call on our government(s) and the Church to recognize within themselves the evils they are heaping upon the "misfits".  Recently the State of Arizona passed a bill that allowed their State's medicare system to take away funding for organ transplants.  Leaving sick and dying individuals who are unable to work or access proper medical care, with no way to get the care they need.  One individual was on the operating table for a liver transplant when he was told that the liver waiting for him, was given to someone else because of money.  A 27 year old girl with cystic fibrosis in need of a lung transplant has been left to fend for herself.  The fact that there are Christians who feel justified about such decisions within our nation, is absurd.   Especially when that money was probably reallocated to the pockets of corporate executives to give them a profit.  As LGBT Christians concerned about equal rights in the military, marriage equality, jobs and such, we cannot ignore needs such as these.  We also cannot ignore that most recently that unemployment benefits and the lower and middle class have been made hostage to the wealthy in the tax cut situation.  Sadly, even our President is loosing his ability to keep the poor and middle class in central view.

Yet as Christians we are called to be as charitable as possible even to those who do not see things as we do. Charity requires us to speak up to them on behalf of those who cannot speak up for themselves.  We "prepare the way of the Lord" by reminding those with hardened hearts, that our first order of business is to the poor whom God regards.  Those marginalized by society and the Church, including LGBT individuals are the business of every Christian person.  We are called to affirm the goodness of God's creation in all people, and empowered to help those set aside by religious, political and social oppression.  It takes the "misfits" to call people's attention to the injustices of prejudice and violence.  And we must never apologize or think it is uncharitable to do so.   We can always speak up in respectful, forceful and life-changing ways.  We can always tell our stories to change peoples hearts and minds.  And we can love our partners and significant others and show that we are perfectly capable to manage healthy and wonderful relationships. 

Let us continue on the path of preparing the way of the Lord.  As we continue on this journey of Advent let us be considered "misfits" if it means that we get the attention of a broken and dark world, to bring about love, justice and peace.  Amen.

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Second Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 211).


Gracious Father, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 816).


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).