Scriptural Basis
Matthew 5:1-12 (NRSV)
When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
"Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
"Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
"Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
"Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
"Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
"Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
"Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
Blog Reflection
How might the beatitudes suggest the inclusion of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people in the Church and society? Who are those whom Jesus is teaching about the poor in spirit, those who morn, the meek, those who hunger and thirst for what is right,the merciful, the peacemakers, those persecuted for the cause of right?
As the LGBTQ communities continue to work towards marriage equality, child adoption rights, basic rights etc, anti-gay groups suggest that as equality for LGBTQ people presses forward, that it is "religious discrimination" that is impacted. No matter how many times they may be told that no religious institution will be forced to do things not condoned by their religious point of view, the reason marriage equality must not happen is because it will "limit religious freedom." The repeal of Don't Ask, Don't Tell will "limit religious freedom" in our Military. How interesting.
The problem with such assertions is that they lead to idolatry. Only by having things their way, will anti-gay Christians have a sense of "freedom." Rather than seek happiness and wholeness in God, they seek hate and discrimination as being their chosen vehicle to which they believe they will find some sense of peace.
The beatitudes tell us that if we are poor in spirit and need a companion for our souls, we will find that companion in God's revelation. We are told that God visits those of us who mourn because of injustice and oppression to help us know that we are not alone. God gives us the gift of God's Self in our meekness, hunger and thirst for what is right, and in our willingness to be merciful. Jesus tells us here that we are blessed when we seek with purity of heart the will of God, even if others do not share our opinions or understandings of what purity is. When we are persecuted and abused in the Name of Jesus for speaking peace, equality and justice on his behalf for those who are marginalized, oppressed, hungry, poor, homeless and in need of love, we are blessed of God.
God is not so much interested in what our skin color, or cultural origin is. God has made us all unique out of God's extravagant love. We are all sinners who are in need of God's saving grace. The goodness and mercy of God is available to all who wish to know in the inner most secretive places of our hearts, that there is no bounds to God's unconditional and all-inclusive love. When the violence of the world such as what is happening in Egypt, Uganda and here in these United States becomes too much for us, God is our peace and strength. When arch-conservative Christians continue to bash our sisters and brothers who are Jewish, Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist, atheist, Pagan, Wicca and even New Age, God calls all of us who know better to be the peacemakers. To say "No, God loves all, so should we" is the peace making that we are blessed to know and be called to proclaim. When anti-LGBT organizations call homosexual and bisexual love making dirty, damned and a danger to society, progressive and loving minded Christians can reply. Our reply should be something like this. Purity of heart means being true to ourselves, others and God. We love the way we do, because to love in a way that does not reflect how God has created us, would be impure, because it would be dishonest. To say that God has damned us because we loved our significant other so deeply that we shared the most intimate parts of our bodies and souls with each other, is to presume that God is no longer God. Purity of heart is not found in abstaining from that which God has gifted us to use and do so well to love someone else with the very self sacrificing love that Jesus Christ loves all of us.
St. Paul begins the reading for today with "The message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God." (1 Corinthians 1:18). To those who are perishing with attitudes of hate, violent rhetoric and exclusion of others based on their own biases, the idea of LGBTQ people clinging to the cross appears foolishness. To those of us whom Jesus told we would be blessed for being persecuted on Jesus' account, the cross is that power of God that is bringing about our salvation. We experience every day the evil talk that comes our way from Christians who feel justified by what they are doing. We can cling to the cross and claim our victory with the Crucified and Risen Christ who has redeemed us and continues to invigorate us with God's Holy Spirit. We who are redeemed are welcomed to "dwell" within "your tabernacle, and abide upon God's holy hill." In Christ all of God's LGBT people are "leading blameless lives, doing right and speaking the truth from our hearts." (See Psalm 15).
What Christians would do well to do is instead of looking at ways to suggest that some are better off or worse off than others,would be to seek the goodness of God in all people. Look for every reason including the fact that Jesus has for the most part here said that all people are actually blessed, and to honor and love one another as such. No more seeking to do religious, spiritual, social or political violence towards anyone and no more justification of it either. To work together in a partnership with God and the Church to seek out the common good of all God's people, recognizing that we serve Christ in those who remain marginalized and oppressed. All of us are blessed of God to do that which God calls us to do. All that remains for us to do is respond with abandonment to God's holy, loving and inclusive will.
Prayers
Almighty and everlasting God, you govern all things both in heaven and on earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of your people, and in our time grant us your 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 the Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, page 215).
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).
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).
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