This Sunday's Gospel is one of those that I have a lot of trouble with. I have more trouble with not the Gospel itself as much as I do with most of the preachers who preach about it. It seems to me that so often the folks who preach about forgiving those who have hurt us, often come from white, wealthy, healthy, heterosexual, Christian, English speaking men. The Gospel that I am about to present for this Sunday, is very difficult for me to do. But, with in it is some things for all of us to consider. Especially those of us who are working towards justice, equality and inclusion of all marginalized person's including LGBTQ people in the Church and society.
Scriptural Basis
Once again, this is not a Gospel text that I enjoy reading. I never have. This is one of those Gospels that is so often used by people promoting religious and spiritual abuse. I am very sorry to say, that is exactly what happened during the Sermon at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral this morning. It was preached by a white, English speaking, heterosexual, wealthy and healthy male. There were comments made about what a great thing it is that both the tea party and the unions had showed up in protest in Madison, Wisconsin. There was a comment that the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's was so that white people could take their proper place in society. This in and of itself suggests racism and white supremacy, from the pulpit. This is not a good use of pastoral and religious privilege. What was said, was very dangerous. It in fact, helps to insight violence and prejudice and appears to egg it on, when what we really need to do is promote peace, justice, inclusion and equality. This is what happens when sermons and messages are badly framed and delivered.
Yet, I want to be very clear. I still love St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral. I still love the preacher who delivered it. I sincerely cannot condone what was said, and how it was said. When I attempt to confront the individual with the understanding of how critically dangerous his religious and spiritual abuse is, he may very well disagree. He probably won't apologize. He will defend what he said. But do I still love him and appreciate who he is? Yes I do.
What he said that was true, is that this gospel is about our human relationships. It is about the love of God for each and every one of us. And yes, it is about the love of God for those, yes, even those with whom we are debating and disagreeing with. It is about loving those who hate people of different races, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities/expressions, economic status, health status, immigration status and so on and so forth. While it may be about loving them, as angry as their actions make us, and as unjust as what they do to us, it is so not about condoning what they do. It is so not about letting them off the hook. It is so not about us doing everything we can do to make it right. That is where the preacher this morning, got it wrong.
The rise of the unions in Madison, WI and all over the country is about politics. But it is about so much more. This effort in Madison, WI is about the further marginalization of the middle-class at the hands of wealthy corporate America. It is about the suppression of the diversity of ideas, and how those ideas are expressed. It is about recognizing that every person who goes to work in this country is a person of dignity, and that their dignity should be upheld and respected. Those individuals who work day in and day out to sweep our streets, teach the children, police our neighborhoods, put out the fires, take us to the hospitals, nurse our wounds, receive visitors at public offices, they are individual people with dreams and hopes. They are the suffering heart of our country and our Church. Within those workers are women and men. Represented among all those union workers are individuals who are lesbian, gay, straight, a sexual, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people. Some where in those rallying crowds there are illegal immigrants and people of a vast diversity of races, cultures, religions. In those unions there are individuals who cannot speak the English language. Yet, among those people are real people. Rich and poor a like. And yes, liberal/progressive, independent and conservative.
It is quite the theological matter to ask those being marginalized by their own Governor to "forgive" and "be perfect" while their futures hang in the balance of what is happening.
It is unthinkable for Jesus to be asking those of us who are LGBTQ to offer the other cheek when the conservative Christianists are slapping us around every single day, with their hate rhetoric. Their anti-gay politics are constantly eating away at the very core of who we are. They are determined to annihilate us, until we no longer exist.
If you find it difficult to forgive these people, you are not alone.
If you find yourself unable to just let them slap us around and not respond, you are not alone.
In the past, I have said that there is a huge difference between forgiveness and trust. I still believe that to be the case.
The place where most preachers pastorally, spiritually and religiously abuse minorities, is they assume that they are addressing a grudge that keeps people from forgiving, when in fact it is not a forgiveness issue. It is a trust issue. When some preachers go full steam ahead to address what they perceive is an issue of forgiveness, they do more damage to a soul already wounded.
It is absolutely proper to not trust a preacher, teacher, police officer, judge, vandal etc. It is a wise thing to not admit them into your home so they can further use their authority to ruin your life.
What is not a good and noble thing to do is place them and their hateful behavior, words, or attitudes and our feelings and emotions about them between our relationship with God, others or ourselves. That is where many of us need the healing and mercy of God. Help with healing those wounds of hurt and psychological hate (not moral hate, there is a difference) can come from our Mother, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can help us to dig down and deal with that hurt and resentment. Not run from it. Not pretend that it is not there. What hurts us deeply is as much a part of who we are, as who we are and who we love. If we are going to be free of it. We have to face it with the Holy Spirit, deal with it as it is, experience all the emotions that are there and finally move on, and live our lives as free people.
One more thing that I must comment on that was said by the preacher this morning: "There is a lot of energy in resentment." That is true. However, I think it is way past time for preachers, especially those who make such statements as poorly as that last one, learn to become people who do not make use of their pastoral or religious authority to become the energy source for that resentment. The pulpit needs to become a permanent place where the justice, integrity, inclusion and equality of all marginalized persons are defended, upheld and promoted. When preachers and bishops use their pastoral privilege to misuse and abuse others, they become vehicles for new wounds and new resentment that in some cases may never heal.
Yes, this Gospel is about loving others. But it is as much about confronting our enemies in love, as it is with dealing with our own personal insecurities about ourselves and others. It is about recognizing God's unconditional and all-inclusive love. It is also about the fact that unless within our forgiveness is that love that seeks the common good of even the person with whom we are at enmity with, what we do and do not do is meaningless. The kind of love I am speaking of is not the kind by which we must totally fall in love with that person. The love I am speaking of is the kind that we seek their common good, and do not desire for them the most evil of actions. Even when we think the girl or guy who ruined our lives is a complete butt head. It is okay to disagree. It is our place to tell them, that what they did was wrong. But it is also our place to take care of ourselves, by not placing ourselves in the path of that person so that they can further hurt and harm us.
Let us also realize that knowing and doing what we must do, is not something that we can do without God's help. We need God the Holy Spirit to enlighten us with her power and grace. We need to pray for trust in Jesus to know and act as we should. To be forgiven for when we have done wrong. But also to pray for the grace to forgive them, and to seek God's will in their lives as well as ours.
Prayers
Scriptural Basis
Matthew 5:38-48 (NRSV)
Jesus said, "You have heard that it was said, `An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth.' But I say to you, Do not resist an evildoer. But if anyone strikes you on the right cheek, turn the other also; and if anyone wants to sue you and take your coat, give your cloak as well; and if anyone forces you to go one mile, go also the second mile. Give to everyone who begs from you, and do not refuse anyone who wants to borrow from you.
"You have heard that it was said, `You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I say to you, Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, so that you may be children of your Father in heaven; for he makes his sun rise on the evil and on the good, and sends rain on the righteous and on the unrighteous. For if you love those who love you, what reward do you have? Do not even the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet only your brothers and sisters, what more are you doing than others? Do not even the Gentiles do the same? Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect."
Once again, this is not a Gospel text that I enjoy reading. I never have. This is one of those Gospels that is so often used by people promoting religious and spiritual abuse. I am very sorry to say, that is exactly what happened during the Sermon at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral this morning. It was preached by a white, English speaking, heterosexual, wealthy and healthy male. There were comments made about what a great thing it is that both the tea party and the unions had showed up in protest in Madison, Wisconsin. There was a comment that the Civil Rights movement in the 1960's was so that white people could take their proper place in society. This in and of itself suggests racism and white supremacy, from the pulpit. This is not a good use of pastoral and religious privilege. What was said, was very dangerous. It in fact, helps to insight violence and prejudice and appears to egg it on, when what we really need to do is promote peace, justice, inclusion and equality. This is what happens when sermons and messages are badly framed and delivered.
Yet, I want to be very clear. I still love St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral. I still love the preacher who delivered it. I sincerely cannot condone what was said, and how it was said. When I attempt to confront the individual with the understanding of how critically dangerous his religious and spiritual abuse is, he may very well disagree. He probably won't apologize. He will defend what he said. But do I still love him and appreciate who he is? Yes I do.
What he said that was true, is that this gospel is about our human relationships. It is about the love of God for each and every one of us. And yes, it is about the love of God for those, yes, even those with whom we are debating and disagreeing with. It is about loving those who hate people of different races, cultures, genders, sexual orientations, gender identities/expressions, economic status, health status, immigration status and so on and so forth. While it may be about loving them, as angry as their actions make us, and as unjust as what they do to us, it is so not about condoning what they do. It is so not about letting them off the hook. It is so not about us doing everything we can do to make it right. That is where the preacher this morning, got it wrong.
The rise of the unions in Madison, WI and all over the country is about politics. But it is about so much more. This effort in Madison, WI is about the further marginalization of the middle-class at the hands of wealthy corporate America. It is about the suppression of the diversity of ideas, and how those ideas are expressed. It is about recognizing that every person who goes to work in this country is a person of dignity, and that their dignity should be upheld and respected. Those individuals who work day in and day out to sweep our streets, teach the children, police our neighborhoods, put out the fires, take us to the hospitals, nurse our wounds, receive visitors at public offices, they are individual people with dreams and hopes. They are the suffering heart of our country and our Church. Within those workers are women and men. Represented among all those union workers are individuals who are lesbian, gay, straight, a sexual, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people. Some where in those rallying crowds there are illegal immigrants and people of a vast diversity of races, cultures, religions. In those unions there are individuals who cannot speak the English language. Yet, among those people are real people. Rich and poor a like. And yes, liberal/progressive, independent and conservative.
It is quite the theological matter to ask those being marginalized by their own Governor to "forgive" and "be perfect" while their futures hang in the balance of what is happening.
It is unthinkable for Jesus to be asking those of us who are LGBTQ to offer the other cheek when the conservative Christianists are slapping us around every single day, with their hate rhetoric. Their anti-gay politics are constantly eating away at the very core of who we are. They are determined to annihilate us, until we no longer exist.
If you find it difficult to forgive these people, you are not alone.
If you find yourself unable to just let them slap us around and not respond, you are not alone.
In the past, I have said that there is a huge difference between forgiveness and trust. I still believe that to be the case.
The place where most preachers pastorally, spiritually and religiously abuse minorities, is they assume that they are addressing a grudge that keeps people from forgiving, when in fact it is not a forgiveness issue. It is a trust issue. When some preachers go full steam ahead to address what they perceive is an issue of forgiveness, they do more damage to a soul already wounded.
It is absolutely proper to not trust a preacher, teacher, police officer, judge, vandal etc. It is a wise thing to not admit them into your home so they can further use their authority to ruin your life.
What is not a good and noble thing to do is place them and their hateful behavior, words, or attitudes and our feelings and emotions about them between our relationship with God, others or ourselves. That is where many of us need the healing and mercy of God. Help with healing those wounds of hurt and psychological hate (not moral hate, there is a difference) can come from our Mother, the Holy Spirit. The Holy Spirit can help us to dig down and deal with that hurt and resentment. Not run from it. Not pretend that it is not there. What hurts us deeply is as much a part of who we are, as who we are and who we love. If we are going to be free of it. We have to face it with the Holy Spirit, deal with it as it is, experience all the emotions that are there and finally move on, and live our lives as free people.
One more thing that I must comment on that was said by the preacher this morning: "There is a lot of energy in resentment." That is true. However, I think it is way past time for preachers, especially those who make such statements as poorly as that last one, learn to become people who do not make use of their pastoral or religious authority to become the energy source for that resentment. The pulpit needs to become a permanent place where the justice, integrity, inclusion and equality of all marginalized persons are defended, upheld and promoted. When preachers and bishops use their pastoral privilege to misuse and abuse others, they become vehicles for new wounds and new resentment that in some cases may never heal.
Yes, this Gospel is about loving others. But it is as much about confronting our enemies in love, as it is with dealing with our own personal insecurities about ourselves and others. It is about recognizing God's unconditional and all-inclusive love. It is also about the fact that unless within our forgiveness is that love that seeks the common good of even the person with whom we are at enmity with, what we do and do not do is meaningless. The kind of love I am speaking of is not the kind by which we must totally fall in love with that person. The love I am speaking of is the kind that we seek their common good, and do not desire for them the most evil of actions. Even when we think the girl or guy who ruined our lives is a complete butt head. It is okay to disagree. It is our place to tell them, that what they did was wrong. But it is also our place to take care of ourselves, by not placing ourselves in the path of that person so that they can further hurt and harm us.
Let us also realize that knowing and doing what we must do, is not something that we can do without God's help. We need God the Holy Spirit to enlighten us with her power and grace. We need to pray for trust in Jesus to know and act as we should. To be forgiven for when we have done wrong. But also to pray for the grace to forgive them, and to seek God's will in their lives as well as ours.
Prayers
O Lord, you have taught us that without love whatever we do is worth nothing: Send your Holy Spirit and pour into our hearts your greatest gift, which is love, the true bond of peace and of all virtue, without which whoever lives is accounted dead before you. Grant this for the sake of your only Son Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Prayer for the Seventh Sunday after the Epiphany, Book of Common Prayer, page 216).
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).
O God, the Father of all, whose Son commanded us to love our enemies: Lead them and us from prejudice to truth; deliver them and us from hatred, cruelty, and revenge; and in your good time enable us all to stand reconciled before you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Our Enemies, Book of Common Prayer, page 816).
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