Monday in Easter Week: The Resurrection and LGBT Equality. They are Linked Together.

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 28:9-15 (NRSV)

Suddenly Jesus met Mary Magdalene and the other Mary and said, "Greetings!" And they came to him, took hold of his feet, and worshiped him. Then Jesus said to them, "Do not be afraid; go and tell my brothers to go to Galilee; there they will see me."

While they were going, some of the guard went into the city and told the chief priests everything that had happened. After the priests had assembled with the elders, they devised a plan to give a large sum of money to the soldiers, telling them, "You must say, `His disciples came by night and stole him away while we were asleep.' If this comes to the governor's ears, we will satisfy him and keep you out of trouble." So they took the money and did as they were directed. And this story is still told among the Jews to this day.

Blog Reflection

Another Easter Sunday has come and gone.  Yet for those of us who are part of more Liturgical traditions, Easter Day is only the beginning of the resurrection story. Today is Monday in Easter Week.  The entire week through next Sunday is a week of solemn celebration of the Easter Day events.

Holy Week and the Easter Triduum (the three days) of this year saw a tragic event. On Monday, April 18 in a McDonald's in Maryland a transgender woman was attacked and beaten before appearing to have a seizure.  An employee (now a former employee) video taped the incident on his portable phone. The two individuals who attacked her have been arrested. Many in the anti-LGBT movements are already slandering the woman and many are even ready to turn the incident from being about transgender equality to an incident about race.  People who hardly ever look at matters of race are willing to look in that direction so as to deny a transgender woman the justice that should be hers.

For many LGBTQ people, Easter Day is not the day of celebration.  It is a day of nightmares with the family and those who continue to use the Christian Faith to stereotype and discriminate.  

The college student who has been out at college comes home to her/his family and cannot talk about her/his exciting discovery about themselves. They live in a home of conservative Christians. To say anything could have results that would ruin a holiday celebration.

Even for the lesbian or gay person who's family says they accept her or him, coming home for Easter risks some comment about how butch or fem their daughter or son is. The family says that they accept, but they don't show it quite so well.

Perhaps a gay father who came out to his adult son, finds himself being preached to by his conservative Christian son about how his son is ashamed of his father for "choosing" to be gay.  Or he might hear of guys who beat the living blood out of his son because they learned that he is the son of a gay father.  His daughter gets picked on every day on the school bus when they call her father a fag.  (The word is used for emphasis, not meant to be offensive).

A transgender woman who would like to have a place to go for Easter, might be out on the street selling her body because her parents told her that there is no home for her unless she changes.

A bisexual woman in love with her husband but can't tell him.  If her husband finds out she also loves women,  he might divorce her. Or take her kids away from her. There are still many states in this country that will not award custody of children to LGBT parents.

Contrary to the beliefs of many, the resurrection and LGBT equality, justice and inclusion are linked together.  The Easter event is far reaching and all embracing.  The resurrection is a sign of God's love for all people.  Including lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.  When Jesus rose from the dead he gave eternal and unending life to all who die.  The resurrection of Christ also gives life to those who are dead in the eyes of society and the Church.

The resurrection is what gives hope to those trapped by disease, addictions and prejudice.  The resurrection happened so that those who greet Jesus at the tomb along with Mary Magdelene can hear God calling their name and say: "Do not be afraid."  Do not be afraid to accept yourself as "I have created and now redeemed you."  "You are loved, just as you are."  "You are my precious child.  And during your life time of suffering, when you see only one set of footprints in the sand.  It is then that I am carrying you." (Part of it borrowed from the famous Footprints in the Sand).

The resurrected Christ wants to carry all of God's children and for them to love and accept themselves.  God does not want LGBT people in "conversion" or "change" therapy. There is nothing to convert in the sexual and gender diversity of LGBT people.  What is to be converted is the feeling that God cannot and does not love LGBTQ people unless they change who they are and who and how they love others. There are many devout lesbian and gay couples who care for children and work every day jobs, are active in their communities and helping others in need. We don't want anything more than the opportunity to share in the fruits of the resurrection without being exploited by anti-LGBTQ politics and groups that are obsessed with homosexuality, bisexuality and transgender people.

Today, outside the tomb the resurrected Jesus calls us by our name.  He says "Do not be afraid.  Go tell my people that I will see them where ever they go." Whoever you are. Whatever you do. Whether you are a Christian, Muslim, Jew, or atheist black, red or white or any other color. Whether you are lesbian, gay, straight, bisexual, transgender, questioning or queer. Whether you are a woman or man. No matter who you are. The resurrection of Jesus Christ happened not so that those who are Caucasian, Christian, male, heterosexual, wealthy, healthy etc could dominate and exterminate those who are different. Easter is God's love for all humankind.  Everyone is part of God's family. As Aaron says in the movie Latter Days: "We are all little dots, but I think we are all connected." 

Do we as Easter people live like we believe that?

Prayers

Grant, we pray, Almighty God, that we who celebrate with awe the Paschal feast may be found worthy to attain to everlasting joys; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Monday in Easter Week, Book of Common Prayer, page 222).

O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us; unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in your good time, all nations and races may serve you in harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, page 815).