Sixth Week of Easter: Love and Memorial Day

My blog that I normally write on each Sunday is a day late this week.  Rather than just write down some long winded writing that may or may not have gotten my point across yesterday, I have chosen to wait until today. 

Scriptural Basis

John 14:15-21 (NRSV)

Jesus said to his disciples, "If you love me, you will keep my commandments. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Advocate, to be with you forever. This is the Spirit of truth, whom the world cannot receive, because it neither sees him nor knows him. You know him, because he abides with you, and he will be in you.

"I will not leave you orphaned; I am coming to you. In a little while the world will no longer see me, but you will see me; because I live, you also will live. On that day you will know that I am in my Father, and you in me, and I in you. They who have my commandments and keep them are those who love me; and those who love me will be loved by my Father, and I will love them and reveal myself to them."

Blog Reflection

If  you know any one who is lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning or who identify themselves as queer you most likely know someone who has faced or is facing incredible odds.   Many have had a very difficult time coming to terms with her or his sexual orientation and/or gender expression/identity.  She or he has met or is even now meeting incredible difficulties that make life especially complicated.  Either a relationship that did not exactly work out.  Addictions.  Job losses.  Family struggles.  Religious conflicts.   These are issues that most individuals who are not LGBTQ face.  But for an LGBTQ person, family or couple many of these are confounded by social, religious and political oppression.

LGBTQ people are not the only one's who face oppression and marginalization.  Here in the United States which is suppose to be the "land of the free and the home of the brave" we see racism still very much alive and well.  Poverty and sickness ignored by our civil governments and many religious institutions.   Religious supercessionism of Christians who think that any religion other than Christianity is to be suppressed or dominated by the Christian religion.   Wealth and corporate greed has become the god of America.  With corporations having unlimited spending power over our elections and candidates, and further corrupting our Government.    Women still regarded as second class citizens as legislatures all over the country have passed bill after bill against a woman's right to reproductive health care. 

Jesus calls the Church and America to keep his commandments.   As soon as I write that, I am in danger of the very religious supercessionism that I just wrote against in the last paragraph.  Yet, that would be because of the immense privilege that many Christianists have placed on our religion.  Along with a neglect of some very important realities concerning what being a Christian is really all about.

Most of the many good parts of the Christian religion (ie loving others different than ourselves, caring for the marginalized of society, seeing the good of every person around us) are part of just about every religious tradition.   Even Native American's who have experienced such severe oppression at the hands of white Christians, know that the earth and everything in it is so valuable that they recognize the power of a divine being in the wind, the soil, the rain and the water.  Do Christians not sing "All Creatures of Our God and King" with the same amazement at how all things are created and maintained beyond our comprehension?  

In the Book of Common Prayer on page 848 in the Catechism or (Outline of the Faith) we read the question: "What is our duty to our neighbors?"   And the answer is: "Our duty to our neighbors is to love them as ourselves and to do to other people as we wish them to do to us;"   Then follows some real good explanations.    Yet, how many Christian parents have overstated for their children to honor their father and mother while rejecting their children who are LGBTQ?   The door on that issue does swing both ways.

While Christians have used the commandments and the Gospel as an excuse for bias and violence, Jesus calls us to fulfill them as he did.  Not through religious, spiritual, religious or even sexual and gender privilege.  But, by a genuine self-emptying love that sees in each person a masterpiece of God's creation to be loved, cherished and served with respect and reverence. 

In a couple of weeks we will celebrate Pentecost.  When the Holy Spirit came upon the Church with her abundant love and Motherly compassion to help Christians understand the ministry of Jesus Christ.  Even through centuries of councils, documents, wars, denominations, revisions of the Bible and politics that could make heads spin, the Church has yet to understand the deepest of riches that the Advocate wishes us to know.  There is no woman, man, child, of any kind, shape, size, color, ability or lack of, orientation or identity that God has not redeemed through Christ.  Not just Christ because Christians believe Jesus is God's perfect revelation.  But because when any individual, community, religion comes together to love and nurture themselves and others away from violence, prejudice and oppression, the Holy Spirit is there somewhere doing her work of transformation.  Who are we to think or suggest otherwise?

As we spend our Memorial Day with friends, family in remembrance of those who have given their lives in service of our nation, let us also remember those who do not have equality, housing, or the means of caring for themselves and those they love.  That someone, may be right in front of us.  Are we prepared to do all we can for her or him?  Jesus has sent us the Holy Spirit to help us live out the commandments to do just that.

Prayers

O God, you have prepared for those who love you such good things as surpass our understanding: Pour into our hearts such love towards you, that we, loving you in all things and above all things, may obtain your promises, which exceed all that we can desire; 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 Sixth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, 225).

Eternal Lord God, you hold all souls in life: Give to your whole Church in paradise and on earth your light and your peace; and grant that we, following the good examples of those who have served you here and are now at rest, may at the last enter with them into your unending joy; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen. (Prayer for the Departed, Book of Common Prayer, page 253).

Almighty God, Lord of heaven and earth: We humbly pray that your gracious providence may give and preserve to our use the harvests of the land and of the seas, and may prosper all who labor to gather them, that we, who are constantly receiving good things from your hand, may always give you thanks; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.  Amen. (Prayer 1 for a fruitful season, Rogation Days, Book of Common Prayer, page 258).

Fifth Sunday of Easter: The Way, Truth and Life for Who?

Scriptural Basis

John 14:1-14 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me. In my Father's house there are many dwelling places. If it were not so, would I have told you that I go to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you may be also. And you know the way to the place where I am going." Thomas said to him, "Lord, we do not know where you are going. How can we know the way?" Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, you will know my Father also. From now on you do know him and have seen him."

Philip said to him, "Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied." Jesus said to him, "Have I been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, `Show us the Father'? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own; but the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me; but if you do not, then believe me because of the works themselves. Very truly, I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do and, in fact, will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it."

Blog Reflection

I am writing this blog post on a very sad day.  Last night the Minnesota House of Representatives voted 70-62 to place a constitutional amendment that would ban marriage equality on the ballot in November of 2012.   For many of us who are LGBT in Minnesota this day is hitting us all very hard. 

It is a sad day, because over the next 18 months we will raise money and work on a campaign to get the voters of Minnesota to vote no on this amendment.  During that time, many Christians who read this particular Gospel and believe Jesus is the way, truth and light will present messages in advertisements about LGBT people that are simply not true.  One individual has already posted on a Facebook page that this is Minnesota's opportunity to take care of the "dirty queers" in St. Cloud, Minnesota.

Last night I listened to some of the debate before the vote was taken.  The Representatives who were against this amendment spoke eloquently and with a great deal of candor. One woman as she was speaking found it difficult to hold back her tears. Because she was concerned about the messages that children would get as they hear all of the horrible things that will be said about LGBT people during the campaign. She knows of a wonderful Lesbian couple in her district who are now operating a telephone service for LGBT and questioning youth who are thinking of hurting themselves because they are being bullied at school or in their own communities.  The Representative held back her tears as she asked her other members to vote no, not just for the fantastic couple, but for the children.

One gentleman who spoke, in fact, I will give his name.  Republican Representative John Kriesel who is also an Iraq war vet said that he would vote no and work to help Minnesota vote no on the amendment, because the amendment does not represent the America or the Minnesota that he fought so hard to protect. 

The Gospel for today is one of those that is all too often on the lips of preachers who use it to proclaim that Christianity is the only, really true religion.  They use the words of Jesus proclaiming himself as the way, the truth and the life, and no one goes to God except through Jesus, as a way to suggest that if people do not believe in Jesus according to this Gospel, that they will be excluded from eternal life with God.  Therefore this Gospel for many becomes a means to an end.  A way to ostracize, stigmatize, and wage violence in speech and action towards anyone who does not believe or understand what is written in this Gospel of John.

Today, I am so grateful for St. Philip.  Not just because he has the same name as I do.  But because Philip is not convinced by what Jesus had just been saying.  Philip wants Jesus to show him that way that Jesus spoke of.  Jesus' answer to Philip for many Christianists suggests that if they do not see Jesus as the way to the Father as Jesus appears to be saying, then their souls are lost.  Therefore, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people who wish to live in loving and committed relationships cannot do it, because of what Jesus said to Philip in today's Gospel of John.  But, is that what Jesus really said today?

Dean Spenser Simrill at St. Mark's Episcopal Cathedral this morning helped make this Gospel speak a new and more living message.  "Jesus rescues us from our own error of certainty" said Dean Spenser. 

Jesus is really not all that concerned whether or not we can say and understand what we pray in the Nicene Creed.  Jesus is not concerned that we know Jesus as the only "real" means of salvation.  Jesus is our savior, not just because of who Jesus is.  But also because of the way in which Jesus taught us what truth and life are really about.  Jesus did show us who God is.

God is not an almighty, mean spirited, psycho path who just cannot wait to destroy that which is not in sync with all the dogmas and doctrines, or memorized from the Bible. God is not some almighty being so far removed from the pain and suffering of people all over the world that God sends tornadoes and earthquakes and floods to places that celebrate gay pride events.  God was not angry with America over a woman's right to choose, or the acceptance of LGBT people that God sent two planes to fly into the twin towers of the World Trade Center and kill over 10,000 people on September 11, 2001.  Contrary to another anti-equality activist, God does not hate LGBT people. 

The way, Jesus spoke of (it is said that members of the Johannine Communities who translated this Gospel inserted truth and life later on) is compassion, love, acceptance of many different kinds of people.  The God that Philip wanted to see, was shown to him in Jesus who loved every person to the point that giving his life out of Christ's self emptying love was not out of the question. 

As Christians who are suppose to believe in the risen Jesus, we are empowered by God's Holy Spirit to walk in a new way of life.  A way by which we are willing to open up our arms and hearts and receive into our embrace those whom society and the Church sets aside. God becomes visible when we serve those who are devastated by the economic disaster of these past few years. The way that Jesus spoke of, gets a light of possibility when we welcome and dialogue with Jews, Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Atheists, Unitarians, Wicca's, Pagans and all, about how we can make this world a better place. 

May this Pentecost find all of us letting our Mother the Holy Spirit, opening ourselves up to the way that the risen Christ has made available to all of us.

Prayers

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fifth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, page 225).

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).

If you would like to help us in Minnesota defeat the constitutional amendment in 2012.  Please visit the campaign website Minnesotans United for All Families.  Thank you so much.

Thurgood Marshall: An Example of Justice and Equality

Scriptural Basis

Matthew 23: 1-11 (NRSV)

Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practice what they teach. They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear,^* and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. They love to have the place of honor at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi. But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students.^* And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah.^* The greatest among you will be your servant. 

Blog Reflection 

Admittedly, this blog about Thurgood Marshall is a day late.  However, given how often Episcopal Churches move our lesser feasts, and all that is going on around us, somehow I do not think anyone will mind.  

Thurgood Marshall was a distinguished American jurist and the first African American to become an Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court.

Marshall was born in 1908. He attended Frederick Douglass High School in Baltimore and Lincoln University in Pennsylvania. Pushed toward other professions, Marshall was determined to be an attorney. He was denied admission to the University of Maryland Law School due to its segregationist admissions policy. He enrolled and graduated magna cum laude from the Law School of Howard University in Washington.

Marshall began the practice of law in Baltimore in 1933 and began representing the local chapter of the NAACP in 1934, eventually becoming the legal counsel for the national organization. He won his first major civil rights decision in 1936, Murray v. Pearson, which forced the University of Maryland to open its doors to blacks.

At the age of 32, Marshall successfully argued his first case before the United States Supreme Court and went on to win 29 of the 32 cases he argued before the court. As a lawyer, his crowning achievement was arguing successfully for the plaintiffs in Brown v. Board of Education of Topeka, in 1954. The Supreme Court ruled that the “separate but equal” doctrine was unconstitutional and ordered the desegregation of public schools across the nation.

President Lyndon Johnson appointed Marshall as the 96th Associate Justice of the United States Supreme Court in 1967, a position he held for 24 years. Marshall compiled a long and impressive record of decisions on civil rights, not only for African Americans, but also for women, Native Americans, and the incarcerated; he was a strong advocate for individual freedoms and human rights. He adamantly believed that capital punishment was unconstitutional and should be abolished.

During his years in Washington, Marshall and his family were members of St. Augustine’s Episcopal Church, where he was affectionately known as “The Judge.” He is remembered as “a wise and godly man who knew his place and role in history and obeyed God’s call to follow justice wherever it led.” (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 374).

There is an old joke that was told to me while I was in college.  It was said that the devil was running out of room in hell.  And so he had his agents move the fence between heaven and hell a little further into heaven's territory to make more room.  After the angels reported to God about what had happened, God called the devil to the fence for a conversation.  "No one gave you permission to move your fence into heaven's territory.  Move your fence back to where it belongs.." said God.  The devil replied: "No way. That fence was moved and it is staying."  God said: "You move that fence back to where it was or I will take you to court."  The devil began to laugh and said: "And just where do you think you are gonna find a lawyer up there?"

I do believe that if God were to need a lawyer who could represent the rights of God's will and all God's people, God would look no further than Thurgood Marshall. Marshall was a man who was considered by many to be the least of those who should have equality, yet he spent his life and career on working for equality for so many people including himself. Though he was the first African American to be an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court, he made his legacy out of working for those who were considered the least by society and even the Church.

In the Gospel assigned to the commemoration of Thurgood Marshall, Jesus is addressing those who think that their stature is somehow God's standards for everyone.  To follow all of the rules and be respected among people for how knowledgeable they were, were all they needed to do.  Even to the point of forgetting the hungry, naked, the women, those marginalized because of race, class, sexual orientation, gender identity/expression, etc.  Here Jesus is calling them out to remember that when religion is used to place heavy burdens on those who already have more than enough, people tend to reject what appears to have rejected them.

When the Christian Faith is used to ascribe to one type or group of people privileges while appearing to imply that those who are not so privileged can be stereotyped and violated, Christianity does not attract people's minds and hearts.  Instead the Religion gets stereotyped by those who have experienced stigmatization by Christians. 

In these past weeks we have heard about those in the power of our local, state and federal governments making use of their stature to take away health care for the elderly and those unemployed through no fault of their own. 

In other situations like here in Minnesota, state legislators are determined to make voting more difficult for minorities and the economically down trodden. Including but not limited to university and college students. All for the purpose of beating their opponents.

I would not be true to form if I also did not call out the recent House Rules Committee that just this morning passed the constitutional amendment that would make marriage equality LGBT people in Minnesota permanently illegal should the voters of 2012 elect it to be so.  The bill will go next to the House Floor where we all do believe it will be passed. 

Yesterday we heard in the United States Senate those who came to the aid of wealthy to do oil companies at the expense of good public education or the Ryan White Fund to help with the treatment and cure for HIV/AIDS. 

It is clear from the examples above, who is considered most and least on the minds of those who are leading our country.

We also have to look towards Christianists and those pushing all of these lousy ideals through in the Name of Jesus whose life was not spent seeking to win all the power he could while seeing who he could knock down along the way. In fact Jesus was so eager to serve others because of God's unconditional and self-emptying love that Jesus gave his life on the cross and rose from the dead for all of God's people. 

I truly believe that this is the example that Justice Thurgood Marshall left for all of us.  Someone who experienced the marginalization of an unjust society, yet when he rose up in the legal and judicial profession spent himself in service to those who were in the same place as he was.

Marshall is a reminder that in God's eyes, there are no losers to be forgotten and pushed aside. Everyone has their place in this world, in the Church and among our communities. Our place as Christians is not to decide who should be left out. But how we can do whatever we need to do, so that others will know that the Christian Faith is not about power and domination.  The Christian Faith and Church needs to be about service, compassion and inclusion.

As we continue through this season of Easter, may we see rising among us a new society of individuals who like Jesus and Thurgood Marshall will recognize everyone as among God's greatest. And that to become great we must also be willing to love and serve those considered to be the least. Amen.

Prayer

Eternal and ever-gracious God, you blessed your servant Thurgood with exceptional grace and courage to discern and speak the truth: Grant that, following his example, we may know you and recognize that we are all your children, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, who teaches us to love one another; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 375).

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).

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Fourth Sunday of Easter: Finding Good Shepherd's for God's Easter LGBT People

This past Wednesday, I learned some powerful lessons.  A week ago Thursday our the managers of the apartment property where we live sent out notices.  The notices said that they were going to have our parking lots swept and to have our cars moved to a different location by 9:15am this past Wednesday morning.  My life between the Thursday before last when the notices came out, and Wednesday morning about 11:00am had been so hectic that even with the notice staring me in the face on my side table, I had still forgotten all about moving my car by 9:15am.  Wednesday, I got up at about 11:00am exhausted by all that had happened ready to take our cat to the vet for a 3:00pm appointment, when I heard the parking lot sweepers.  "Oh no!"  I thought.  I realized that I had forgotten all about the parking lot sweeping and I had left our car right in their path from the night before. Sure enough, the car was gone. 

I panicked for a little bit and realized that I needed to call Jason at work and tell him that we would have to use quite a bit of the money he had just earned (it was pay day) to get the car out that day.  In the middle of my self disappointment at forgetting all about it, my partner reminded me that this happened on pay day, with the money already in our credit union account. instead of in the middle of the week when we might not have much money to do anything about it. That was one sigh of relief that made me feel a little bit better.  Was the worst over?  Not really.  

The tow company that towed the car was all the way in St. Louis Park, and they do not take check cards.  Only cash.  So I realized the only way I was going to get that car successfully on Wednesday, to avoid having to pay a storage fee on Thursday, was to call a taxi cab to drive me to the credit union for cash and then to the place in St. Louis Park where our car was.  So I did that.  It took a big chunk of money to do both, but we got the car out, I drove it home and got ourselves some supper and the rest of was almost better.

What happened next?

I heard the news that on Wednesday afternoon that the State Senate of Minnesota had passed the constitutional amendment to be placed on the ballot in 2012 to make marriage equality for LGBT couples illegal, if the voters pass it.  That was a bad end to a bad day.

As I went through the rest of the evening, I was reminded of several things. 

One, I have a caring and understanding partner who could help me look up about a not so good situation.

Two, We had the cash to withdraw and pay a cab driver and pay to get the car out.

Three, though a constitutional amendment was passed by the Senate, it has not yet passed in the House, it is not over just yet.

Four, all the graces I had received in the middle of this not so good day, had come because of the good graces of the risen Christ our good shepherd.

It wasn't such a bad day after all.

In addition to this story of our lives, I want to write very briefly about two of the three readings from today's Liturgy.

Acts 2:42-47 (NRSV)

Those who had been baptized devoted themselves to the apostles' teaching and fellowship, to the breaking of bread and the prayers.

Awe came upon everyone, because many wonders and signs were being done by the apostles. All who believed were together and had all things in common; they would sell their possessions and goods and distribute the proceeds to all, as any had need. Day by day, as they spent much time together in the temple, they broke bread at home and ate their food with glad and generous hearts, praising God and having the goodwill of all the people. And day by day the Lord added to their number those who were being saved.

Now this sounds like a Christianity I would like to be part of.  The Apostles got together with those they had Baptized, broke the bread of the Eucharist, taught and shared with each other and prayed.  What is even nicer is that people gave up something for those who were in need.  Their numbers were added to because of the goodness of all who were sharing in what they did together.

This sounds like a great caring family.  This does not sound like some church council assembly where they drafted documents or defined dogma. There is a good chance that they were not so opposed to the subject of gay marriage.  There is evidence that in the first few hundred years of Church history, that they actually celebrated same-sex marriages.   The more important thing, was that they were together, celebrating, sharing and taking care of others in need.  How great it could be if the Christian Church as a whole could return to that kind of ministry.

John 10:1-10 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, anyone who does not enter the sheepfold by the gate but climbs in by another way is a thief and a bandit. The one who enters by the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens the gate for him, and the sheep hear his voice. He calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has brought out all his own, he goes ahead of them, and the sheep follow him because they know his voice. They will not follow a stranger, but they will run from him because they do not know the voice of strangers." Jesus used this figure of speech with them, but they did not understand what he was saying to them.

So again Jesus said to them, "Very truly, I tell you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and bandits; but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters by me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly."

I must tell you that I love the imagery of Jesus as the good shepherd.  I do not really like the Gospel verses that are written to describe Jesus as the good shepherd or the gate keeper.   I like the idea of Jesus being the shepherd that takes care of and tends to his people and helps them be nourished by the Eucharist and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.  I do not like the language that suggests that if we are not of the sheep fold of Jesus then we must surely be lost. 

That very kind of thinking has helped lead many to that supercessionism that has damaged the relationship between Christians and other religions, etc.  The idea that if we are Christians we are superior to any other philosophy or anything that is not what we have idealized Christianity to be or mean. 

That is the case, until you read a little further down after where our Gospel for today stops and we read: "I have other sheep that are not of this fold.  I must bring them also, and they will listen to my voice." (John 10: 16).  Now that sounds more of what I like to think of Jesus as the good shepherd.  It does not matter what fold you are from or part of, or not part of.  Jesus is interested in all. 

This is certainly a very different ideal from what Christianists would like the followers of Christ to believe.  The view of Christianists is that if you are to be a true follower of Jesus Christ, you must confess your sins, say the sinners prayer, and become an agent against abortion, homosexuality, a Republican and someone who doesn't need to care about anything come hell or high water.  Just evangelize the earth for Jesus Christ, and you will go to heaven.

Actually that is not the picture of being a follower of the risen Christ that we are given in today's Gospel.  A follower of Christ crucified and risen is not one who has a life insurance policy that is too good to fail.  A follower of the Easter Christ is one who hears the voice of Christ, sees the presence of Christ in all people and knows that in all persons regardless of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity/religion, gender, health status, wealth status, occupation, language, etc, is the stamp of the image of God who has made all and loves all.   To be among the fold of Christ the good shepherd is to realize that the people that are being marginalized by the Church and society are those among whom are also Christ's wanted flock.  And that it is not our place to judge how another person should behave, believe of do just to validate them according to our preferences. 

As we meditate on the idea of Jesus as the good shepherd, we would all do well to pray for the grace of Jesus Christ to help us to see all people as among God's created beauty and serve those who are left behind. 

LGBT are among God's sheep.  Finding shepherds to guide and help heal them is no small or simple task.  As LGBT people, whether we believe of not need to continue to challenge the ordained shepherds of Christ's Church to learn to see the flock of Jesus beyond the prejudices and ideologies that keep people separated, instead of together.   While they are shepherds, they are servants of Christ the good shepherd, not Christ as God's Self.  They are imperfect people.  They have biases.  They have hurts.  They are sometimes ignorant.  They often offend and are wrong. And yes, they should be told and corrected when they are. 

Today, Jason and are celebrating together one year ago today when we were received into the Episcopal Church by Bishop Brian Prior of Minnesota.  We are ever so thankful for the gift given to us by the Episcopal Church.  We also recognize that our Bishop, nor the Clergy at St. Mark's are prefect people.  But we do offer our prayers for them and for all who lead God's people, that they may all be open to God's grace for the ministry to which they are ordained to serve.

May Jesus Christ the risen good shepherd lead all of God's people in to better days ahead.  Amen.

Prayers

O God, whose Son Jesus is the good shepherd of your people: Grant that when we hear his voice we may know him who calls us each by name, and follow where he leads; who, with you and the Holy Spirit, lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, page 225).

O God of our Lord Jesus Christ, our only Savior, the Prince of Peace: Give us grace seriously to lay to heart the great dangers we are in by our unhappy divisions; take away all hatred and prejudice, and whatever else may hinder us from godly union and concord; that, as there is but one Body and one Spirit, one hope of our calling, one Lord, one Faith, one Baptism, one God and Father of us all, so we may be all of one heart and of one soul, united in one holy bond of truth and peace, of faith and charity, and may with one mind and one mouth glorify you; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.(Prayer for the Unity of the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 818).

Third Sunday of Easter: Recognizing the Risen Christ In One Another In the Breaking of Bread

Scriptural Basis

Luke 24:13-35 (NRSV)

That very day, the first day of the week, two of the disciples were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem, and talking with each other about all these things that had happened. While they were talking and discussing, Jesus himself came near and went with them, but their eyes were kept from recognizing him. And he said to them, "What are you discussing with each other while you walk along?" They stood still, looking sad. Then one of them, whose name was Cleopas, answered him, "Are you the only stranger in Jerusalem who does not know the things that have taken place there in these days?" He asked them, "What things?" They replied, "The things about Jesus of Nazareth, who was a prophet mighty in deed and word before God and all the people, and how our chief priests and leaders handed him over to be condemned to death and crucified him. But we had hoped that he was the one to redeem Israel. Yes, and besides all this, it is now the third day since these things took place. Moreover, some women of our group astounded us. They were at the tomb early this morning, and when they did not find his body there, they came back and told us that they had indeed seen a vision of angels who said that he was alive. Some of those who were with us went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said; but they did not see him." Then he said to them, "Oh, how foolish you are, and how slow of heart to believe all that the prophets have declared! Was it not necessary that the Messiah should suffer these things and then enter into his glory?" Then beginning with Moses and all the prophets, he interpreted to them the things about himself in all the scriptures. As they came near the village to which they were going, he walked ahead as if he were going on. But they urged him strongly, saying, "Stay with us, because it is almost evening and the day is now nearly over." So he went in to stay with them. When he was at the table with them, he took bread, blessed and broke it, and gave it to them. Then their eyes were opened, and they recognized him; and he vanished from their sight. They said to each other, "Were not our hearts burning within us while he was talking to us on the road, while he was opening the scriptures to us?" That same hour they got up and returned to Jerusalem; and they found the eleven and their companions gathered together. They were saying, "The Lord has risen indeed, and he has appeared to Simon!" Then they told what had happened on the road, and how he had been made known to them in the breaking of the bread.

Blog Reflection

One of the more moving scenes in Steel Magnolias is when Ouiser Boudreaux played by Shirley MacLaine approaches Truvy Jones' new hired hairdresser Annelle to find out who the new stranger in town is.  The exchange of information turns out to be that Annelle's husband had just vanished with their car, Annelle's jewelry, clothes because he is involved with drugs.  The panic on Annelle's face of losing her job for having revealed this information is quickly relieved when all the women hearing about Annelle's tragic story come together to help her.  Shelby quickly offers Annelle to drop by her house to share in her wedding reception, even offers her a nice dress to wear for the event.  A conversation with a group of strangers turns into an opportunity to help and comfort and offer friendship.

The disciples in today's Gospel were really down after all of the events of Good Friday.  Along comes a man who they think is a stranger who shares with them all the Scriptures that were relevant to Jesus' suffering, death and resurrection.  Yet, the two disciples are not so moved by the conversation.  It is only when Jesus sits and breaks bread that their eyes are open to who this stranger was.  At the moment when they recognized him, he vanished.  All that remained was the broken bread for them to share in.

When someone or something strange goes on around us. We are not so quick to believe it.  We are all skeptics of new and unusual things and people. When a common meal is shared between people, that meal suddenly becomes a sacred event as Out in Scripture's commentary suggests for today's readings.

Breaking bread together can open paths for friendship and intimacy. By breaking the bread, a common meal becomes sacred. Trust can be built, and we can learn to care about each other and feel secure in revealing ourselves in all fullness. The Gospel calls the LGBT and straight community to come to the table — to eat, laugh, cry, love. Our hope through Christ is that, in the sharing of the meal, we can co-create a world that accepts us as God created us.  When we open up and truly get to know “the other” – who, like us, embodies Christ – will not our hearts burn with joy?

The Eucharistic Table where we believe the real presence of Christ is shared with all, must be a meal shared with and by all.  As we share in the Sacrament of Christ's Body and Blood we are claimed by the crucified and risen Jesus as the Body of Christ broken and shared with all of the world.  That includes lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people. When the table is open to all, our suspicions about one another should evaporate as the love of God in Christ literally embraces us with that bountiful grace.  

But, let's be honest.  We are all human.  Our suspicions and prejudices do not disappear.  There are still many who feel that the Table of the Lord should not be open to LGBT people or women who have had abortions etc.  There are still those who will not receive Holy Communion from the hand of a female priest or deacon.  Are not our hearts burning within us as Christ speaks to us through God's words of compassion and inclusion?

If the Altar is the Table of the Lord, where Christ shares his Body and Blood through the Holy Sacrament, who are we to refuse that experience to those who wish to come and share?  Why are we not more eager to extend arms of hospitality and reconciliation to all who have been harmed by the Church's history of bias against women and LGBT people?

This past week has been very painful for the LGBT communities in Minnesota.  We have watched as our Minnesota State Legislature has been fast tracking a constitutional amendment that would ban marriage equality for LGBT Minnesotan's.  This bill does more than just bar us from marriage equality.  It would also deny all LGBT Minnesotan's from visiting and caring for our partners in the hospital when they are sick and dying.  It would also deny LGBT families in Minnesota the right to care for our partners remains when they are deceased.  A few years ago a Minnesota man went through this horrible nightmare when his partner of 26 years died in their home.  The grieving husband had to phone his deceased partner's mother to identify the dead man's body before the State Medical Examiner would remove it from their home.  You see marriage equality in Minnesota is not the law.  So the State Medical Examiner could not take the now widowed and grieving partner's words that his late partner was who he said he was.  The Minnesota State Legislature has included in this amendment that the experiences of that man, would be the story of all LGBT families in Minnesota if the voters in 2012 pass the amendment. 

One Representative from Minnesota made an argument against this amendment based on religious discussions.  Rep. Steve Simon of St. Louis Park asked the question: "How many gay people does God have to create before we ask ourselves whether or not God actually wants them here?"  You can watch the video using the link below

YouTube - How Many Gays Must God Create Before We Accept That He Wants Them Around?

I am using this today because it does disturb me that people would encourage an amendment that is designed to put discrimination into the Minnesota or any state's constitution based on religious principles.  In so doing, they give the resurrected Jesus a bad Name.  Are not our hearts burning within us when the risen Christ comes to speak to us of justice, compassion, inclusion and hope for all God's people?  Why then are Christians so determined to encourage hate and harm to one group of people?

Do we recognize the risen Christ in one another through the breaking of the bread?

As Christians who share in the Body and Blood of Christ among the things we need to understand is that all humanity is connected to each other.  When we hurt one part of humanity, we ultimately hurt ourselves.  When we discriminate against women, immigrants, African Americans, Native Americans and so forth, we are creating atmospheres of bias against ourselves.  Once we allow one group of people to be harassed, violated and abused, it never stops before we justify it for just about anyone.  That certainly was not the purpose of what happened during Holy Week and what we celebrate during the Easter Season. 

The risen Christ comes to walk with us and break bread with all of us.  To help us know that we are all connected and responsible with each other.  Each one of despite our differences is a beloved creation by God's most generous love, and is redeemed by God's extravagant grace.  There is no reason to scapegoat or put any single person in a Pandoras Box to go no where else except by our wishing for them to do so.  The resurrection is for freedom, not an excuse to justify oppression.

As we continue through this Easter Season may we know that the risen Christ walks with us and feeds us as Christ breaks the bread of love and inclusion with all of God's holy people.

Prayers

O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for the Third Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, page 224).


Help our hearts to be Spirit-filled, O Christ.
    Help us to burn with passion for you and
        for your people throughout the world.
    May our passion ignite flames of justice and hope
        in the midst of hopelessness and pain.
    May the warmth of our fire be a sign
        of your compassionate presence in the world.
    In the name of the Risen Christ, Amen. (Prayerfully Out in Scripture).

Could St. Monnica Be An Example of a PFLAG Member?

Scriptural Basis

John 16:20-24

Jesus said, "Very truly, I tell you, you will weep and mourn, but the world will rejoice; you will have pain, but your pain will turn into joy. When a woman is in labor, she has pain, because her hour has come. But when her child is born, she no longer remembers the anguish because of the joy of having brought a human being into the world. So you have pain now; but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice, and no one will take your joy from you. On that day you will ask nothing of me. Very truly, I tell you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you. Until now you have not asked for anything in my name. Ask and you will receive, so that your joy may be complete."

Blog Reflection

One of the most inspiring organizations in the LGBT communities is PFLAG (Parents, Family & Friends of Lesbians and Gays).  This highly controversial group assists the parents, family and friends of LGBT people cope with the struggle to accept their LGBT friends and family members.  It is a place where they can openly talk about and learn about the struggles of LGBT people and receive support during their time of transitioning as well as facing the conflicts that exist within families and friendships.

As difficult as coming out is for those who are LGBT people, it is also equally if not more difficult for families and friends to come to terms with their own fears and ignorance about LGBT people.  When a gay youth comes out to his mother, she is confronted with many emotions that only a mother knows.  If she has a strong conservative religious background she is more likely to reject her son and not seek help.  Eventually she may turn to PFLAG and get some help to move her to a place of acceptance.

In other situations a daughter may come out to both mother and father as a lesbian.  The entire family might attend PFLAG as they struggle with how to communicate their feelings with the lesbian daughter.  They will need to confront their own fears with other members of their extended family and community as they realize how much the daughter will suffer under social, political and religious based oppression.

All of these and many more are why PFLAG is such a wonderful and important organization for the LGBT communities.

I know all too well that St. Augustine is rightfully to blame for much of the homophobia in the Christian Church for many centuries.  And his mother prayed for his conversion while it is said that Augustine was quite promiscuous.

What if we can take a page from Monnica here not paying too much attention to the conservatives who insist on making her and Augustine the reason for blatant discrimination and religious based spiritual violence, and chose to change the story just a bit.  What if we were able to look at Monnica from our own point of view and see in her a PFLAG person worried about what might happen to their LGBT family or friend should the marriage amendment in Minnesota and Pennsylvania be passed by the voters in 2012?  May be perhaps we can relate to the parent who is so worried about their son getting HIV/AIDS or being beaten up by a bunch of Christianist thugs.  Perhaps we can understand the feelings of an uncle who is keeping his lesbian niece away from her abusive father who beats her up or molests her thinking he is going to change her orientation.   What about someone who is harboring a Ugandan refugee in the United States who faces deportation because of the USA's immigration gestapo?

In what ever situation we or our friends might find us, persistence in prayer is a very wonderful and wise way to deal with the evils of this world.

Prayer is both wonderful and mysterious.  At times it can feel as if prayer is only disappointing us.  Especially when we are dealing with religious based bigotry that is so destructive to the spiritual well being of another person.

In a newspaper in Winona, Minnesota the author writes about the move by Minnesota's GOP to push a constitutional amendment against marriage equality for same-sex couples.

Don't let politicians fool you: This has nothing to do with married folks. We can assure you married heterosexual couples - in the states that have legalized gay marriage - are still carrying on.

In fact, marriage is probably more threatened by the economy, or health care or any other number of topics that introduce stress into a relationship than whether two other people can or cannot obtain a piece of paper.

More importantly, legislators in Minnesota are hiding behind some empty rhetoric about allowing voters to decide an issue the overwhelming number of Minnesotans have never asked about.

That is: The vast number of citizens hasn't demanded a referendum on the issue or sought to put it into the Constitution. This is politically motivated ploy and a ham-handed way for the Republican bullies to force the divisive issue.

Thank the Republicans for making this a wedge issue when all eyes have been on the budget.
It also allows legislators to turn the incredibly charged issue over to the voters without having to reveal their own thinly cloaked bigotry.

The message the GOP is sending gays and lesbians could not be clearer.

We like you (or are at least forced to say that for the cameras) - just not as much as straight people.

This new movement isn't just legislation to define marriage.

It's legislation to prove we're bigoted.

This isn't Minnesota nice - it's Minnesota malicious.

I am very grateful to those who wrote this article, to express an unfortunate and sad truth.

It is moves like this by those who feel that they are doing a good moral thing, when in fact they are promoting something truly awful, that can crush a persons entire life. Spiritual and personal.  Imagine how much this sort of thing also weighs on a parent, family or friend of an LGBT person.

Nevertheless, St. Monnica reminds us that prayer may be difficult, but it is not a dead end. If we can persist in prayer and trust in God to give us the presence of our Mother the Holy Spirit, it is possible to be victorious even in the face of disappointment, failure and grief.

May we all support each other with our prayers in what ever tradition we happen to be part of. So that all religious and political based bigotry might one day not exist.

Prayers

O Lord, through spiritual discipline you strengthened your servant Monnica to persevere in offering her love and prayers and tears for the conversion of her husband and of Augustine their son: Deepen our devotion, we pray, and use us in accordance with your will to bring others, even our own kindred, to acknowledge Jesus Christ as Savior and Lord; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for St. Monnica, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 359).

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).

St. Mark the Evangelist: You Finish the Story

Scriptural Basis

Mark 16:15-20 (NRSV)

Jesus said to the apostles, "Go into all the world and proclaim the good news to the whole creation. The one who believes and is baptized will be saved; but the one who does not believe will be condemned. And these signs will accompany those who believe: by using my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; they will pick up snakes in their hands, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover."

So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven and sat down at the right hand of God. And they went out and proclaimed the good news everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that accompanied it.

Blog Reflection

I have been reading all of the reactions to the news of the death of Osama bin Laden. The patriots are celebrating. The anti-violence advocates are cautioning us to not celebrate so much. The families of those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001 have mixed emotions. Some feel that justice has been served. Others feel that this all came a little too late.

Today, we commemorate St. Mark the Evangelist. The patron of the Cathedral of St. Mark in Minneapolis, Minnesota where Jason and I attend. A place that does so much for so many.  They offer weekly Monday night supper, monthly Sunday night supper, weekly warm-space for the homeless to come in and rest, get a little something to eat. They sleep for a bit and just enjoy being away from all the evils of homelessness just for a bit. St. Mark's has a strong and active LGBT group. We are welcomed, affirmed and celebrated. We are being integrated, though the process is not totally completed. 

St. Mark the said author of the second of what we call the synoptic Gospels is quite different from the other two. Mark offers a shorter to the point view of things. Mark allows his readers to finish the story.

In there, I believe is what Christians are called to do.  Finish the story.  We are not called to be heroes. We are not baptized to wage wars and promote violence and hate.  We did not confess our faith in Jesus Christ so that the Christian religion could supercede all other religions, philosophies and ideologies.  The events we celebrated during Holy Week, Easter Day through yesterday, and continue through Pentecost are not so that we can establish Christianity as a world dominating power hungry group of warriors. 

Through out St. Mark's Gospel it is quite clear who Jesus' best friends are.  Jesus' most compassionate and healing actions are for those who have been brushed aside by political, religions and social oppression and neglect. Jesus even allowed the Canaanite woman to teach him a little something about a culture different from his own.

As I was reading various responses to Bin Laden's death in The Lead, I came across two that I found most interesting.

From Brian McLaren, who is in England:

The news here showed President Obama making the announcement, and then shifted to American college students reveling outside the White House, shouting, chanting "USA" and spilling beer. I flipped through channels and saw the same scene repeated.

I can only say that this image does not reflect well on my country, especially in contrast to the images that have been so strong here in recent days ... revelers celebrating a wedding.

Joyfully celebrating the killing of a killer who joyfully celebrated killing carries an irony that I hope will not be lost on us. Are we learning anything, or simply spinning harder in the cycle of violence?

From Paul Raushenbush at the Huffington Post:

It is a strange and conflicting emotion to celebrate a death. My professed beliefs include the redemption of evil and the potential good in all humanity. Yet I felt a sense of exhilaration when I read the headline 'DEAD' about Osama Bin Laden.

For the last ten years Osama Bin Laden has exemplified the absolute worst of religion. He was a fundamentalist and a zealot in his own belief and willing to kill those who believed differently; he recruited young people into his ranks by preying on their despair; and he carried out violence in the name of God. Through actions and belief, Osama Bin Laden profaned the name of God and denigrated all people of faith.

Osama Bin Laden never felt any remorse for his murderous ways and the heartbreak that trailed behind him. He viewed his actions as part of a struggle that allowed him to transcend any moral concerns. He and his followers routinely slaughtered the innocent. He was ruthless in using faith as a means to the very worst ends. To reiterate what the President said in his announcement of bin Laden's death: "Bin Laden was not a Muslim leader, he was a mass murderer of Muslims." His death is satisfying not only because of what he did, but because it prevents him from doing any more violence in the future in the name of religion.

I am most struck by the paragraph in Raushenbush's second paragraph about Bin Laden "recruiting young people by preying on their despair and carried out violence in the name of God."

Does anyone else besides myself think that sounds awfully familiar?

Christianists and arch-conservative Catholics/Episcopalians/Anglicans/Orthodox etc very often recruit and go after the youngest people by "preying on their despair."  This is one of the reasons for so called Christian and Catholic colleges/universities as well as ex-gay and/or reparative therapy for LGBT people.  They are for the purpose of teaching young minds according to particular religious traditions and philosophies so that young people will not think critically and/or independently.  Being raised and/or schooled in a religious based environment has its goods.  But churches are political in more ways than can be properly written about.  In a Christian school that is funded and sustained mostly by our tax dollars through Federal and State grants/scholarships, fundamentalist Christian and conservative Catholic schools number one interest is to raise up individuals who will spread hate and religious based violence towards LGBT people, women, those who are more progressive/liberal and do anything they can to draw attention away from thinking that any other religion that is not conservative Christianity must not be exploited and destroyed.

Rather than allowing Christians to finish the rest of the story with independent thinking and an openness to differing views of things, Christianists (who are pretty much America's version of the Taliban) are able to wage a cultural and rhetorical war that is designed to kill any person or thinking that does not agree with theirs.

Christians are empowered by the Paschal Mystery (the death and resurrection of Jesus) to be God's messengers of reconciliation and peace.  Not the "Christian soldiers" determined to destroy.  Good Friday and Easter are about God's self-sacrificing love to bring about the salvation of humankind through mercy and forgiveness. 

I hate to burst our bubble, but I do agree with those who say that we ought to be careful about rejoicing in someone else's violent death.  Violence is never God's will. A violent end to a life is not something that God looks on with glee and cheer.

At the same time, we also need to be very sensitive about listening to the feelings expressed by the families and friends of those who lost loved ones on September 11th, as well as those who gave their lives over the last decade.  It is not the time to be preaching to them to tell them they shouldn't wish Bin Laden to rot in hell, when they are most likely saying it out of their psychological hate, not their moral hate.  There is a difference. 

While I cannot celebrate the violent end to one man, I do celebrate the fact that the United States and many anti-terrorist agencies have said no to allowing terrorism to succeed in dominating the world.  The need to bring down these organizations is real. The need to work towards more peaceful ways of doing it, is also real. 

It would also be great if Christians and all people of good will here in these United States of America could work towards ending the domestic terrorism of prejudice, inequality, political, religious and social oppression of all marginalized persons.  Including LGBT, African Americans, women, Native Americans, Muslims, Jews, and so on. You all know how long my list can get.

Let us pray along with St. Mark and the whole Church for a better tomorrow for everyone.

Prayers,

Almighty God, by the hand of Mark the evangelist you have given to your Church the Gospel of Jesus Christ the Son of God: We thank you for this witness, and pray that we may be firmly grounded in its truth; 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. Mark the Evangelist, Book of Common Prayer, page 240).

O God, the author of peace and lover of concord, to know you is eternal life and to serve you is perfect freedom: Defend us, your humble servants, in all assaults of our enemies; that we, surely trusting in your defense, may not fear the power of any adversaries; through the might of Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collect for Peace, Book of Common Prayer, page 99).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen. (Prayer attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

Second Sunday of Easter: Believing in the Resurrection We Cannot See

Scripture Basis

 

John 20:19-31 (NRSV)

When it was evening on that day, the first day of the week, and the doors of the house where the disciples had met were locked for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, "Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you." When he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, "Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you retain the sins of any, they are retained."

But Thomas (who was called the Twin), one of the twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples told him, "We have seen the Lord." But he said to them, "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and put my finger in the mark of the nails and my hand in his side, I will not believe."

A week later his disciples were again in the house, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were shut, Jesus came and stood among them and said, "Peace be with you." Then he said to Thomas, "Put your finger here and see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it in my side. Do not doubt but believe." Thomas answered him, "My Lord and my God!" Jesus said to him, "Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have come to believe."

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not written in this book. But these are written so that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that through believing you may have life in his name.

Blog Reflection

I really love Thomas. Good for him! Thomas was not ready to believe a story based on what he had been told. Thomas wanted to see the evidence of the disciples' description of what happened. Thomas was not satisfied with the words of those who had told him. Thomas wanted to see for himself if the story he heard was true.

"Truth is a funny thing sometimes" said Ninny Threadgood in the movie Fried Green Tomatoes. Truth can be frightening.  Truth can also be a very grim picture of reality. Truth can cause us pain as well as happiness.  Truth is also something we prefer to see rather than be told.  What we are told, we can have some kind of skepticism about. 

That is what Thomas did.  Thomas met the story of Jesus' resurrection from the disciples with skepticism.  Perhaps Thomas wanted to be sure that if he was going to commit the rest of his life to telling others about the resurrection he wanted to see it for himself.  I am willing to bet that there was one disciple among them that felt that Thomas was doing them a favor.  He wanted to see the resurrected Christ, so that they could too, to confirm what they might have thought was their imaginations playing tricks on them.

The resurrection for us who cannot see Jesus and/or place our hands in the nail prints of his hands or his side, believing in the risen Christ is more than being able to see and touch.  We have to believe in it through the lives of those who claim to profess it as a part of their faith.

In his Easter Day sermon, The Very Rev. Dr. John Hall, Dean of Westminster Abbey said:

It is not a truth easy for us to receive but it does lie at the heart of God’s purpose in Christ - and it is what Easter is all about: the triumph of self-giving love. Our human instinct is to get and to grasp, to hold on to what is ours, to exercise influence, authority and power. This is quite different from the way God shows us in Christ: the way of self-giving love.

In another paragraph Dean Hall says:

What changes their (the disciples) mind? What makes them get it? The body of Jesus is wrapped hastily in cloths and buried in a borrowed tomb hewn out of the rock. They seal a great stone over the entrance. The end. You know what happens next. We have just listened to St John’s account of the first Easter morning. The tomb is empty and the body gone. Peter and the Beloved Disciple come and see. The risen Lord Jesus appears to Mary of Magdala. Later he appears to the other disciples in different places and in different ways. This is not resuscitation. The body of Jesus has not been revived. This is different. Sometimes they fail at first to recognise him. Mary Magdalene thinks him the gardener. He comes and goes mysteriously. But he is no ghost. They do know it is the Lord. They eat and drink with him. Thomas is able to put his fingers into the holes in his hands and his hand into his side.

There are many lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people who have an earnest desire to believe in the goods of the Christian Faith.  What keeps them from believing?  What they are not seeing.   Like Thomas it is not enough for LGBT people to be told that God can "change" their lives in a good way while suggesting that the one thing that they simply cannot change, nor will God change, has to be changed in order for them to give evidence of the resurrection in their lives. 

That is not Good Friday for LGBT people.  That is not Easter Day for LGBT people.  That kind of thing is already hell.  And that kind of thing is precisely why so many young LGBTQ people take their lives through suicide. Because they feel that there is no hope for them in God unless they "change" which leads to them suppressing that part of themselves that was not meant to be suppressed.

If that is the picture of the resurrection that Christians want LGBT people to have, no wonder they would prefer to stay away.

If the resurrection is best evidenced in the "handing over of power" and the "triumph of self-giving love" by trusting in God with a situation as is, then Christians must help LGBT people including teens see that they can approach the risen Christ just as they are, and find fulfillment in God as good and holy people.   Without having to submit themselves to an ex-gay group to feel like that is their only hope. 

To believe in the resurrection we cannot see would be the Church handing over the need to dominate and supercede other religions and points of view that do not fit into the ideal of a Caucasian, heterosexual, English speaking/writing, wealthy, healthy, employed male.  To give evidence of the resurrection so that those who have not seen the risen Christ and yet believe would have to include seeking to end the violence against African Americans, Native Americans, women, LGBT and so on.   It is not enough to wish good things on those who cannot help themselves as James suggest in James 2: 14-26.  "Faith with works is dead."  Faith in the resurrection without working to end prejudice and violence might as well be a dead story.  The Easter story stopped at Good Friday. 

We know that Christians can and do produce really good results when we work for a better tomorrow for those who "walk in darkness and the shadow of death."   When Christians make historic changes that help people see that Christians really seek the good will of all people without necessarily converting every person, new friendships and movements for change begin and thrive.  The wounds of indifference and hate do get healed.  Forgiveness, trust and love help build bridges "between your heart and mine" as Naomi Judd sang, when Christians put aside prejudice and serve others because it is the right thing to do.

As we continue through this Easter Season, let us become the evidence people need to believe in the resurrection they cannot see.

Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, who in the Paschal mystery established the new covenant of reconciliation: Grant that all who have been reborn into the fellowship of Christ's Body may show forth in their lives what they profess by their faith; 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 Second Sunday of Easter, Book of Common Prayer, page 224)

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).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand; to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life. Amen.  (Prayer attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).