Scriptural Basis
John 16:20-24
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.
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
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).
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