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.
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