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.
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
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).
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