Fourth Sunday After Pentecost: Planting Seeds of Justice and Inclusion

The readings for this Sunday's Liturgy of the Word are filled with images of seeds, rain, sowers and the soil itself.  Traditionally these images are interpreted as meaning that the "seed" that is spoken of is the Holy Bible.  The result of such interpretations is that the Bible is the "truth in print" and therefore those who translate the Scriptures literally to mean exclusion are doing the right thing.

In our reflection we will take a small journey together to look at how the Scripture that Christians hold tight to has it's human flaws and therefore cannot be taken more seriously than the life lived by God's perfect revelation of Self in Jesus.



Scriptural Basis

Isaiah 55:10-13 (NRSV)

As the rain and the snow come down from heaven,

and do not return there until they have watered the earth,

making it bring forth and sprout,

giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,

so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth;

it shall not return to me empty,

but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,

and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.

For you shall go out in joy,

and be led back in peace;

the mountains and the hills before you

shall burst into song,

and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.

Instead of the thorn shall come up the cypress;

instead of the brier shall come up the myrtle;

and it shall be to the LORD for a memorial,

for an everlasting sign that shall not be cut off.

Matthew 13:1-9,18-23 (NRSV)

Jesus went out of the house and sat beside the sea. Such great crowds gathered around him that he got into a boat and sat there, while the whole crowd stood on the beach. And he told them many things in parables, saying: "Listen! A sower went out to sow. And as he sowed, some seeds fell on the path, and the birds came and ate them up. Other seeds fell on rocky ground, where they did not have much soil, and they sprang up quickly, since they had no depth of soil. But when the sun rose, they were scorched; and since they had no root, they withered away. Other seeds fell among thorns, and the thorns grew up and choked them. Other seeds fell on good soil and brought forth grain, some a hundredfold, some sixty, some thirty. Let anyone with ears listen!"

"Hear then the parable of the sower. When anyone hears the word of the kingdom and does not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what is sown in the heart; this is what was sown on the path. As for what was sown on rocky ground, this is the one who hears the word and immediately receives it with joy; yet such a person has no root, but endures only for a while, and when trouble or persecution arises on account of the word, that person immediately falls away. As for what was sown among thorns, this is the one who hears the word, but the cares of the world and the lure of wealth choke the word, and it yields nothing. But as for what was sown on good soil, this is the one who hears the word and understands it, who indeed bears fruit and yields, in one case a hundredfold, in another sixty, and in another thirty."

Out in Scripture suggests:

God, previously seen as oppressive in allowing the exile, is now presented as the one who liberates from it. Here God’s purposes expressed through God’s word center on life and hope. The exiles are challenged to hold on. They are promised return to their land and the abundant, extravagant, flourishing of all creation. There are no boundaries to God’s goodness, including LGBT communities.  No matter what, all belong in God’s life-giving purposes. The affirmation of God’s faithfulness emerges from their lived experience.

Christianists often make the presumption that because of a sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression that is different, that somehow the individual(s) has/have "chosen" a life apart from God's creative and redemptive grace.

Sexual orientation and gender identity/expression comes from the soul of who a person is. Lesbian, gay, straight, pansexual, metro-sexual a-sexual, bisexual, single gender minded or transgender are all part of God's creative natural law. The soul God gives to each individual is a divine gift out of love with love as it's ultimate purpose and destiny.   That love was not created and sent with the purpose of being worthless or left on the margins of society or the Church.   It is a love given to love freely and openly.  To give as well as receive.

LGBT people seek those communities and opportunities to be able to live out their expressions of love without being scandalized by false information and senseless acts of violence.  The very freedom God offers through this word that is written about is for all people.  Not just a selected few because religion, race, culture, sexual and gender diversity, language, etc.

In the Gospel of Matthew Jesus is telling a parable. Jesus wants those listening to create a picture in their minds.  The problem with this Gospel is that it was written after the disciples would have told their stories to others, who would have retold those stories.   So, it is not at all certain that every word, meaning and conversation is really as is, but most likely is someone's translation.  Yet, what we have is not without it's applicable meaning.

Again, Christianists and those who propose an exclusionary and psycho-pathetic understanding of God, use this Gospel to suggest that if we do not hear the "infallible word of God" as such, and transcribe that into some kind of political and social enterprise by which Christianity conquers all other religions, cultures and so on, then someone has done something wrong.  A careful reading of this Gospel with some realistic understandings will suggest that exclusion is far from it's meaning.

Included within this story is a variety of people and abilities to hear and understand what God is saying.  No two people hearing the "seed that is the word" are alike. In some cases, even those that appear irrelevant, the seeds were used to do something that inspired others to think or act. Contrary to what we may think the texts are saying, those that were not planted on a particular kind of soil were not totally lost causes. Nor were they without some kind of hope.

Out in Scripture offers some additional thoughts for us to consider.

Matthew 13:3-9, 18-23 urges readers to have “understanding” or discerning “ears.” Crucial to the parable is hearing or discerning what God is like and how God acts. The parable describes God’s indiscriminate sowing or reaching out to all people, as well as the abundant, extravagant, fruitful life that follows for those who continue in relationship with God. Often distorted hearing or “closed ears” hatefully try to restrict God’s sowing by declaring exclusions from God’s work. But the parable’s reference to “hundredfold” yield offers a much bigger and more beautiful vision.

For LGBT communities, the parable points not just to “coming out” but to an abundant and fruitful life marked by, among other things, a radical inclusivity that transcends all boundaries, as well as by joy and celebration. Seeds need to be resilient to grow. But they have to move beyond survival to fruitfulness or flourishing. Discerning ears participate with wonder and awe in the goodness of God’s abundant ways.   

I would like to add to this the idea that those who were "scorched because they had no root" could very easily refer to those who interpret the word by their own literal interpretation.  Rather than applying it to an opportunity to better all people, such individuals root their meanings and action in capitalistic enterprises that are created to encourage hate and horrible violence.  

LGBT people and many others who are marginalized by society and the Church are in such great positions to be that good soil, that brings forth a hundred fold good. Because we have experienced stigmatization we know what it is to search for healing and company from others who are like us and find those who are angry and unforgiving.  We are able to understand and even become agents of healing and reconciliation where possible.

Some of the best stories told that move the hearts and minds of people, are those told by individuals wounded by oppression and violent rhetoric/behavior yet hold strong to their faith or even help to build new communities.  This kind of thing cannot be overlooked nor should it be.   

The story of a mother and father about their gay son who died in Afghanastan, who now use their experience and voices to raise awareness about the need for full equality for LGBT people do so much good for so many people.  

How could we have learned the dangers of HIV/AIDS if those affected by the disease did not come forward and show us through their suffering and even deaths, that something in our world needs to change?

Without the stories and example of a woman named Rev. Irene Monroe, we would never know what the experience of being a liberal, black, feminist, lesbian street preacher is like.

If Bishop Gene Robinson had not been elected and ordained as Bishop of New Hampshire, his experiences and devotion would not be known.  His work on behalf of LGBT people in the Anglican Communion and around the world would not be the wonderful work of the Holy Spirit that it is.

If those first protesters at Stonewall or Harvey Milk did not raise up and begin a movement, we might not have a movement towards full equality for LGBT people today.

All these things and many more happened, because someone knew the goodness of being LGBT and it was time to tell others what it is all about.  And help others understand the importance of marriage equality, the ending of Don't Ask, Don't Tell.  The ordination of LGBT individuals as Bishops, Priests, Deacons and local parish community leaders. 

I really do believe that the word that longs to take root in Christians, is not so much a book over 2 millenia old.  But the word that Jesus wants to take root and grow is a love for one another, and willingness to include and serve all people.  Not just those few that appeal to our senses.  The word that wants to grow and bear fruit is the ministry of radical hospitality and reconciliation.  A word by which no one person or group dominates another financially, politically, socially or as a matter of religion.  A word that sees all humankind as connected one to another.  To seek the goodwill and a better tomorrow for the benefit of all.  

When?  Oh when will that word take root, be nurtured, grow and bear fruit?  Who will be the first to accept that word and pass the goodness of the fruit around?  

Prayers

O Lord, mercifully receive the prayers of your people who call upon you, and grant that they may know and understand what things they ought to do, and also may have grace and power faithfully to accomplish them; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 10, Book of Common Prayer, page 231).

Gracious God, we pray for your holy Catholic Church. Fill it with all truth, in all truth with all peace. Where it is corrupt, purify it; where it is in error, direct it; where in any thing it is amiss, reform it. Where it is right, strengthen it; where it is in want, provide for it; where it is divided, reunite it; for the sake of Jesus Christ your Son our Savior. Amen. (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, page 816).

Gracious God, the Power of all be-ings,
    Help us believe that
    you are the One who shields our heart
          against despair,
          against hopelessness,
          against turning cold,
          against indifference.
     Grant us the two beautiful companions of Hope:
          the sacred Anger that things are the way they are, and
          the Courage to make them the way they ought to be.
     In the name of the One who shows us
          the spirit of deep compassion and justice.
          Amen.  (Prayerfully Out in Scripture).