Scriptural Basis
Matthew 13:31-33,44-52
Blog Reflection
Today as I write this blog entry something wonderful is happening.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are legally marrying the person they love in the great State of New York.
Wedding bells are ringing.
Niagara Falls has been lit up with the colors of the rainbow.
Couples from all over the country are flocking to New York to marry the person they love with judges, mayors, ministers, priests and so many others blessing and granting the rights, privileges and responsibilities of marriage.
However, in other parts of New York such as through the streets of Manhattan are radical conservative Christianists, Catholic's and many other religions showing brutality via rhetoric and actions that violate the very heart of charity. The harsh reality of the attitudes of hate and violence disguised as religious zeal and/or conviction once again raise their ugly head.
I think it is quite difficult to miss the obvious display of love, celebration and commitment to fulfilling the Christian vocation in marriage being celebrated by LGBT couples vs the images of bias and narrow mindedness of those opposed. The couples being married are open to possibilities. Those protesting throw the opportunity for God to convert hearts and minds to a greater understanding of God and the world around them, back in God's face.
When Jesus uses the image of the mustard seed in today's Gospel as well as that of the yeast, he is painting a picture of God's work to bring about God's reign.
The work of God in our lives and world seems like a small favor granted or barely enough for us to see becoming much of anything.
Yet once what God has begun, grows and matures with not only Scripture, but also Tradition and Human Reason, the benefits are far reaching and can be experienced and shared by anyone.
Those who continue to use an interpretation of Scripture that is based on a literal translation, without applying critical and reputable scholarship to it's meaning, or Church Tradition without looking at the flaws with in our Tradition as well as our proven accomplishments, or accepting the Reason offered by science, psychology and the actual life experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, miss out on God's work in the bigger picture.
When a mustard seed is planted it does not remain a small mustard seed, nor does it become a large tree without water, sunshine and the occasional trimming.
Mustard can be mixed and made in many different ways. To reflect a difference of cultures and spices for different recipes.
When making a loaf of bread, one does not just mix flour, water, eggs and yeast, mold the bread and bake in the oven. The baker needs to give the dough time to rise and be ready to be shaped and molded, so that it can be baked and come out smelling wonderful and ready to eat.
There is no one way to mix, prepare, bake or eat bread. Bread is different in each country. Used differently for a variety of sandwiches, soups, side dishes, garnishes and desserts. Yet, bread is bread where ever you go.
The work of God's reign in our world is very much the same idea.
The Bible, the Church and our understanding of sexuality and social behaviors did not just drop out of the sky by God's decree and become a system of laws, religious beliefs or principles for Government etc by some snap of the finger. Nor is the Bible, the Church and our understanding of sexuality and social behaviors limited to the Bible, the Church and common understanding. This kind of thing has created the "traditionalist Christian exceptionalism/privilege" that has ripped societies, church bodies and whole cultures apart. It continues down to this very day.
Homosexuality does not violate nor does it go against the natural Law. It is supported by God's Natural Law as it is found in every living species on God's green earth. The article in Queering the Church has some profound and applicable talking points.
Regardless of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, culture, language, economic status, health status, gender, skin color, religion etc, all of us are God's treasure and pearl. God has created and redeemed all of us through God's precious, unconditional and all-inclusive love and grace.
In God's net of God's reign there are fish of all kinds.
The image of the angels dividing the catch and throwing the evil one's into the fire, is not an image of what God will do to LGBT individuals and families. Our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are not in and of themselves morally good or bad. Sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are morally neutral.
What makes or breaks the issue of morality for LGBT people, is the same that applies to anyone else.
Do we use our sexual and/or gender diversity to show love, companionship, compassion and concern for other people? Or are we just using our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression as an excuse to use or abuse others? There are just as many if not more cases of straight people using their sexual orientation as a "privileged status" to excuse themselves for inappropriate and/or violent behavior towards others.
White/Caucasian people have used their skin color and cultural basis as a privilege to justify the violence of racism towards African/Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Indians, and Middle Eastern people for centuries.
Men have made use of their gender status to justify sexism towards women. Male privilege is used to legislate women's health care, reproductive rights, public safety from rape, sexual assault, exploitation and domestic abuse. Often to the benefit of men, while women pay the highest expense.
The wealthy have made use of their status to bully politicians and whole governments to give them huge tax breaks, while middle class and low in come people suffer poverty and deprivation.
These and many others like them classify as the "evil" spoken by the Biblical prophets and Jesus. At no point in time does Jesus condemn homosexuality. Jesus does specifically condemn greed, poverty, and apathy towards the marginalized of society and the Church.
Christians for far too long have used literal interpretations of the Bible to justify supercessionism to suggest that Christians are privileged, and all other religions such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, even Athiests should be the subject of endless discrimination and oppression.
The extreme brutal violence in Norway this weekend is a clear example of radical Christianists presuming themselves to be privileged to the point that they can perpetrate such violence, and blame Muslims as the enemy.
All people are God's treasures and pearls. The entire world and every religion are the work of God that begins small and grows into a greater more glorious wonder.
Let Christians and all people of good will, come together and say "Amen" and "Congratulations" to all the LGBT people who are married in New York and all around the world today.
Let us celebrate and glorify love.
Let us condemn and starve to death the violence, rhetoric and attitudes that give rise to the privileged benefiting at the expense of the underprivileged of the Church and society.
May we all learn to value each other as God's treasure and most precious pearls.
May we all love and respect each other as to be numbered among the good fish in God's reign.
In the Name of our God who is + Creator, Servant and Life-Giver. Amen.
Prayers
Matthew 13:31-33,44-52
Jesus put before the crowds another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that someone took and sowed in his field; it is the smallest of all the seeds, but when it has grown it is the greatest of shrubs and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and make nests in its branches."
He told them another parable: "The kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of flour until all of it was leavened."
"The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which someone found and hid; then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.
"Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a net that was thrown into the sea and caught fish of every kind; when it was full, they drew it ashore, sat down, and put the good into baskets but threw out the bad. So it will be at the end of the age. The angels will come out and separate the evil from the righteous and throw them into the furnace of fire, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.
"Have you understood all this?" They answered, "Yes." And he said to them, "Therefore every scribe who has been trained for the kingdom of heaven is like the master of a household who brings out of his treasure what is new and what is old."
Blog Reflection
Today as I write this blog entry something wonderful is happening.
Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people are legally marrying the person they love in the great State of New York.
Wedding bells are ringing.
Niagara Falls has been lit up with the colors of the rainbow.
Couples from all over the country are flocking to New York to marry the person they love with judges, mayors, ministers, priests and so many others blessing and granting the rights, privileges and responsibilities of marriage.
However, in other parts of New York such as through the streets of Manhattan are radical conservative Christianists, Catholic's and many other religions showing brutality via rhetoric and actions that violate the very heart of charity. The harsh reality of the attitudes of hate and violence disguised as religious zeal and/or conviction once again raise their ugly head.
I think it is quite difficult to miss the obvious display of love, celebration and commitment to fulfilling the Christian vocation in marriage being celebrated by LGBT couples vs the images of bias and narrow mindedness of those opposed. The couples being married are open to possibilities. Those protesting throw the opportunity for God to convert hearts and minds to a greater understanding of God and the world around them, back in God's face.
When Jesus uses the image of the mustard seed in today's Gospel as well as that of the yeast, he is painting a picture of God's work to bring about God's reign.
The work of God in our lives and world seems like a small favor granted or barely enough for us to see becoming much of anything.
Yet once what God has begun, grows and matures with not only Scripture, but also Tradition and Human Reason, the benefits are far reaching and can be experienced and shared by anyone.
Those who continue to use an interpretation of Scripture that is based on a literal translation, without applying critical and reputable scholarship to it's meaning, or Church Tradition without looking at the flaws with in our Tradition as well as our proven accomplishments, or accepting the Reason offered by science, psychology and the actual life experiences of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender persons, miss out on God's work in the bigger picture.
When a mustard seed is planted it does not remain a small mustard seed, nor does it become a large tree without water, sunshine and the occasional trimming.
Mustard can be mixed and made in many different ways. To reflect a difference of cultures and spices for different recipes.
When making a loaf of bread, one does not just mix flour, water, eggs and yeast, mold the bread and bake in the oven. The baker needs to give the dough time to rise and be ready to be shaped and molded, so that it can be baked and come out smelling wonderful and ready to eat.
There is no one way to mix, prepare, bake or eat bread. Bread is different in each country. Used differently for a variety of sandwiches, soups, side dishes, garnishes and desserts. Yet, bread is bread where ever you go.
The work of God's reign in our world is very much the same idea.
The Bible, the Church and our understanding of sexuality and social behaviors did not just drop out of the sky by God's decree and become a system of laws, religious beliefs or principles for Government etc by some snap of the finger. Nor is the Bible, the Church and our understanding of sexuality and social behaviors limited to the Bible, the Church and common understanding. This kind of thing has created the "traditionalist Christian exceptionalism/privilege" that has ripped societies, church bodies and whole cultures apart. It continues down to this very day.
Homosexuality does not violate nor does it go against the natural Law. It is supported by God's Natural Law as it is found in every living species on God's green earth. The article in Queering the Church has some profound and applicable talking points.
Regardless of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, culture, language, economic status, health status, gender, skin color, religion etc, all of us are God's treasure and pearl. God has created and redeemed all of us through God's precious, unconditional and all-inclusive love and grace.
In God's net of God's reign there are fish of all kinds.
The image of the angels dividing the catch and throwing the evil one's into the fire, is not an image of what God will do to LGBT individuals and families. Our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are not in and of themselves morally good or bad. Sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression are morally neutral.
What makes or breaks the issue of morality for LGBT people, is the same that applies to anyone else.
Do we use our sexual and/or gender diversity to show love, companionship, compassion and concern for other people? Or are we just using our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression as an excuse to use or abuse others? There are just as many if not more cases of straight people using their sexual orientation as a "privileged status" to excuse themselves for inappropriate and/or violent behavior towards others.
White/Caucasian people have used their skin color and cultural basis as a privilege to justify the violence of racism towards African/Americans, Native Americans, Hispanics, Pacific Indians, and Middle Eastern people for centuries.
Men have made use of their gender status to justify sexism towards women. Male privilege is used to legislate women's health care, reproductive rights, public safety from rape, sexual assault, exploitation and domestic abuse. Often to the benefit of men, while women pay the highest expense.
The wealthy have made use of their status to bully politicians and whole governments to give them huge tax breaks, while middle class and low in come people suffer poverty and deprivation.
These and many others like them classify as the "evil" spoken by the Biblical prophets and Jesus. At no point in time does Jesus condemn homosexuality. Jesus does specifically condemn greed, poverty, and apathy towards the marginalized of society and the Church.
Christians for far too long have used literal interpretations of the Bible to justify supercessionism to suggest that Christians are privileged, and all other religions such as Judaism, Islam, Hinduism, Buddhism, even Athiests should be the subject of endless discrimination and oppression.
The extreme brutal violence in Norway this weekend is a clear example of radical Christianists presuming themselves to be privileged to the point that they can perpetrate such violence, and blame Muslims as the enemy.
All people are God's treasures and pearls. The entire world and every religion are the work of God that begins small and grows into a greater more glorious wonder.
Let Christians and all people of good will, come together and say "Amen" and "Congratulations" to all the LGBT people who are married in New York and all around the world today.
Let us celebrate and glorify love.
Let us condemn and starve to death the violence, rhetoric and attitudes that give rise to the privileged benefiting at the expense of the underprivileged of the Church and society.
May we all learn to value each other as God's treasure and most precious pearls.
May we all love and respect each other as to be numbered among the good fish in God's reign.
In the Name of our God who is + Creator, Servant and Life-Giver. Amen.
Prayers
O God, the protector of all who trust in you, without whom nothing is strong, nothing is holy: Increase and multiply upon us your mercy; that, with you as our ruler and guide, we may so pass through things temporal, that we lose not the things eternal; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 12, Book of Common Prayer, page 231).
Jesus, as a mother you gather your people to you;
you are gentle with us as a mother with her children.
Often you weep over our sins and our pride,
tenderly you draw us from hatred and judgment.
You comfort us in sorrow and bind up our wounds,
in sickness you nurse us and with pure milk you feed us.
Jesus, by your dying, we are born to new life;
by your anguish and labor we come forth in joy.
Despair turns to hope through your sweet goodness;
through your gentleness, we find comfort in fear.
Your warmth gives life to the dead,
your touch makes sinners righteous.
Lord Jesus, in your mercy, heal us;
in your love and tenderness, remake us.
In your compassion, bring grace and forgiveness,
for the beauty of heaven, may your love prepare us.
(Canticle Q, A Song of Christ's Goodness, Anselm of Canterbury, Enriching our Worship, page 39).
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