Scriptural Basis
Genesis 45: 1-15 (NRSV)
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
A couple weeks ago I was attending a human rights commission meeting. During the meeting a staff person from our local historical society came to talk about what they are doing to help make the stories of new Americans (Hispanic, Somalians, etc) the stories of our City. She pointed out that whether a resident of our City has lived here all their lives or moved in from another city, town or country, everyone's story of what brought or kept them to decide to live in our City is the story of the entire community.
The historical society staff person also spoke briefly of a conversation had all too often by long-time citizens who visit. Their group conversations begin with what a great place our City was in the 1940's and 1950's. The conversation is almost always followed with: "Our City was such a great place, until the black people moved in, etc, etc." (Here you can put any immigrant group, race, religion, sexual orientation and/or gender expression.) The staff person spoke of the need to try to shift such conversations away and more into the reason many of their ancestors or friends moved into the City, is really the same reasons most minorities move into a particular location. Because most likely their story is the story of everyone.
The reading from Genesis today could be seen as a coming out story according to Out in Scripture. Joseph was able to do something that no one else in the family could do. So his brothers seeing Joseph getting some preferential treatment by their father, sold him into slavery. Their move was an attempt to take him and is wonderful gifts and put them outside of the family.
In this story today, we see that the tables are turned. Joseph's brothers are experiencing a great famine and are in need of help. They turn to Joseph who is now a leader in his community. Joseph does not hold the grudge against his brothers, but takes the occasion to serve them, giving them whatever they need to survive.
This narrative contains images of hospitality and reconciliation. The oppressed becomes the liberator even for those who had oppressed Joseph.
Many of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender have experienced rejection and oppression from family, friends, church communities etc when we come out. Parents reject their children. Children reject their parents. Friends who once knew each other in a church summer camp cannot cease to proselytize their camp mate who has now come out and perhaps gone to a more accepting and affirming congregation. These and many other rejections can leave a loving heart very bruised on the inside and outside. Those wounds take a very long time to heal.
Among the very difficult things for an LGBT person to do who has experienced so much rejection by religious communities, is to trust those who are part of former congregations. The painful memories are just too vivid. Yet, among the worst things an LGBT person can do is not accept someone they once knew as an adversary, who tries to make peace and show acceptance. The LGBT individual who's trust is broken needs to be approached with sensitivity. This is one of those moments when good zeal can be mis-perceived and second guessed. It can be harder for the LGBT person to heal and be reconciled. But, being reconciled with those who have hurt us in the past is very necessary for the LGBT person to experience interior and social healing.
Whether we are LGBT, straight, or whatever our race, gender, class, language, occupation, health status, etc, we all need each other to build communities of friendship and support. Those communities are made up of individuals who have experienced the brokenness of racism, sexism, heterosexism. the effects of religious extremism and the like. Yet in order for communities to heal and move on to create maturity and hope for the future each person needs to embrace and welcome each other. Recognizing our own biases and limitations and working with others to change them, is one of the best ways to create and nurture communities where diversity becomes inclusion.
Our Gospel today shows Jesus in a situation that seems way out of place. The Gospel narrative begins with Jesus reminding his followers of what his mission and ministry are about, Yet in the next paragraph, the story of the Canaanite woman Jesus is faced with his own hypocrisy.
The preacher Siri Hauge Hustad from St. Mark's Cathedral today made the point that the Canaanite woman is already on the losing end. She is a woman who is faced with the sexism of her time. She is a Canaanite which means she faces the racism accorded to her people. And her daughter is said to be possessed by an evil spirit. She is already down and out.
Jesus in his humanity responds with a rejection. "Jesus, what the hell are you doing?" Jesus meets the meaning of the previous paragraph looking at him in the face. The woman in her faith and wisdom makes her case and moves Jesus' heart. Jesus grants her what she most needs. Jesus' reflection of our broken humanity experiences healing and moves on.
Today in our society and the Church we are being confronted with the meaning of the Gospel. We see Muslims being targeted by radical Christianist groups. LGBT people singled out for violence, cruelty and segregation. Immigrants labeled as "illegals" to be treated inhumanly. Anthony Makk an Australian who's husband Bradford Wells has HIV/AIDS, and Anthony is Bradford's caretaker. Anthony is being told by the Obama Administration that he must leave the Country by August 25th. You can read the full story here.
The equal rights and opportunities for individuals of different religions, immigration status, sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, languages, levels of poverty and gender are the subject of presidential campaigns, legislative debates and electoral results.
Inclusive communities are the heart and soul of our Christian Faith. Our faith was founded by a middle eastern Jewish carpenter who spent his life seeking out and serving those marginalized and set aside. Jesus welcomed individuals of diverse backgrounds and abilities to walk with him and learn from him. Some needed more time to learn and develop an understanding of what being a Christian was about. Yet, at no time did Jesus say that one must conform to a given creed, understanding of what he was doing or not doing, or be of one sexual orientation vs. another. Jesus simply welcomed all, embraced all and yes, challenged all to grow in the knowledge and love of God, neighbor and of self.
Sadly, the optional first reading from Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8 omits the part about the eunuchs being the ones who gain a "monumental" place in the house of God. The eunuchs were the gay men of Biblical times. Jesus had nothing but good things to say about the eunuchs in Mt.19:10-12. Yet, as much as Jesus welcomes those who are not quite the status quo, the Church remains a place hostile, not hospitable to diversity to become inclusive.
The Christian Faith can only become better the more inclusive we become. The more Christians work in community with other religions, LGBT, women and many others, the more positive affect on changing the world for brighter tomorrows Christians will have. Accomplishing this means we must face our own attitudes of racism, sexism, class discrimination, heterosexism and ask God's Holy Spirit to heal and move us past them.
If Jesus who is God's perfect revelation of Self can be confronted by the cultural issues of his time, and be changed for the better, what is holding Christians of today back?
Prayers
Genesis 45: 1-15 (NRSV)
Joseph could no longer control himself before all those who stood by him, and he cried out, "Send everyone away from me." So no one stayed with him when Joseph made himself known to his brothers. And he wept so loudly that the Egyptians heard it, and the household of Pharaoh heard it. Joseph said to his brothers, "I am Joseph. Is my father still alive?" But his brothers could not answer him, so dismayed were they at his presence.
Then Joseph said to his brothers, "Come closer to me." And they came closer. He said, "I am your brother, Joseph, whom you sold into Egypt. And now do not be distressed, or angry with yourselves, because you sold me here; for God sent me before you to preserve life. For the famine has been in the land these two years; and there are five more years in which there will be neither plowing nor harvest. God sent me before you to preserve for you a remnant on earth, and to keep alive for you many survivors. So it was not you who sent me here, but God; he has made me a father to Pharaoh, and lord of all his house and ruler over all the land of Egypt. Hurry and go up to my father and say to him, `Thus says your son Joseph, God has made me lord of all Egypt; come down to me, do not delay. You shall settle in the land of Goshen, and you shall be near me, you and your children and your children's children, as well as your flocks, your herds, and all that you have. I will provide for you there-- since there are five more years of famine to come-- so that you and your household, and all that you have, will not come to poverty.' And now your eyes and the eyes of my brother Benjamin see that it is my own mouth that speaks to you. You must tell my father how greatly I am honored in Egypt, and all that you have seen. Hurry and bring my father down here." Then he fell upon his brother Benjamin's neck and wept, while Benjamin wept upon his neck. And he kissed all his brothers and wept upon them; and after that his brothers talked with him.
Matthew 15: (10-20), 21-28 (NRSV)
[Jesus called the crowd to him and said to them, "Listen and understand: it is not what goes into the mouth that defiles a person, but it is what comes out of the mouth that defiles." Then the disciples approached and said to him, "Do you know that the Pharisees took offense when they heard what you said?" He answered, "Every plant that my heavenly Father has not planted will be uprooted. Let them alone; they are blind guides of the blind. And if one blind person guides another, both will fall into a pit." But Peter said to him, "Explain this parable to us." Then he said, "Are you also still without understanding? Do you not see that whatever goes into the mouth enters the stomach, and goes out into the sewer? But what comes out of the mouth proceeds from the heart, and this is what defiles. For out of the heart come evil intentions, murder, adultery, fornication, theft, false witness, slander. These are what defile a person, but to eat with unwashed hands does not defile."]
Jesus left Gennesaret and went away to the district of Tyre and Sidon. Just then a Canaanite woman from that region came out and started shouting, "Have mercy on me, Lord, Son of David; my daughter is tormented by a demon." But he did not answer her at all. And his disciples came and urged him, saying, "Send her away, for she keeps shouting after us." He answered, "I was sent only to the lost sheep of the house of Israel." But she came and knelt before him, saying, "Lord, help me." He answered, "It is not fair to take the children's food and throw it to the dogs." She said, "Yes, Lord, yet even the dogs eat the crumbs that fall from their masters' table." Then Jesus answered her, "Woman, great is your faith! Let it be done for you as you wish." And her daughter was healed instantly.
Blog Reflection
A couple weeks ago I was attending a human rights commission meeting. During the meeting a staff person from our local historical society came to talk about what they are doing to help make the stories of new Americans (Hispanic, Somalians, etc) the stories of our City. She pointed out that whether a resident of our City has lived here all their lives or moved in from another city, town or country, everyone's story of what brought or kept them to decide to live in our City is the story of the entire community.
The historical society staff person also spoke briefly of a conversation had all too often by long-time citizens who visit. Their group conversations begin with what a great place our City was in the 1940's and 1950's. The conversation is almost always followed with: "Our City was such a great place, until the black people moved in, etc, etc." (Here you can put any immigrant group, race, religion, sexual orientation and/or gender expression.) The staff person spoke of the need to try to shift such conversations away and more into the reason many of their ancestors or friends moved into the City, is really the same reasons most minorities move into a particular location. Because most likely their story is the story of everyone.
The reading from Genesis today could be seen as a coming out story according to Out in Scripture. Joseph was able to do something that no one else in the family could do. So his brothers seeing Joseph getting some preferential treatment by their father, sold him into slavery. Their move was an attempt to take him and is wonderful gifts and put them outside of the family.
In this story today, we see that the tables are turned. Joseph's brothers are experiencing a great famine and are in need of help. They turn to Joseph who is now a leader in his community. Joseph does not hold the grudge against his brothers, but takes the occasion to serve them, giving them whatever they need to survive.
This narrative contains images of hospitality and reconciliation. The oppressed becomes the liberator even for those who had oppressed Joseph.
Many of us who are lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender have experienced rejection and oppression from family, friends, church communities etc when we come out. Parents reject their children. Children reject their parents. Friends who once knew each other in a church summer camp cannot cease to proselytize their camp mate who has now come out and perhaps gone to a more accepting and affirming congregation. These and many other rejections can leave a loving heart very bruised on the inside and outside. Those wounds take a very long time to heal.
Among the very difficult things for an LGBT person to do who has experienced so much rejection by religious communities, is to trust those who are part of former congregations. The painful memories are just too vivid. Yet, among the worst things an LGBT person can do is not accept someone they once knew as an adversary, who tries to make peace and show acceptance. The LGBT individual who's trust is broken needs to be approached with sensitivity. This is one of those moments when good zeal can be mis-perceived and second guessed. It can be harder for the LGBT person to heal and be reconciled. But, being reconciled with those who have hurt us in the past is very necessary for the LGBT person to experience interior and social healing.
Whether we are LGBT, straight, or whatever our race, gender, class, language, occupation, health status, etc, we all need each other to build communities of friendship and support. Those communities are made up of individuals who have experienced the brokenness of racism, sexism, heterosexism. the effects of religious extremism and the like. Yet in order for communities to heal and move on to create maturity and hope for the future each person needs to embrace and welcome each other. Recognizing our own biases and limitations and working with others to change them, is one of the best ways to create and nurture communities where diversity becomes inclusion.
Our Gospel today shows Jesus in a situation that seems way out of place. The Gospel narrative begins with Jesus reminding his followers of what his mission and ministry are about, Yet in the next paragraph, the story of the Canaanite woman Jesus is faced with his own hypocrisy.
The preacher Siri Hauge Hustad from St. Mark's Cathedral today made the point that the Canaanite woman is already on the losing end. She is a woman who is faced with the sexism of her time. She is a Canaanite which means she faces the racism accorded to her people. And her daughter is said to be possessed by an evil spirit. She is already down and out.
Jesus in his humanity responds with a rejection. "Jesus, what the hell are you doing?" Jesus meets the meaning of the previous paragraph looking at him in the face. The woman in her faith and wisdom makes her case and moves Jesus' heart. Jesus grants her what she most needs. Jesus' reflection of our broken humanity experiences healing and moves on.
Today in our society and the Church we are being confronted with the meaning of the Gospel. We see Muslims being targeted by radical Christianist groups. LGBT people singled out for violence, cruelty and segregation. Immigrants labeled as "illegals" to be treated inhumanly. Anthony Makk an Australian who's husband Bradford Wells has HIV/AIDS, and Anthony is Bradford's caretaker. Anthony is being told by the Obama Administration that he must leave the Country by August 25th. You can read the full story here.
The equal rights and opportunities for individuals of different religions, immigration status, sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression, languages, levels of poverty and gender are the subject of presidential campaigns, legislative debates and electoral results.
Inclusive communities are the heart and soul of our Christian Faith. Our faith was founded by a middle eastern Jewish carpenter who spent his life seeking out and serving those marginalized and set aside. Jesus welcomed individuals of diverse backgrounds and abilities to walk with him and learn from him. Some needed more time to learn and develop an understanding of what being a Christian was about. Yet, at no time did Jesus say that one must conform to a given creed, understanding of what he was doing or not doing, or be of one sexual orientation vs. another. Jesus simply welcomed all, embraced all and yes, challenged all to grow in the knowledge and love of God, neighbor and of self.
Sadly, the optional first reading from Isaiah 56: 1, 6-8 omits the part about the eunuchs being the ones who gain a "monumental" place in the house of God. The eunuchs were the gay men of Biblical times. Jesus had nothing but good things to say about the eunuchs in Mt.19:10-12. Yet, as much as Jesus welcomes those who are not quite the status quo, the Church remains a place hostile, not hospitable to diversity to become inclusive.
The Christian Faith can only become better the more inclusive we become. The more Christians work in community with other religions, LGBT, women and many others, the more positive affect on changing the world for brighter tomorrows Christians will have. Accomplishing this means we must face our own attitudes of racism, sexism, class discrimination, heterosexism and ask God's Holy Spirit to heal and move us past them.
If Jesus who is God's perfect revelation of Self can be confronted by the cultural issues of his time, and be changed for the better, what is holding Christians of today back?
Prayers
Almighty God, you have given your only Son to be for us a sacrifice for sin, and also an example of godly life: Give us grace to receive thankfully the fruits of his redeeming work, and to follow daily in the blessed steps of his most holy life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Proper 15, Book of Common Prayer, page 232).
O God, who created all peoples in your image, we thank you for the wonderful diversity of races, cultures and sexual orientations and/or gender identities/expressions in this world. Enrich our lives by ever-widening circles of fellowship, and our knowledge of your love is made perfect in our love for all your children; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Thanksgiving for the Diversity of Races and Cultures (Sexual orientations and gender identities/expressions added by blog author) Book of Common Prayer, page 840).
Amma-Abba, Mother-Father, in heaven
let us be like Jesus--
open to the correction of those
whom we exclude from our acts of compassion.
Let us follow your way —
to go against nature
when we want to limit access to your
Welcome Table
Amen (Prayerfully Out in Scripture).
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