Scriptural Basis
Mark 8:34-38 (NRSV)
Jesus called the crowd with his disciples, and said to them, "If any want to become my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross and follow me. For those who want to save their life will lose it, and those who lose their life for my sake, and for the sake of the gospel, will save it. For what will it profit them to gain the whole world and forfeit their life? Indeed, what can they give in return for their life? Those who are ashamed of me and of my words in this adulterous and sinful generation, of them the Son of Man will also be ashamed when he comes in the glory of his Father with the holy angels."
Blog Reflection
I am writing this blog at the end of the first day that Don't Ask, Don't Tell has been officially repealed. At the stroke of 12:01am today the policy that has resulted in over 14,000 individuals being discharged from America's Military for being LGBT has ended. Let the Church now say Amen!
As I finally get the chance to write about this, I was met with the reality that today's commemoration is for Martyrs. More specifically John Coleridge Patteson. Bishop Patteson and his companions were martyred in Melanasia for attempting to protect the natives of that land from slave traders. In their passion for justice and seeking good, they gave the ultimate sacrifice of their lives.
Many LGBT service members who faced discharge because of their sexual orientation know what it is to face injustice and be on the losing side. Don't Ask, Don't Tell gave life to witch hunts in the military to dismiss LGBT women and men from service. Many of them bravely came out only to be discharged. Many of them experienced discrimination from defending the freedoms of the country that was now telling them that because of who they are, they can no longer serve.
Their sacrifices and devotion to speaking out led to this day. The determination of the women and men of our armed forces who are LGBT and wanting to serve openly with dedication to the country they love, set the movement for equality and justice so that one day this day might come.
Doing the work of justice and equality is about carrying the cross. It is about facing injustice as it is, not as we would like it to be. The work calls us to forsake a life of comfort, and to confront the reality of the injustice and violence of discrimination so as to create an atmosphere of change through self-giving love.
The Martyrs that we commemorate today, along with many of them faced the injustices and evils only to lose a lot of what they loved, so that they may feed the hungry, clothe the naked, teach those wanting to learn and give life where there was death. In so doing, they often gave up being popular and/or some level of personal prestige. The issue was to serve those less fortunate that themselves, even to the point of death, so as to dedicate their lives to the cause of serving others.
The suffering on a personal level by many discharged members of the Military under DADT helped them tell their stories to those who would listen and write them down. Though the policy led to much oppression for so many dedicated people, the dedication of the LGBT communities along with the women and men in our Military shows that when people come together to call for justice and equality, through sacrifice of time, talent and treasure, we can all do wonderful things.
This day is a victory for the Cross. It shows that out of death there can be life. Out of horrible defeat, there can come a victorious success.
Today means that there is no reason to scape goat anyone because of their race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity/expression, language, health status, wealth status, ability to work or inability, and make them a target for bigotry and violence. The Cross and our Baptismal Vows as Episcopalians charges us with the responsibility to "strive for justice and peace among all people and respect the dignity of every human person." (BCP. Page 294). This includes LGBT people including those who wish to serve openly in the United States Military.
God calls on all of us who claim to be Christian to take up our Cross and follow Jesus, by seeking justice for the oppressed and vulnerable. The Cross calls us to self-less self giving love, to serve those who are different from ourselves.
As Don't Ask, Don't Tell is repealed today, may we all Christians say "We adore you, O Christ and we bless you, because by your holy Cross, you have redeemed the world." Amen.
Prayers,
Almighty God, you called your faithful servant John Coleridge Patteson and his companions to be witnesses and martyrs in the islands of Melanesia, and by their labors and sufferings raised up a people for your own possession: Pour out your Holy Spirit upon your Church in every land, that by the service and sacrifice of many, your holy Name may be glorified and your kingdom enlarged; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 595).
Almighty God, we commend to your gracious care and keeping all the men and women of our armed forces at home and abroad. Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for Those in the Armed Forces of our Country, Book of Common Prayer, page 823).
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).
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