Today's Scripture Reading
Luke 15: 11-32 (NRSV)
Blog Reflection
It happened to me in the Year 2000. I was coming out. I went to the first gay bar I ever went to. It was in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was a confusing and difficult time for me. I had feelings of both happiness and anger. Excitement and fear. I wanted to be close to other men. But, I did not want to get too close. I was certain that I did not want to go backwards. But, was I sure that I wanted to move forward?
As I visited the gay bar almost every night, to see, hear and learn some things, I found out exactly how much I did not know. How ready was I to meet this new person whose name was Philip now coming out? It was all looking really good to me, until I saw for the very first time in person, men greeting each other with a hug and a kiss. At first, I thought to myself: "Do I really want to do this?" However, when it finally happened to me, that a man lovingly and tenderly kissed me, with acceptance and interest in loving me, a man who was only learning to love himself at the age of 31 for being who he was, did I realize that YES, this is exactly who I really am. Not only does this individual who kissed me love me, however limited. But, I also knew that God thought that my coming out and admitting that I am gay was not only okay, it was wonderful. The embrace and kiss of another man, loving me for who I am, and welcoming me with love and compassion, was God loving me in a mysterious, but very holy way.
I think most LGBT people can relate to the story of the Prodigal Child as a coming out story. In many ways, this story is about any individual who took what they understood to be their Parent's inheritance that came through heterosexual relationships, thinking that they too were straight and went off to that foreign land to spend everything on what was false, misleading and hidden behind the reality of who we really are. Dissolute living can be understood through the lens of carelessly giving away everything we have been given on things that make us appear as something or someone else that looks like us. But is not really us. It was only when we found ourselves at that place where we just couldn't run and/or hide from it any more, that we realized that we might as well have been eating pig food, because our lives were a lie, hidden by a false reality of ourselves. When we decided to return to God by accepting that God had made us God's daughters and sons as LGBT people, that we found the God whom we were told would hate us if we had come out, actually met us to embrace and kiss us, as one of God's beloved, with whom God was well-pleased. As God welcomed us back, and held a feast for us, our sisters and brothers in our families, communities and churches complained as to why we were getting all the good stuff. God in God's extravagant and all-embracing love, said that everything that God is theirs as much as ours. But, God celebrates that we have been found after being so lost. Because we were once dead, but now, we are truly alive.
Lent is about realizing that God's unconditional love is ours to receive. God's grace and mercy is extended to all who come to God with a realization of themselves, as God's own. In God we can find salvation and hope for our future. When we can no longer face our sins, because we are all puffed up with ourselves, with trying to be something/someone we are not, by harboring prejudices towards ourselves and others, we can turn back to our God who never shuts and locks the door. God swings the door wide open, runs out to meet us, to embrace and kiss us and to welcome us to a grand feast in our honor. Because God wants us to live by dying to ourselves and to be found when we are lost.
All of us are God's Prodigal Children. All of us have wandered away in one fashion or another. When we are ready to turn back to God, confess our sins, God "is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (Joel 2: 13). Jesus through his death and resurrection has opened for us the Way back to God. The life Jesus lived, the Way, is mercy and love, faithfulness and hope. The Way to God through Jesus seeks out the marginalized and those living under oppression and hopelessness. God brings us back to God's Self through the self-sacrificing love of God's Son, Jesus Christ.
There is no need or reason to negatively stereotype or oppress anyone. Not because of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression/identity, physical/psychological/behavioral challenge, language, employment status, wealth status, immigration status, etc. No reason at all. God's extravagant love extends to all. Therefore, it is not our place, nor our right to stigmatize any of God's children as outcasts.
You too are a Child of God. Come to God, who runs out to embrace and kiss you as one of God's own.
Prayers
Luke 15: 11-32 (NRSV)
Then Jesus said, ‘There was a man who had two sons. The younger of them said to his father, “Father, give me the share of the property that will belong to me.” So he divided his property between them. A few days later the younger son gathered all he had and traveled to a distant country, and there he squandered his property in dissolute living. When he had spent everything, a severe famine took place throughout that country, and he began to be in need. So he went and hired himself out to one of the citizens of that country, who sent him to his fields to feed the pigs. He would gladly have filled himself with the pods that the pigs were eating; and no one gave him anything. But when he came to himself he said, “How many of my father’s hired hands have bread enough and to spare, but here I am dying of hunger! I will get up and go to my father, and I will say to him, ‘Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son; treat me like one of your hired hands.’ ” So he set off and went to his father. But while he was still far off, his father saw him and was filled with compassion; he ran and put his arms around him and kissed him. Then the son said to him, “Father, I have sinned against heaven and before you; I am no longer worthy to be called your son.” But the father said to his slaves, “Quickly, bring out a robe—the best one—and put it on him; put a ring on his finger and sandals on his feet. And get the fatted calf and kill it, and let us eat and celebrate; for this son of mine was dead and is alive again; he was lost and is found!” And they began to celebrate.
‘Now his elder son was in the field; and when he came and approached the house, he heard music and dancing. He called one of the slaves and asked what was going on. He replied, “Your brother has come, and your father has killed the fatted calf, because he has got him back safe and sound.” Then he became angry and refused to go in. His father came out and began to plead with him. But he answered his father, “Listen! For all these years I have been working like a slave for you, and I have never disobeyed your command; yet you have never given me even a young goat so that I might celebrate with my friends. But when this son of yours came back, who has devoured your property with prostitutes, you killed the fatted calf for him!” Then the father said to him, “Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours. But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found.” ’
Blog Reflection
It happened to me in the Year 2000. I was coming out. I went to the first gay bar I ever went to. It was in Worcester, Massachusetts. It was a confusing and difficult time for me. I had feelings of both happiness and anger. Excitement and fear. I wanted to be close to other men. But, I did not want to get too close. I was certain that I did not want to go backwards. But, was I sure that I wanted to move forward?
As I visited the gay bar almost every night, to see, hear and learn some things, I found out exactly how much I did not know. How ready was I to meet this new person whose name was Philip now coming out? It was all looking really good to me, until I saw for the very first time in person, men greeting each other with a hug and a kiss. At first, I thought to myself: "Do I really want to do this?" However, when it finally happened to me, that a man lovingly and tenderly kissed me, with acceptance and interest in loving me, a man who was only learning to love himself at the age of 31 for being who he was, did I realize that YES, this is exactly who I really am. Not only does this individual who kissed me love me, however limited. But, I also knew that God thought that my coming out and admitting that I am gay was not only okay, it was wonderful. The embrace and kiss of another man, loving me for who I am, and welcoming me with love and compassion, was God loving me in a mysterious, but very holy way.
I think most LGBT people can relate to the story of the Prodigal Child as a coming out story. In many ways, this story is about any individual who took what they understood to be their Parent's inheritance that came through heterosexual relationships, thinking that they too were straight and went off to that foreign land to spend everything on what was false, misleading and hidden behind the reality of who we really are. Dissolute living can be understood through the lens of carelessly giving away everything we have been given on things that make us appear as something or someone else that looks like us. But is not really us. It was only when we found ourselves at that place where we just couldn't run and/or hide from it any more, that we realized that we might as well have been eating pig food, because our lives were a lie, hidden by a false reality of ourselves. When we decided to return to God by accepting that God had made us God's daughters and sons as LGBT people, that we found the God whom we were told would hate us if we had come out, actually met us to embrace and kiss us, as one of God's beloved, with whom God was well-pleased. As God welcomed us back, and held a feast for us, our sisters and brothers in our families, communities and churches complained as to why we were getting all the good stuff. God in God's extravagant and all-embracing love, said that everything that God is theirs as much as ours. But, God celebrates that we have been found after being so lost. Because we were once dead, but now, we are truly alive.
Lent is about realizing that God's unconditional love is ours to receive. God's grace and mercy is extended to all who come to God with a realization of themselves, as God's own. In God we can find salvation and hope for our future. When we can no longer face our sins, because we are all puffed up with ourselves, with trying to be something/someone we are not, by harboring prejudices towards ourselves and others, we can turn back to our God who never shuts and locks the door. God swings the door wide open, runs out to meet us, to embrace and kiss us and to welcome us to a grand feast in our honor. Because God wants us to live by dying to ourselves and to be found when we are lost.
All of us are God's Prodigal Children. All of us have wandered away in one fashion or another. When we are ready to turn back to God, confess our sins, God "is gracious and merciful, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love" (Joel 2: 13). Jesus through his death and resurrection has opened for us the Way back to God. The life Jesus lived, the Way, is mercy and love, faithfulness and hope. The Way to God through Jesus seeks out the marginalized and those living under oppression and hopelessness. God brings us back to God's Self through the self-sacrificing love of God's Son, Jesus Christ.
There is no need or reason to negatively stereotype or oppress anyone. Not because of race, religion, sexual orientation, gender, gender expression/identity, physical/psychological/behavioral challenge, language, employment status, wealth status, immigration status, etc. No reason at all. God's extravagant love extends to all. Therefore, it is not our place, nor our right to stigmatize any of God's children as outcasts.
You too are a Child of God. Come to God, who runs out to embrace and kiss you as one of God's own.
Prayers
Grant, most merciful Lord, to your faithful people pardon and peace, that they may be cleansed from all their sins, and serve you with a quiet mind; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Saturday in the Second Week of Lent. Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, p. 47).
Almighty and everlasting God, you hate nothing you have
made and forgive the sins of all who are penitent: Create and
make in us new and contrite hearts, that we, worthily
lamenting our sins and acknowledging our wretchedness,
may obtain of you, the God of all mercy, perfect remission
and forgiveness; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives
and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever
and ever. Amen. (Collect for Ash Wednesday, Book of Common Prayer, p. 217).
O God, you made us in your own image and redeemed us
through Jesus your Son: Look with compassion on the whole
human family; take away the arrogance and hatred which
infect our hearts; break down the walls that separate us;
unite us in bonds of love; and work through our struggle and
confusion to accomplish your purposes on earth; that, in
your good time, all nations and races may serve you in
harmony around your heavenly throne; through Jesus Christ
our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Human Family, Book of Common Prayer, p. 815).
No comments:
Post a Comment