Nineteenth Sunday after Pentecost: Marriage Equality: It is very Good and Holy

Today's Scripture Readings

Genesis 2:18-24 (NRSV)
 

The LORD God said, "It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him a helper as his partner." So out of the ground the LORD God formed every animal of the field and every bird of the air, and brought them to the man to see what he would call them; and whatever the man called every living creature, that was its name. The man gave names to all cattle, and to the birds of the air, and to every animal of the field; but for the man there was not found a helper as his partner. So the LORD God caused a deep sleep to fall upon the man, and he slept; then he took one of his ribs and closed up its place with flesh. And the rib that the LORD God had taken from the man he made into a woman and brought her to the man. Then the man said,

"This at last is bone of my bones

and flesh of my flesh;

this one shall be called Woman,

for out of Man this one was taken."

Therefore a man leaves his father and his mother and clings to his wife, and they become one flesh.

Psalm 8 (BCP,. p. 592)


Hebrews 1:1-4; 2:5-12 (NRSV)
 

Long ago God spoke to our ancestors in many and various ways by the prophets, but in these last days he has spoken to us by a Son, whom he appointed heir of all things, through whom he also created the worlds. He is the reflection of God's glory and the exact imprint of God's very being, and he sustains all things by his powerful word. When he had made purification for sins, he sat down at the right hand of the Majesty on high, having become as much superior to angels as the name he has inherited is more excellent than theirs.

Now God did not subject the coming world, about which we are speaking, to angels. But someone has testified somewhere,

"What are human beings that you are mindful of them,

or mortals, that you care for them?

You have made them for a little while lower than the angels;

you have crowned them with glory and honor,

subjecting all things under their feet."

Now in subjecting all things to them, God left nothing outside their control. As it is, we do not yet see everything in subjection to them, but we do see Jesus, who for a little while was made lower than the angels, now crowned with glory and honor because of the suffering of death, so that by the grace of God he might taste death for everyone.

It was fitting that God, for whom and through whom all things exist, in bringing many children to glory, should make the pioneer of their salvation perfect through sufferings. For the one who sanctifies and those who are sanctified all have one Father. For this reason Jesus is not ashamed to call them brothers and sisters, saying,

"I will proclaim your name to my brothers and sisters,

in the midst of the congregation I will praise you."

Mark 10:2-16 (NRSV)

Some Pharisees came, and to test Jesus they asked, "Is it lawful for a man to divorce his wife?" He answered them, "What did Moses command you?" They said, "Moses allowed a man to write a certificate of dismissal and to divorce her." But Jesus said to them, "Because of your hardness of heart he wrote this commandment for you. But from the beginning of creation, 'God made them male and female.' 'For this reason a man shall leave his father and mother and be joined to his wife, and the two shall become one flesh.' So they are no longer two, but one flesh. Therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate."

Then in the house the disciples asked him again about this matter. He said to them, "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery against her; and if she divorces her husband and marries another, she commits adultery."

People were bringing little children to him in order that he might touch them; and the disciples spoke sternly to them. But when Jesus saw this, he was indignant and said to them, "Let the little children come to me; do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of God belongs. Truly I tell you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God as a little child will never enter it." And he took them up in his arms, laid his hands on them, and blessed them.

Blog Reflection

This weekend's Liturgy of the Word is chock full of scriptures that are used to suggest that God only approves of marriage between one man and one woman.  Reading the Scriptures at face value it is quite simple to walk away with that impression.  Undoubtedly, in places where the future of marriage equality is on the ballot in several states including Minnesota, these texts are being used to "defend the traditional understanding of marriage as between one man, and one woman."

Unfortunately, taking from such texts such careless prejudice does not reflect an intelligent and correct understanding of the background and meaning of these Scripture readings. 

The Rev. Canon Gray Temple in his book: Gay Unions: In the Light of Scripture, Tradition and Reason writes about the meaning in Genesis 1: 26, which is similar to 2: 18-24 in message, on pages 55-58.

When the writer(s) of Genesis use the terms "male" and "female" they are not talking in the manner by which we understand those terms today.  "Male" at the time in which Genesis was written refers to a "stronger" and "dominant" species.   One in which the man had ultimate control and the power to dominate.  The "female" was referred to as the "weaker" and "subordinate" species.  These in and of themselves suggest that the woman was owned as property, to be able to produce heirs so that the next generation of males could continue to be strong and dominate, while the women could be sold or given away as property and so on. 

Genesis is really not a good place to defend the idea of marriage being only between one man and one woman.   Adam and Eve "knew" each other physically, that much is understood.  But, there is no mention of whether or not they were actually married, nor is there any evidence that men and women were only created to be married to each other, and that there was not an "Adam and Steve" as well as "Eve and Evelyn".  Just because it is not written there, does not mean that it did not exist as a possibility.

What can be understood from this reading is that whether the partner of a man is another man, a woman and another woman, or a man and woman, it is quite clear that God did not want us to exist without someone to be our "helper".  God created us in community in the Holy Trinity as well in relationship to each other.  Created in the image and likeness of God, so that we may share in God's happiness with one another, is a holy and life-giving reason "for our creation and preservation", for which we give thanks at the end of Morning and Evening Prayer daily. 

Rather than making use of this and the other readings found in today's Liturgy to determine who should and should not participate in marriage; we would do better to understand that each of us is part of the human community, by which we all share in the goodness of God's creation.  We could actually grow in our ability to see each other as a masterpiece of God's creative beauty, to cherish and honor one another in such a way, that no amount of inequality, injustice and oppression would even be conceived in the human mind.   What  a great goal to work towards.

Also, what would happen if we looked at Genesis with an educated and critical mind, and rethought about what Jesus is saying in the Gospel?   Rather than say that Jesus is recognizing how women are understood in his time, and agreeing somewhat with it, he is calling for a radical change.   I would suggest that what Jesus may be saying here is whether we are talking about a woman or a man, we are being challenged to see each person not as property to be owned.  All of us, having been created and redeemed by Jesus are not property, nor are we a "thing" to be traded when the old one doesn't work any more.  On the contrary, we are called here to see each person as a person to be loved, cherished and held as an esteemed child of God.  This then would make a lot of sense as to why the next thing Jesus does is reach out to children.  Recognizing that in each of them is an individual, innocent and without anything they personally own, but reaching out to God to find their dignity and hope in the Holy One of God for their whole lives.   We are invited to extend our own arms to those who are often thought of as lost and helpless, to help them find that in the loving and merciful arms of Jesus, God takes hold of them, holds them close to God's heart and loves them with a parental love that cherishes every person, unconditionally and all-inclusively.

Among those we can reach out to are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people.   To acknowledge them as children made in the image and likeness of God, who need to find hope for salvation in and through Jesus Christ.  To acknowledge the bodily and psychological expression of love between people of the same sex, as good and holy, and to bless those relationships as gifts from God.   We can abandon all attempts to "vote" for whether their love and relationships are provided for, or restrict them from marriage equality because of erroneous arguments that hold no water to the fire.  Instead of making excuses for senseless violence that destroys individuals and communities, we make it our mission and purpose to find ways to include them and work towards justice and equality.  We would then, build up good strong families and communities that share in prosperous futures and help to end poverty, wars, diseases, oppression and corruption. 

Recognizing that every person is someone that we work for their peace and justice, to uphold their dignity, with God's help, is among the many things that makes being Episcopalian so wonderful.  Here, now, is an opportunity to fulfill that promise to God and one another.

Amen.


Prayers

Almighty and everlasting God, you are always more ready to
hear than we to pray, and to give more than we either desire
or deserve: Pour upon us the abundance of your mercy,
forgiving us those things of which our conscience is afraid,
and giving us those good things for which we are not worthy
to ask, except through the merits and mediation of Jesus
Christ our Savior; who lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 22, Book of Common Prayer, p. 234).


Gracious Father, we pray for they 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 thy Son our Savior. Amen.  (Prayer for the Church, Book of Common Prayer, p. 816).

Look with pity, O heavenly Father, upon the people in this
land who live with injustice, terror, disease, and death as
their constant companions. Have mercy upon us. Help us to
eliminate our cruelty to these our neighbors. Strengthen those
who spend their lives establishing equal protection of the law
and equal opportunities for all. And grant that every one of
us may enjoy a fair portion of the riches of this land; through
Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Prayer for the Oppressed, Book of Common Prayer, p. 826).