Seeing Faith in LGBT People While Christianists Create Dens of Thieves

Today's Scripture Reading


Matthew 21: 12-22 (NRSV)

Then Jesus entered the temple and drove out all who were selling and buying in the temple, and he overturned the tables of the money-changers and the seats of those who sold doves. He said to them, ‘It is written,

“My house shall be called a house of prayer”;
   but you are making it a den of robbers.’

The blind and the lame came to him in the temple, and he cured them. But when the chief priests and the scribes saw the amazing things that he did, and heard the children crying out in the temple, ‘Hosanna to the Son of David’, they became angry and said to him, ‘Do you hear what these are saying?’ Jesus said to them, ‘Yes; have you never read,

“Out of the mouths of infants and nursing babies
   you have prepared praise for yourself”?’

He left them, went out of the city to Bethany, and spent the night there.

In the morning, when he returned to the city, he was hungry. And seeing a fig tree by the side of the road, he went to it and found nothing at all on it but leaves. Then he said to it, ‘May no fruit ever come from you again!’ And the fig tree withered at once. When the disciples saw it, they were amazed, saying, ‘How did the fig tree wither at once?’ Jesus answered them, ‘Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt, not only will you do what has been done to the fig tree, but even if you say to this mountain, “Be lifted up and thrown into the sea”, it will be done. Whatever you ask for in prayer with faith, you will receive.’ 

Blog Reflection

One day while I was looking up blogs to find ideas to help me write my own blog, I came across one with a photograph that struck me.

The photograph to my left was found on Heaven and Earth along with the title: "Guess Who's Coming to Wall Street".  The blog author Fr. Paul Bresnahan writes exceptional blog posts about the Church being a house of prayer for all people.  He has written passionate posts about why the Church needs to include LGBT people in our houses of worship.

The sign that this individual dressed as Jesus is holding reads: "I Threw Out the Money Lenders for A Reason."  The sign makes a reference to the Gospel used in today's Daily Office.  The figure and words are there as part of the Occupy Wall Street movement.

One explanation of this Gospel is that Jesus chased out the money lenders because he was angry that money had become more important than worshiping God in the temple. Jesus was making a statement that God's House was a place of prayer, not a place where thieves get away with stealing. 

The Occupy protestors are calling on those who make quarterly profits higher than 3 family units make in a year, to allow those families who don't make quite that much money to have a shot at a better life for themselves and those they love.

What Jesus is saying in the first part of this Gospel is let the House of God be a place of prayer where all people can come and worship.  Let everyone who wants to come pray, sing and rejoice in the presence of God without taking the dignity  away from the people who come there.  When people from all walks of life come to pray in God's Holy Place, they come with burdens all ready too heavy to carry alone.  The Church is challenged in this 21st Century to allow individual people to come to God as they are, with their own unique ways of thinking, believing and even behaving without high expectations.

Included in today's Gospel is the story of Jesus interacting with children and praying with faith so that we may receive what God wants for us.   In each situation, we see and hear Jesus telling us to let children come and offer their praise to God, and pray to God with the willingness to accept God's will so that good things can happen.

It is a very difficult experience for a young woman or man to grow up in a world and be taught in local church communities about God and their faith, and then discover in their youth years that she is a lesbian and/or he is gay.  When a woman or man knows that she is attracted to both women and men, or a man is attracted to both proves to be bisexual, their greatest fear is their attraction to a person of the same sex.  As youth wonder what is going on in their minds and bodies as they react very differently compared to their peers, they risk harassment the possibility of violence that is so self destructive.  And if that is not enough, to hear sermons about how God condemns all homosexual acts, while many pastors ignore their own crimes of misappropriation of Parish funds, etc, is so confusing to an LGBT youth who just wants to better understand who they are, and who they love.  Many are told to pray with faith so that God may change them from gay to straight, or go to an ex-gay group.  Parents of LGBTQ youth are told to attend PFOX or Encourage (The Catholic churches' companion ex-gay group for parents of LGBTQ people) to change.

LGBTQ youth can give praise to God, because God gives all children a heart to sing and rejoice in God's gifts.   The Church can play a vital active role in helping all children learn to accept and embrace different kinds of people.  When the Church embraces all children including LGBTQ youth, the lessons of inclusion can help them through life's toughest challenges.

What LGBTQ people often grow up to understand that their prayers for God to change them are answered.  Their faith has not mislead them.  The theology of their Parish Priests have been misleading them.

In today's Forward Day by Day there is a great meditation on the ending for today's Gospel.

Here’s a promise from the mouth of Jesus that has perplexed people. I’m probably not the only one who, having heard these words as a youngster, thought to myself: If I just pray and believe hard enough, I’ll get whatever I ask for. Some adults may have thought the same way. To do so is to ask to be disappointed or disillusioned. Just what did Jesus mean when he said those words?

The key word is faith. Faith isn’t just believing something (or, as Mark Twain said, “believing what you know ain’t so”). It’s not about what you believe, but a relationship based on trust and surrender. Sometimes people of faith believe things that are mistaken, including things about God and the ways of God. But their prayers are acts of trust and surrender to a God whom they may understand only slightly. A faithful prayer is one that accords with God’s will and aligns the will of the pray-er to the will of God. When such a prayer includes a request (and it is appropriate to ask God for things), it is a request that God bring his purposes to fruition and that nothing in us will stand in the way.

The reason God does not change LGBTQ people is because God has created, redeemed and continues to sanctify us for God's purposes.  God performs God's work of salvation in and through LGBTQ people to love ourselves and others around us as God joyfully and wonderfully made us to do.  (See Psalm 139: 14).

Even though Christianist organizations such as NOM, FRC, AFA and others continue to turn churches and our government into a den of thieves through billions of dollars in lobbying money and breaks the commandment to not "bear false witness against thy neighbor", God continues to bless this world with loving and holy LGBT people, relationships and families. 

Among the many challenges for the Church in 2011 is to understand that God works with and through people regardless of whether we like how they live, worship, love and think.  The Christian Faith through it's various expressions is not a religion of one group has it totally right, while others are completely off center.  The Christian Faith also "does not hold a monopoly on truth" for those who do not share what Christians believe.  All of the preaching and targeting of other people and religions that do not participate in ultra-conservative Christianist ways, do not help the Christian religion maintain our greatness.  If anything, it is taking the name of Jesus Christ in vein to mean something Jesus never conveyed in his words and/or actions. 

Prayers

Almighty God, give us grace to cast away the works of darkness, and put on the armor of light, now in the time of this mortal life in which your Son Jesus Christ came to visit us in great humility; that in the last day, when he shall come again in his glorious majesty to judge both the living and the dead, we may rise to the life immortal; through him who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (First Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 211).

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, page 815). 

St. Nicholas: Saint of Love and Children

 

1 John 4:7-14 (NRSV)

Beloved, let us love one another, because love is from God; everyone who loves is born of God and knows God. Whoever does not love does not know God, for God is love. God's love was revealed among us in this way: God sent his only Son into the world so that we might live through him. In this is love, not that we loved God but that he loved us and sent his Son to be the atoning sacrifice for our sins. Beloved, since God loved us so much, we also ought to love one another. No one has ever seen God; if we love one another, God lives in us, and his love is perfected in us.

By this we know that we abide in him and he in us, because he has given us of his Spirit. And we have seen and do testify that the Father has sent his Son as the Savior of the world.


We commemorate today St. Nicholas,


Saint Nicholas is said to be just about everyone's saint; he is surely named the patron saint of more causes than any other saint. Nicholas has been chosen as the special protector or guardian of a great many classes of people, cities, churches, and even countries.

St Nicholas, patron of children Holy Card, Ukraine St Nicholas Center Collection

Saint Nikolaus, patron of the seamen; Holy card, Germany, G. Winkler St Nicholas Center Collection

Patron saints have lived a life which is a worthy example of how to faithfully follow Jesus Christ and, as part of the communion of saints, they intercede on behalf of those who call upon them. In the West Nicholas is most widely known as the patron saint of children. Many of his stories tell of children rescued from calamity and returned to the care and keeping of their families. In France the most familiar story, both told and sung, is of three little children lured into the clutches of an evil butcher and rescued by St. Nicholas. Other stories, as well, tell of children who disappeared, were kidnaped, fell into a well, or suffered some other disaster-all to be delivered through the good offices of St. Nicholas. These accounts of a child forcibly taken from parents, followed by a time of grieving and despair, then the miraculous return of the child, have profound and universal appeal which makes Nicholas the much valued Guardian of Children. It is no wonder he is the beloved patron saint of children.


I began this blog post today with the wonderful reading from 1 John 4: 7-14 because with in it is the heart of a Christians vocation.  To love because love is from God.  Contained deep within these famous words is a realization that love is both wonderful and mysterious.  Love is the greatest of all of the Gospel Virtues of faith, hope and love.  Yet love is also the most difficult to understand let alone do.  Love often requires of us tasks that we would rather they be left to someone else.  Like loving someone who has an addiction to alcohol or drug abuse.  Loving a Priest who preaches great sermons, but behind the scenes is so difficult to work with.  Loving a parent that is abusive.  Loving a parent who rejects her or his gay son or lesbian daughter.  Yet as difficult as love is, sometimes it is a more loving thing to do nothing than to do too much.  

Yet as Christians we are told to love because love is from God.  In love God sent God's Son to be the "sacrifice for our sins" not just on the cross, but also in his willingness to associate and help those marginalized by society and the church.  As Jesus reached out his hands and his heart to those most rejected, he too, was rejected.  The love of God in Jesus loves so deeply that Jesus was willing to accept the place of being "despised and rejected" for the sake of those who were despised and rejected.  As Christians, we too are called to love and serve those whom society and the Church rejects and turns aside from.  Are we willing?

Mark 10:13-16 (NRSV)

People were bringing little children to Jesus 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.

Jesus challenges us to receive the kingdom of God like little children.  The innocent watching and waiting of children for Christmas Day is by far the greatest example of how Christians ought to be spending the Season of Advent.  Watching and waiting for the greatest day when love shall come and give us peace and joy beyond our wildest imaginations.  St. Nicholas brought to many children who were being abused and mistreated the opportunity to be set free so that they could be children.   The message of salvation in Jesus is that God came to us in the Person of God's Son to set us free from enslavement to sin so that we could pursue the abundant life that God has in mind for us.  With our souls free from the guilt of sin, in Jesus we should find every reason to love one another and respect the differences that exist with each and every individual person created and loved by God.   

Yet, we still live in a society and a Church with people who insist on discriminating against lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer (LGBTQ) people.  In the Church we even find Priests who think that what Arizona did with their decision to not pay for organ transplants to save people's lives, is a good idea to save "medicare money."  When people's lives hang in the balance, there should never be a dollar amount too big or small to spare for a person's health and well being.   Making a law requiring death panels is hardly a "pro-life" law.  

The Church needs a man like St. Nicholas to remind us that the first priority of Christians is to love others and to be open to the reign of God like a child waits for Christmas Day.  We help those who live with poverty and without unemployment benefits, because to do otherwise is an unloving thing to do.  We accept that there is sexual and gender diversity in society and the Church because we are redeemed to love all of God's people and trust God's judgment as better than our own about what is best.  We don't place obstacles in the way of people who already have burdens too great to bear, because in Jesus, God saw our barriers and in the death and resurrection of Jesus God took the barrier of original sin away and made us one with the Holy Trinity and with all other sisters and brothers within the Body of Christ.


Today, may love and childlike faith be our prayer and goal.

Merciful God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect, Second Sunday of Advent, Book of Common Prayer, page 211).
 
Almighty God, in your love you gave your servant Nicholas of Myra a perpetual name for deeds of kindness both on land and sea: Grant, we pray, that your Church may never cease to work for the happiness of children, the safety of sailors, the relief of the poor, and the help of those tossed by tempests of doubt or grief; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Collect for St. Nicholas, Holy Women, Holy Men, Celebrating the Saints, page 105).

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, page 815).

Children: Here's Hoping to Better Days Ahead

Jesus often had the harshest things to say to the Religious leaders of his day. The Pharisees would come to Jesus to ask him questions or present him with situations in an attempt to trap him. Jesus never gave in to their tactics and often surprised them with the many things he said or did. Those who lead people in prayer came with an understanding and expectation that their robes and status brought them prestige and honor. For many of them, Jesus was a threat because of his acceptance of those who had been marginalized by the system. Up to the point in today's Gospel of Matthew 19:13 to 22, Jesus had met every challenge and the next would be no exception.

Jesus said: "Let the little children come to me, and do not stop them; for it is to such as these that the kingdom of heaven belongs." (Matthew 19:14).

According to the Collegeville Bible Commentary in the New Testament Volume when Jesus talks of the children here, he is speaking of those who have no legal rights to claim anything. (See Page 888 and 890 for references.) They come with nothing and they have no claim to anything and therefore whatever they receive is understood as a gift from the giver. It is received with gratitude and total dependence upon the one who has given the gift. They trust and they also risk. They often learn the hard way who they should and should not trust. It is by trial and error and no matter how painful the lesson learned is, they keep on looking and trusting and wondering.

How are we in our relationship with God? Do we come to God as God's people knowing full well that all that we receive from God's hand is a gift? Do we understand that every opportunity, every person, every thing big and small is from God. Or do we limit our appreciation of God's gracious love that if it doesn't come quite the way we think it should be, then we are like spoiled brats? If you have fallen into the latter category, you are in the right club. The Church is not for all those who have it together. The Church is here precisely because growing in our understanding of ourselves, one another and God is an every day and every event experience. Today is an opportunity given by God to open up our minds and hearts and to see beyond where we are and allow God to shape our lives by God's goodness.

As part of this blog post for today, I would like to talk specifically about one area in which children are constantly violated and given the wrong message. They come with their child-like innocence and they want to know about the nature of their own bodies. I am of course, talking about sexuality. I am bringing up this topic as part of the reflection on this Gospel, because children often approach the subject of sexuality as a gift to be explored and understood. Yet, all too often over the years and centuries it is the one subject that parents and religious folk have often chased them away from or tried much too hard to control. As a result children often grow up with a false view of their sexuality. And if by chance a child reaches an age of reason where they begin to understand that their sexuality is a bit different than others expectations, the responses given to them are often misguided and show a lack of compassion. This is one of the reasons why homelessness and suicides among LGBT and questioning youth is so high.

Just yesterday in the Advocate there was the story of how one church that was closed down became a place for homeless gay and lesbian teens to find a place to sleep. "A church-turned-shelter for homeless youth in Queens, New York is a far cry from sleeping on the streets after a $200,000 renovation and a partnership with the Ali Forney Center for LGBT youth." This is very great news. However, the issue that brings so many LGBT youth to this stage is not very good news at all. This means that there are still way too many LGBT children, teens and youth who are experiencing rejection from their families when they discover their sexual orientation and/or gender identity. In situations like these, the wrong messages have been sent. It is time to open up hearts and minds to new ways of talking about LGBT issues between parents and their children.

Sexuality whether heterosexual, homosexual, bisexual is a gift from God. A gift from God too is a sense of one's gender and/or their seeing with in them a gender different than the one they currently have. The body is one matter, but the person and the soul within is the one that needs to be loved, cherished and taught how much God and their parents love them no matter what the outcome. Most LGBT children when they later come out often say that their one desire is for their parents and closest friends to know that they are still the same person they always were even though they are gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgendered. When children and youth come out to their parents only to be met with rejection or a parents plea to change, the interior person in the child is just crushed and confused. I have heard story after story of some gay teens and youth who after they came out to their parents were told that if they wanted any money to go to college or if they wanted to participate in the family business, they had to go to gay "change" therapy or ex-gay ministries. These and other efforts including reparative therapy are harmful and destructive. Just this past summer The American Psychological Association produced the results of their study on "change therapy" that showed how harmful such therapies are. Yet, many ministers, Priests, Bishops and parents continue to suggest such ideas to their children when they come out. It is in moments like these that children and their understandings of their sexuality are so violated. It is scandalizing to children and it can destroy their faith. No wonder so many LGBT individuals have rejected the Church that has so often rejected them.

We need to be supporting LGBT and questioning youth services and organizations. We need to help spread the word that sexuality is not a dirty or shameful subject. LGBT and questioning youth are part of God's creation too. They need help to understand the nature of their body and their capacity to love and be loved is a beautiful and wonderful gift. There is also no doubt in my mind that safer sex practices needs to be taught so that children can know and understand how to take responsibility with their own bodies and to be concerned about the health of the bodies of others. This closed discussion and constant message that sex, sexual orientation and/or gender expression and/or identity being a subject of shame, confusion and ugliness has got to stop. Children come with their gift of sexuality all thankful to the One who made them who they are, it is a terrible message for them to receive from a parent, minister, priest, bishop or Pope that somehow their God-given gift to love and be loved by others is somehow less beautiful and wonderful than it is.

O God, giver of every good and perfect gift may we have a thankful heart; help us to be people who see our sexuality as part of your loving plan for our lives. Give to parents the ability to love unconditionally. Help parents when they are told that their child is lesbian, gay, bisexual or transgendered to still see their children as gifts and their sexuality and/or gender expression and/or identity is part of your loving plan for their lives. May there be compassion and understanding. May there be places for run away, questioning or trouble LGBT and other youth to go. May the Church rise up to these and other challenges by responding with the love and compassion and understanding of the Holy Spirit, we ask this through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.