2nd Day of Christmas: The Feast of St. Stephen

Today's Scripture Readings

Jeremiah 26:1-9, 12-15 (NRSV)

At the beginning of the reign of King Jehoiakim son of Josiah of Judah, this word came from the LORD: Thus says the LORD: Stand in the court of the LORD's house, and speak to all the cities of Judah that come to worship in the house of the LORD; speak to them all the words that I command you; do not hold back a word. It may be that they will listen, all of them, and will turn from their evil way, that I may change my mind about the disaster that I intend to bring on them because of their evil doings. You shall say to them: Thus says the LORD: If you will not listen to me, to walk in my law that I have set before you, and to heed the words of my servants the prophets whom I send to you urgently-- though you have not heeded-- then I will make this house like Shiloh, and I will make this city a curse for all the nations of the earth.

The priests and the prophets and all the people heard Jeremiah speaking these words in the house of the LORD. And when Jeremiah had finished speaking all that the LORD had commanded him to speak to all the people, then the priests and the prophets and all the people laid hold of him, saying, "You shall die! Why have you prophesied in the name of the LORD, saying, `This house shall be like Shiloh, and this city shall be desolate, without inhabitant'?" And all the people gathered around Jeremiah in the house of the LORD.

Then Jeremiah spoke to all the officials and all the people, saying, "It is the LORD who sent me to prophesy against this house and this city all the words you have heard. Now therefore amend your ways and your doings, and obey the voice of the LORD your God, and the LORD will change his mind about the disaster that he has pronounced against you. But as for me, here I am in your hands. Do with me as seems good and right to you. Only know for certain that if you put me to death, you will be bringing innocent blood upon yourselves and upon this city and its inhabitants, for in truth the LORD sent me to you to speak all these words in your ears."

Psalm 31 (BCP., p.622).


Acts 6:8-7:2, 51c-60 (NRSV)

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.
 
Then the high priest asked him, "Are these things so?"

And Stephen replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me. You are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Matthew 23:34-39 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Blog Reflection

It has always seemed a bit strange to me that the day after Christmas we celebrate the death of a Martyr.  All of the magic of The Nativity of Jesus seems to sag.  It is the spoiler to the happy Christmas spirit.  It is not unlike the ending of that season of Downton Abbey when Lady Mary and Lord Matthew were finally married, the baby was born; and at the very end Matthew is tragically killed in a car accident.

Perhaps the reason for commemorating St. Stephen is to remind us that the Christmas Story does not end at Bethlehem, but is only the beginning.  We may have returned with Mary, Joseph and the Christ Child to the Manger and paused for reflection with the shepherds; but, there is still a world beyond that is full of violence, discrimination and darkness. 

Perhaps we feel uncomfortable at this scene of St. Stephen being stoned to death, because we want that warm cozzy Christianity that does not require us to give ourselves up to serve the poor and the destitute in devotion to our Baptismal Vows. 

Our Christian Faith is an invitation to journey with Jesus from Bethlehem to the Cross.  We will be called to associate ourselves with those whom the Church and society often neglects and/or overlooks.  Doing so will get us into trouble.  We will rock the boat.  We will bring down the worst that humankind can throw at us; because we said yes in obedience to the reality of what the Christmas event is about.  It means we say no to out of control gun violence, racism, sexism, heterosexism and gender violence.  Our visit with Jesus at Bethlehem inspires us to become a positive, peaceful and charitable voice for change in the world. 

The Feast of St. Stephen is the fruit of what happened at the Nativity.  God became human in Christ, so that God could share and walk with us as we proclaim the Gospel of healing and reconciliation.  While everyone else is still digesting the fruit cake and throwing out their Christmas trees (sadly before The Epiphany), we are being called to continue the rest of the story; through our authentic Christian witness.

Amen.


Prayers

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the
first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed
for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at
your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.  (Collect for the Feast of St. Stephen.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.237).

Gracious Father, we pray for thy 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.  The Book of Common Prayer, p.816).

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. The Book of Common Prayer, p.815).

Almighty God, whose most dear Son went not up to joy but
first he suffered pain, and entered not into glory before he
was crucified: Mercifully grant that we, walking in the way
of the cross, may find it none other than the way of life and
peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen. (Collect for Fridays. The Book of Common Prayer, p.99).

Second Day of Christmas: St. Stephen: Religious Intolerance is A Matter of Life and Death

Scripture Readings

Acts 6:8-7:2a,51c-60 (NRSV)

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Then the high priest asked him, "Are these things so?"

And Stephen replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me. You are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Matthew 23:34-39 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Blog Reflection

The commemoration of St. Stephen the day after the Christmas Season begins seems like we turned from one chapter of the story to another.  In a sense we have.  In a sense we have not.

Yesterday we celebrated God coming to us in Jesus Christ.  As one so fragile and helpless.  Jesus came to help heal our wounded relationships.

Today, we commemorate the first Martyr of the Christian Church; St. Stephen. One of those relationships God came to heal us from is religious exceptionalism and intolerance.  What we need to understand to heal those broken relationships from this Holy Day in our Church calender is that religious exceptionalism and intolerance kills a lot more than a body.  It kills community.

Christians were the new group in town.  Jesus had ascended.  The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.  The newly forming Church was gaining popularity.  Those who wanted to protect the exceptionalism of their own religion were challenged to be more inclusive of new ideas and the ways in which people understood their relationship with their God.  As Stephen makes the case for this new religion full of this zeal he has for being Christian, the existing religious establishment just would not tolerate it.

Sadly, what has happened to the Christian religion over these many centuries is that we have forgotten the lessons of how much religious exceptionalism and intolerance kills.  The Christ Child came to heal broken relationships, by helping us understand what is so broken and wounded about them.  The Church in the 21st Century is still learning how broken our relationships are.

What we have seen over the 20th Century with the rise of fundamentalism that makes use of the modern invention of Biblical literalism, is one form of religious exceptionalism and intolerance taken over by another sad example. The American Family Association. The Family Research Council(s) all over the country.  Focus on the Family.  The Trinity Broadcasting Network. These are a few examples of fundamentalist organizations that promote religious exceptionalism and intolerance. 

At the same time, in the Catholic Church, we have seen religious exceptionalism and intolerance rise through the use of a authoritarian model in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  It's pages are full of very great insights. However, the intent appears to be to create a faithful following that does nothing more than recite the teachings only for the purpose of ending all conversations that would contradict them. The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and Relevant Radio have done a good job of supporting and creating more individuals to promote this form of religious exceptionalism and intolerance. Here in Minneapolis and St. Paul we have a follower of the great "cold-hearted orthodox Catholic" networks. The person I speak of writes comments in any newspaper piece where Catholicism is written or spoken about. His comments are written for one purpose. To make sure that the teachings of the church are explained in their entirety.  Anyone who does not agree with what he writes, whether Catholic or not is immediately and violently torn apart by the commenter.

In our Anglican/Episcopal tradition we have seen many incredible strides.  Women are allowed to be ordained in all forms of Church ministry.  In most recent years and not without difficulties LGBT people can be ordained to all forms of Church ministries too.  Reconciliation has been sought with Native Americans, with a commitment to honor the cultural traditions they come from. Opposing the religious intolerance that continues to vilify Jewish people and Muslims is something we are talking openly about.  Yet, within our own progressive bodies, there remain those who would prefer to encourage religious exceptionalism and intolerance.

St. Stephens' example of being forgiving and praying for the mercy on his persecutors is outstanding. In the midst of his terrible death by stoning, he is more concerned with keeping his own salvation and praying for those who are killing him.  Among the people in attendance of his stoning is Saul who would later become Paul.  Stephens' witness to the transforming power of God's saving love becomes a vehicle through which Saul would one day be where Stephen is.  One day, Saul when he is known as Paul will be the victim of religious exceptionalism and intolerance.

The coming of Christ at Bethlehem is a reminder that as Christians we are not always going to get it right.  As a human being from birth until death we never stop learning and growing in our understanding.  So the Church needs to continue to learn and grow because of those who lead it until Christ comes again.  That learning and growing happens as we are open to the transforming power of God's unconditional and all inclusive love and grace.

The Church has it's history of burning heretics at the stake. Whipping those who do not share their views. Burning individuals who are thought to be witches. Many who supported discrimination towards Native Americans, African Americans, Irish people, Jewish people, Muslims, Atheists, Wiccans, Pagans and so forth. Christians at one point supported the idea that women should live in subordination. There are Christians who even today support such thinking. While there have been many strides towards greater acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, there are many who still prefer to reject us because of religious exceptionalism and intolerance.

A compelling case can also be made about religious exceptionalism and intolerance on the part of LGBT people and others.  As painful as being rejected because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is, returning that rejection by suggesting that all Christians are gay haters is not helpful.  I know of way too many openly LGBT ministers and priests who receive uncalled for violence from the oppressed who become oppressors.  The wounds to our communities will not be healed if we continue to take part in further wounding broken relationships.

As we celebrate this Second Day of Christmas with the Holy Day of St. Stephen let us speak the truth in love, but always with a respect for diversity and a tolerance for perspectives that are not the same as ours.  This is something I need to pray about and work for too.

The Christ Child has come to heal our broken relationships.  He does that by helping us to understand where and how they are broken.  Are we paying attention?


Prayers

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the
first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed
for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at
your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (St. Stephen, Book of Common Prayer, page 237).

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of
your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our
hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (First Sunday after Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, page 213).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.  (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

Second Day of Christmas: St. Stephen: Religious Exceptionalism and Intolerance Kills Again

Scripture Readings

Acts 6:8-7:2a,51c-60 (NRSV)

Stephen, full of grace and power, did great wonders and signs among the people. Then some of those who belonged to the synagogue of the Freedmen (as it was called), Cyrenians, Alexandrians, and others of those from Cilicia and Asia, stood up and argued with Stephen. But they could not withstand the wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke. Then they secretly instigated some men to say, "We have heard him speak blasphemous words against Moses and God." They stirred up the people as well as the elders and the scribes; then they suddenly confronted him, seized him, and brought him before the council. They set up false witnesses who said, "This man never stops saying things against this holy place and the law; for we have heard him say that this Jesus of Nazareth will destroy this place and will change the customs that Moses handed on to us." And all who sat in the council looked intently at him, and they saw that his face was like the face of an angel.

Then the high priest asked him, "Are these things so?"

And Stephen replied: "Brothers and fathers, listen to me. You are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the Righteous One, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it."

When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, "Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died.

Matthew 23:34-39 (NRSV)

Jesus said, "Therefore I send you prophets, sages, and scribes, some of whom you will kill and crucify, and some you will flog in your synagogues and pursue from town to town, so that upon you may come all the righteous blood shed on earth, from the blood of righteous Abel to the blood of Zechariah son of Barachiah, whom you murdered between the sanctuary and the altar. Truly I tell you, all this will come upon this generation.

"Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing! See, your house is left to you, desolate. For I tell you, you will not see me again until you say, `Blessed is the one who comes in the name of the Lord.'"

Blog Reflection

The commemoration of St. Stephen the day after the Christmas Season begins seems like we turned from one chapter of the story to another.  In a sense we have.  In a sense we have not.

Yesterday we celebrated God coming to us in Jesus Christ.  As one so fragile and helpless.  Jesus came to help heal our wounded relationships. 

Today, we commemorate the first Martyr of the Christian Church; St. Stephen. One of those relationships God came to heal us from is religious exceptionalism and intolerance.  What we need to understand to heal those broken relationships from this Holy Day in our Church calender is that religious exceptionalism and intolerance kills a lot more than a body.  It kills community.

Christians were the new group in town.  Jesus had ascended.  The Holy Spirit came at Pentecost.  The newly forming Church was gaining popularity.  Those who wanted to protect the exceptionalism of their own religion were challenged to be more inclusive of new ideas and the ways in which people understood their relationship with their God.  As Stephen makes the case for this new religion full of this zeal he has for being Christian, the existing religious establishment just would not tolerate it.

Sadly, what has happened to the Christian religion over these many centuries is that we have forgotten the lessons of how much religious exceptionalism and intolerance kills.  The Christ Child came to heal broken relationships, by helping us understand what is so broken and wounded about them.  The Church in the 21st Century is still learning how broken our relationships are.

What we have seen over the 20th Century with the rise of fundamentalism that makes use of the modern invention of Biblical literalism, is one form of religious exceptionalism and intolerance taken over by another sad example. The American Family Association. The Family Research Council(s) all over the country.  Focus on the Family.  The Trinity Broadcasting Network. These are a few examples of fundamentalist organizations that promote religious exceptionalism and intolerance. 

At the same time, in the Catholic Church, we have seen religious exceptionalism and intolerance rise through the use of a authoritarian model in the Catechism of the Catholic Church.  It's pages are full of very great insights. However, the intent appears to be to create a faithful following that does nothing more than recite the teachings only for the purpose of ending all conversations that would contradict them. The Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN) and Relevant Radio have done a good job of supporting and creating more individuals to promote this form of religious exceptionalism and intolerance. Here in Minneapolis and St. Paul we have a follower of the great "orthodox Catholic" networks. The person I speak of writes comments in any newspaper piece where Catholicism is written or spoken about. His comments are written for one purpose. To make sure that the teachings of the church are explained in their entirety.  Anyone who does not agree with what he writes, whether Catholic or not is immediately and violently torn apart by the commenter.

In our Anglican/Episcopal tradition we have seen many incredible strides.  Women are allowed to be ordained in all forms of Church ministry.  In most recent years and not without difficulties LGBT people can be ordained to all forms of Church ministries too.  Reconciliation has been sought with Native Americans, with a commitment to honor the cultural traditions they come from. Opposing the religious intolerance that continues to vilify Jewish people and Muslims is something we are talking openly about.  Yet, within our own progressive bodies, there remain those who would prefer to encourage religious exceptionalism and intolerance. 

St. Stephens' example of being forgiving and praying for the mercy on his persecutors is outstanding. In the midst of his terrible death by stoning, he is more concerned with keeping his own salvation and praying for those who are killing him.  Among the people in attendance of his stoning is Saul who would later become Paul.  Stephens' witness to the transforming power of God's saving love becomes a vehicle through which Saul would one day be where Stephen is.  One day, Saul when he is known as Paul will be the victim of religious exceptionalism and intolerance.

The coming of Christ at Bethlehem is a reminder that as Christians we are not always going to get it right.  As a human being from birth until death we never stop learning and growing in our understanding.  So the Church needs to continue to learn and grow because of those who lead it until Christ comes again.  That learning and growing happens as we are open to the transforming power of God's unconditional and all inclusive love and grace. 

The Church has it's history of burning heretics at the stake. Whipping those who do not share their views. Burning individuals who are thought to be witches. Many who supported discrimination towards Native Americans, African Americans, Irish people, Jewish people, Muslims, Atheists, Wiccans, Pagans and so forth. Christians at one point supported the idea that women should live in subordination. There are Christians who even today support such thinking. While there have been many strides towards greater acceptance of lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people, there are many who still prefer to reject us because of religious exceptionalism and intolerance.

A compelling case can also be made about religious exceptionalism and intolerance on the part of LGBT people and others.  As painful as being rejected because of our sexual orientation and/or gender identity/expression is, returning that rejection by suggesting that all Christians are gay haters is not helpful.  I know of way too many openly LGBT ministers and priests who receive uncalled for violence from the oppressed who become oppressors.  The wounds to our communities will not be healed if we continue to take part in further wounding broken relationships. 

As we celebrate this Second Day of Christmas with the Holy Day of St. Stephen let us speak the truth in love, but always with a respect for diversity and a tolerance for perspectives that are not the same as ours.  This is something I need to pray about and work for too. 

The Christ Child has come to heal our broken relationships.  He does that by helping us to understand where and how they are broken.  Are we paying attention?


Prayers

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the
first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed
for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at
your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the
Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (St. Stephen, Book of Common Prayer, page 237).

Almighty God, you have poured upon us the new light of
your incarnate Word: Grant that this light, enkindled in our
hearts, may shine forth in our lives; through Jesus Christ our
Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy
Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (First Sunday after Christmas, Book of Common Prayer, page 213).

Lord, make us instruments of your peace. Where there is
hatred, let us sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where
there is discord, union; where there is doubt, faith; where
there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where
there is sadness, joy. Grant that we may not so much seek to
be consoled as to console; to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love. For it is in giving that we receive; it is
in pardoning that we are pardoned; and it is in dying that we
are born to eternal life. Amen.  (Prayer Attributed to St. Francis, Book of Common Prayer, page 833).

  

St. Stephen: A Great Martyr LGBT People Can Relate To

Acts 7:54-8:1 (NRSV)

"When they had heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him."

The Church's calendar is very interesting indeed. Yesterday we celebrated the arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem. The joyous sound of the Angels singing: "Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth peace among those whom he favors" (Luke 1:14) yesterday is now the stoning of Stephen the first Deacon of the early Church and recorded as the first Martyr. Oh dear God, you've ruined the party. We were having so much fun yesterday, or were we?

As many of us celebrated Christmas holiday there were those members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer communities that were not celebrating. In Christmas 09 in Pam's House Blend there was a very moving post by someone who writes about something that I am sure many LGBT individuals can relate to.

"There’s a red envelope sitting near the paper shredder. It arrived about a week ago, the shape betraying it as an obvious Christmas card, the writing on the front looking like my mother’s. The envelope is still unopened.

This happened last year, too. At that time, my partner got tired of looking at it sitting there, and said, “do you mind if I open that thing? You never know, maybe she’s had a change of heart. You never know what it will say until you open it.”

“I know what it will say,” I tell her. “It will have a lengthy sentimental series of verses of love for one's son printed on the card, and inside, there will be a two-page handwritten letter from mom about how she prays for me every day and asks God to take away this feeling that I’m a girl. She’ll tell me all about how Jesus can supposedly fix it all in an instant when I ask, and then she’ll go on about how much I’ve hurt her and the family by my transition. She’ll go into a few paragraphs about how my sister is doing and how my niece and nephew are growing up, just to remind me of what I’m missing, and then she’ll finish by talking about how every day she’s just holding on in hope of seeing the day that I’ll find Jesus, go back to being a boy and then she can die knowing that my soul will be saved.”

For many LGBT individuals this past Christmas Weekend was not the most joyous of times. Many due to the influence of Southern Poverty Law Center designated anti-gay hate groups and many more not listed, many LGBT individuals and couples were not welcomed to their parents holiday celebrations, unless of course they are willing to put "away the gay" for the day. Or better yet, accept Jesus Christ and commit to something like Courage or Exodus to "change" them. Many arch-conservative Christians and Catholics do not understand, that being LGBT is something we cannot change, infact the more we try to change it the worse our lives become. They cannot understand how accepting ourselves as LGBT and being in a relationship with someone that we love is a good and moral thing.

As we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen I want us to perhaps see him and ourselves as LGBT people in a bit of a different light. Why were the Apostles and other Christians down through the centuries and even today, why are they killed? Because they threatened an established order. Christians are known for shaking things up and challenging the status quo. Christians like St. Stephen challenged positions of power to remember the marginalized of society. Christians called upon people to stop treating others like second class citizens and see them as people who should be celebrated and helped.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and queer people challenge the status quo of heterosexism. We challenge people who have established the misunderstanding that being straight, being married as "one man and one woman" is somehow the only way to live. Just as people of different skin colors reminds us that not everyone is caucasian so LGBT people reminds others that not everyone is straight. Power structures that have held that being heterosexual is the only way to be, are threatened by LGBT people. If they do not threaten Republicans and people like Pat Robertson and Dr. James Dobson, Tony Perkins and Bryan Fischer, many families that have been going to church for years hearing that homosexuality is a sin, once they learn that one of their own is gay or lesbian or transgender suddenly the structure they always knew has been disturbed. When age old structures are disturbed what do most people do? They rebel and they want to destroy and even kill to keep that structure from falling apart.

That is why Jesus Christ is such a scandal to most people. Jesus Christ when he came into our world was suddenly a threat to an established order. Jesus "disturbed" those who had gained their power through political maneuvering and challenged the established order to see God in every person. God was to be seen in those who were blind, paralyzed, sick, suffering, the stranger and the outcast. In Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh, God welcomed all and refused none. For many who had established a powerful relationship with the world by their stature, Jesus was the new threat to that power structure. And so was St. Stephen and so are LGBT people.

When I think of a great gay martyr, I think of Harvey Milk. Why was Harvey Milk shot by Dan White? Because Harvey Milk for many was a threat to an established way of thinking and existing. In the days of Anita Bryant and her assault on gay rights, Harvey Milk was a voice for those being left behind by the Bryant's and Briggs of society. Harvey Milk's courageous work on behalf of the LGBT people of San Francisco got national acclaim and he even saved a boy from committing suicide. People like Harvey Milk and others who have paid the price due to being LGBT are examples of what it means to be a martyr. They stood up for what they knew was right and they paid the price of their lives on behalf of the marginalized of society.


As we the LGBT people of today work to help the people of Uganda and Rwanda and other places work for our rights, we are often reminded that working for civil rights comes with a price. Fighting religious oppression comes with a price. It may cost us our lives. It will cost us our reputation and even our relationships with those closest to us. But, if we can cling to Jesus Christ and the example of those who have gone before us, I think we can make a difference in the world. We do not have to have all of the right answers, but we do have to be willing to put ourselves, our voices and our lives out there to show people that being LGBT is not a sin. Our love lives are holy lives, even if others do not think so. Our love for our partner, significant other, friends and all that, that is the love of God at work in and through us. Putting our love on the line like that can be a dangerous thing. There is always the possibility that we will be laughed at, mocked, told we are sinning and maybe in some places thrown out. But that's because we threaten an established order. We put the "unusual" in the face of those who think that straight is the only "usual."


On this Feast of St. Stephen, let us pray that as we witness to the love of Jesus Christ that peoples eyes, ears, hearts and minds may be opened to new understandings of God's love. But let us also not be afraid to be who God has made us, and may we challenge every structure and every prejudice that says that we are second class citizens. Let us remind everyone that God came for all of us and that means all of us.

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen. (Collect on the Feast of St. Stephen, Page 237, Book of Common Prayer).

Feast of St. Stephen: An LGBT Role Model and Martyr

"When they had heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus at the right hand of God. "Look," he said, "I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God!" But they covered their ears, and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him; and the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, 'Lord Jesus, receive my spirit." Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, "Lord, do not hold this sin against them." When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him." (Acts 7:54-8:1)

The Church's calendar is very interesting indeed. Yesterday we celebrated the arrival of Jesus in Bethlehem. The joyous sound of the Angels singing: "Glory to God in the highest heavens, and on earth peace among those whom he favors" (Luke 1:14) yesterday is now the stoning of Stephen the first Deacon of the early Church and recorded as the first Martyr. Oh dear God, you've ruined the party. We were having so much fun yesterday, or were we?

As many of us celebrated Christmas yesterday there were those members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered community that were not celebrating. Yesterday in Pam's House Blend there was a very moving post by someone who writes about something that I am sure many LGBT individuals can relate to.

"There’s a red envelope sitting near the paper shredder. It arrived about a week ago, the shape betraying it as an obvious Christmas card, the writing on the front looking like my mother’s. The envelope is still unopened.

This happened last year, too. At that time, my partner got tired of looking at it sitting there, and said, “do you mind if I open that thing? You never know, maybe she’s had a change of heart. You never know what it will say until you open it.”

“I know what it will say,” I tell her. “It will have a lengthy sentimental series of verses of love for one's son printed on the card, and inside, there will be a two-page handwritten letter from mom about how she prays for me every day and asks God to take away this feeling that I’m a girl. She’ll tell me all about how Jesus can supposedly fix it all in an instant when I ask, and then she’ll go on about how much I’ve hurt her and the family by my transition. She’ll go into a few paragraphs about how my sister is doing and how my niece and nephew are growing up, just to remind me of what I’m missing, and then she’ll finish by talking about how every day she’s just holding on in hope of seeing the day that I’ll find Jesus, go back to being a boy and then she can die knowing that my soul will be saved.”

For many LGBT individuals yesterday was not the most joyous of days. Many due to the influence of the Christian religious right are not welcomed to their parents holiday celebrations, unless of course they are willing to put "away the gay" for the day. Or better yet, accept Jesus Christ and commit to something like Courage or Exodus to "change" them. Many religious right Christians and Catholics do not understand, that being LGBT is something we cannot change, infact the more we try to change it the worse our lives become. They cannot understand how accepting ourselves as LGBT and being in a relationship with someone that we love is a good and moral thing.

As we celebrate the Feast of St. Stephen I want us to perhaps see him and ourselves as LGBT people in a bit of a different light. Why were the Apostles and other Christians down through the centuries and even today, why are they killed? Because they threatened an established order. Christians are known for shaking things up and challenging the status quo. Christians like St. Stephen challenged positions of power to remember the marginalized of society. Christians called upon people to stop treating others like second class citizens and see them as people who should be celebrated and helped.

Lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgendered people challenge the status quo of heterosexism. We challenge people who have established the misunderstanding that being straight, being married as "one man and one woman" is somehow the only way to live. Just as people of different skin colors reminds us that not everyone is caucasian so LGBT people reminds others that not everyone is straight. Power structures that have held that being heterosexual is the only way to be, are threatened by LGBT people. If they do not threaten Republicans and people like Pat Robertson and Dr. James Dobson, many families that have been going to church for years hearing that homosexuality is a sin, once they learn that one of their own is gay or lesbian or transgendered suddenly the structure they always knew has been disturbed. When age old structures are disturbed what do most people do? They rebel and they want to destroy and even kill to keep that structure from falling apart.

That is why Jesus Christ is such a scandal to most people. Jesus Christ when he came into our world was suddenly a threat to an established order. Jesus "disturbed" those who had gained their power through political maneuvering and challenged the established order to see God in every person. God was to be seen in those who were blind, paralyzed, sick, suffering, the stranger and the outcast. In Jesus Christ, the Word made Flesh, God welcomed all and refused none. For many who had established a powerful relationship with the world by their stature, Jesus was the new threat to that power structure. And so was St. Stephen and so are LGBT people.

When I think of a great gay martyr, I think of Harvey Milk. Why was Harvey Milk shot by Dan White? Because Harvey Milk for many was a threat to an established way of thinking and existing. In the days of Anita Bryant and her assault on gay rights, Harvey Milk was a voice for those being left behind by the Bryant's and Briggs of society. Harvey Milk's courageous work on behalf of the LGBT people of San Francisco got national acclaim and he even saved a boy from committing suicide. People like Harvey Milk and others who have paid the price due to being LGBT are examples of what it means to be a martyr. They stood up for what they knew was right and they paid the price of their lives on behalf of the marginalized of society.

As we the LGBT people of today work to help the people of Uganda and Rwanda and other places work for our rights, we are often reminded that working for civil rights comes with a price. Fighting religious oppression comes with a price. It may cost us our lives. It will cost us our reputation and even our relationships with those closest to us. But, if we can cling to Jesus Christ and the example of those who have gone before us, I think we can make a difference in the world. We do not have to have all of the right answers, but we do have to be willing to put ourselves, our voices and our lives out there to show people that being LGBT is not a sin. Our love lives are holy lives, even if others do not think so. Our love for our partner, significant other, friends and all that, that is the love of God at work in and through us. Putting our love on the line like that can be a dangerous thing. There is always the possibility that we will be laughed at, mocked, told we are sinning and maybe in some places thrown out. But that's because we threaten an established order. We put the "unusual" in the face of those who think that straight is the only "usual."

On this Feast of St. Stephen, let us pray that as we witness to the love of Jesus Christ that peoples eyes, ears, hearts and minds may be opened to new understandings of God's love. But let us also not be afraid to be who God has made us, and may we challenge every structure and every prejudice that says that we are second class citizens. Let us remind everyone that God came for all of us and that means all of us.

We give you thanks, O Lord of glory, for the example of the first martyr Stephen, who looked up to heaven and prayed for his persecutors to your Son Jesus Christ, who stands at your right hand; where he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
(Collect on the Feast of St. Stephen, Page 237, Book of Common Prayer).