The Lord has removed the,judgement against you. How many people yearn to hear those words and more importantly yearn to feel those words. It is something Cathological that we can "go to confession" and still can't give up the guilt we are feeling; we still don't feel whole. The feeling of lingering guilt and feeling less than whole is a large societal thing, not just a religious thing that Catholics and Jews seem to have mastered.
No one has come from a story book home life and many will joke that every family is dysfunctional in one way or another. We all have our battle scars from life. Just last night I joked that we vow as parents not to repeat the mistakes our own parents made with us so we 'give' our children new ones. But lets' face it, some really do have it harder than others. Life seems to have handed really crappy parents to some. Some people bare scars simply for who they are. After a long intro, that is who I would love to address this reflection to today.
The LGBTQ community has long been on many peoples D-list. Marginalized and judged, described as an act instead of as a person. Judged as psychologically disordered, inherently evil and countless other judgmental and derogatory terms. If you pick apart the LGBTQ and look at each letter, things seem to go from bad to worse. It's bad enough that society has frowned on those who don't use their parts "the way God intended", there are those in the LGBTQ that just don't have the so called correct parts. Life becomes a mish-mosh it seems. But really it is a testamonial to the diversity of God's creation even though society likes things in neat boxes and frown on diversity.
I write for those who know that it is really is all about hearts and not parts. I write for all those who have been marginalized and spit upon. I write for all those whose self worth has been so severely affected by what others have told them that they want to end their own God given life. I write for those affected by religions that instead of heaping the love of God on them, they seem buried by nothing but condemnation and hate. I write for all those who live in fear that they cannot possibly live as an out and proud person. And I write for those that try to find self worth in a seemingly endless array of casual encounters trying to find wholeness and self respect that only comes from acknowledging and loving yourself as a beautiful creation of God.
Sing Joyfully my brothers and Sisters. The LORD has removed judgement against you and has turned away your enemies. Jesus in our midst, Jesus soon to be born, lover of men and women, Lover of ALL his creations. Savior, healer, comforter and friend. Jesus is here for you. No one has a lock on his love and no one can speak for him. His words and actions here on earth are those of a loving God, not a vengeful God. Certainly not the God of hate, fear and guilt you may have experienced.
If you have not experienced the feeling that God loves you totally, unreservedly and completely, seek out the God of love. Any religion that does not show you the love, acceptance and knowledge that you are a beautiful and loved creation of God is not of God, it is of man.
Burst forth flower of God. Reach for the sun. Christmas is almost here, the gift of the Son and light of the world will soon be here for YOU.
Shout for joy, O daughter Zion!
Sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart,
O daughter Jerusalem!
The LORD has removed the judgment against you,
he has turned away your enemies;
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst,
you have no further misfortune to fear.
On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem:
Fear not, O Zion, be not discouraged!
The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a mighty savior;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
and renew you in his love,
He will sing joyfully because of you,
as one sings at festivals.
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