Luke 20:45-21:4
For a long time I was without church, wandering in a desolate land seeking for a place to worship and perhaps more importantly in a place that I was welcomed at the table. I have found that table, praise God! The desert that I was in was in stark contrast from the place I had been in first, the parish in which I served, the community that I love. Today you will get a bit about me and a bit about that parish community that I hold so dear in my heart because this passage reminds me of both and there is a lesson here.
First, it seems very sad that anyone would have to leave the church for being who they are, either gay or straight. You might find yourself not welcome as I did for being gay. If you were straight and clergy and fell in love with a women, you'd find yourself perhaps equally as unwelcome as I am. That also happened in that community. That's not to say there aren't many incredibly wonderful people in that community. There are. I have the fondest of memories and cherish almost all of them. It was a faithful community, a generous and loving community too. But if you are gay, or if you are a straight clergyman and fall in love with a women, there are some in the community that make you feel ever so unwelcome. I am sure they would be the few who find nothing better to do than to call the Bishop and inform him what horrible acts that are occurring or what they think or are convinced that are occurring. This even happened to the pastor who was accused of horrible things. He is innocent, proven so. Many wonderful people like I said, but a few that mirror the hierarchy. Enough to make you feel unwelcome in your own home. Enough to show you first hand how far the Roman Catholic church has gone astray.
That's not the point of the passage though. Some people do things for show, for worldly reward or worldly praise. In our beautiful parish we had a tradition. Everyone and anyone that worked, helped out, volunteered, helped with worship or did anything for the community (of 5000 families) was invited to a full scale celebration once a year. It was the annual thank you dinner. This was a no holds barred reception, bar none, for about 800 people. You worked quietly all year. You volunteered without desire for any recompense. You did whatever you did out of the joy and love and thanks in your heart. The parish spent the really big party to say thank you. Really, it was just another community celebration, a communal worship if you will, perhaps even sacramental but with a small "S". The parish did their own version of tithing and in a middle class community that means money. We were not poor. No mortgages and money in the bank We sponsored groups. We had a very active outreach program. We helped many, many people. Now was a big thank you. No pomp and circumstance. No places of honour, all equals and all celebrating. What a nice way to celebrate the Gospel.
For a long time I was without church, wandering in a desolate land seeking for a place to worship and perhaps more importantly in a place that I was welcomed at the table. I have found that table, praise God! The desert that I was in was in stark contrast from the place I had been in first, the parish in which I served, the community that I love. Today you will get a bit about me and a bit about that parish community that I hold so dear in my heart because this passage reminds me of both and there is a lesson here.
First, it seems very sad that anyone would have to leave the church for being who they are, either gay or straight. You might find yourself not welcome as I did for being gay. If you were straight and clergy and fell in love with a women, you'd find yourself perhaps equally as unwelcome as I am. That also happened in that community. That's not to say there aren't many incredibly wonderful people in that community. There are. I have the fondest of memories and cherish almost all of them. It was a faithful community, a generous and loving community too. But if you are gay, or if you are a straight clergyman and fall in love with a women, there are some in the community that make you feel ever so unwelcome. I am sure they would be the few who find nothing better to do than to call the Bishop and inform him what horrible acts that are occurring or what they think or are convinced that are occurring. This even happened to the pastor who was accused of horrible things. He is innocent, proven so. Many wonderful people like I said, but a few that mirror the hierarchy. Enough to make you feel unwelcome in your own home. Enough to show you first hand how far the Roman Catholic church has gone astray.
That's not the point of the passage though. Some people do things for show, for worldly reward or worldly praise. In our beautiful parish we had a tradition. Everyone and anyone that worked, helped out, volunteered, helped with worship or did anything for the community (of 5000 families) was invited to a full scale celebration once a year. It was the annual thank you dinner. This was a no holds barred reception, bar none, for about 800 people. You worked quietly all year. You volunteered without desire for any recompense. You did whatever you did out of the joy and love and thanks in your heart. The parish spent the really big party to say thank you. Really, it was just another community celebration, a communal worship if you will, perhaps even sacramental but with a small "S". The parish did their own version of tithing and in a middle class community that means money. We were not poor. No mortgages and money in the bank We sponsored groups. We had a very active outreach program. We helped many, many people. Now was a big thank you. No pomp and circumstance. No places of honour, all equals and all celebrating. What a nice way to celebrate the Gospel.
In the hearing of all the people he said to the disciples, ‘Beware of the scribes, who like to walk around in long robes, and love to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have the best seats in the synagogues and places of honour at banquets. They devour widows’ houses and for the sake of appearance say long prayers. They will receive the greater condemnation.’
He looked up and saw rich people putting their gifts into the treasury; he also saw a poor widow put in two small copper coins. He said, ‘Truly I tell you, this poor widow has put in more than all of them; for all of them have contributed out of their abundance, but she out of her poverty has put in all she had to live on.’
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