Empathy and a helping hand.

Matthew 25:31-40

             I seems interesting to me that it was just yesterday that in addition to the daily scripture passage, I managed to insert a reference to this very reading. Is this kismet? Certainly we know that we are all brothers and sisters. Perhaps it's a good time to be reminded that the Palestinians are our brothers and sisters as much as the Israelis. In going out of our way to help others, it means the people whom we love but also means people that we may not particularly, like, that we disagree with or people that just rub us the wrong way. 

              As a minority, the gay community should have a special appreciation for everyone who is marginalized, the down trodden, the people that are different or who are persecuted for their mere existence. We have won so many battles on the marriage equality front that perhaps we could get a bit cocky. " I got my man" I could easily say. We are happy and have a blessed life which we truly appreciate. It would be easy for us to become self absorbed. God did not create us to be single people or even singular couples. We are called to focus our love outward. In so doing we show our appreciation and love for God. We cannot simply say 'I got what I want' , my piece of the pie and then turn our backs on everyone else who still is waiting for equality and happiness, their piece of the pie if you will.

                 In thanksgiving for all that we have been graced with ( and I am sure you can count many blessings as much as I can ), we really need to look out for each other. This is especially true within our own community. If being gay is a minority, how do the transgendered feel?  What protections do they have and how can we help and support them? For every letter in LGBT there is an equal number of newer letters added that require as much attention, love and support as those first letters recognized, that LGBT. What of the "Q" and the "I" and the "B"? How can we support our very own community, our brothers and sisters?

              It might first be wise to recognize what we felt like for being gay. Can we appreciate what another is going through? The hostility and bullying aimed at another? The guilt that should not be is foisted on so many. How can we help? 

‘When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on the throne of his glory. All the nations will be gathered before him, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, and he will put the sheep at his right hand and the goats at the left. Then the king will say to those at his right hand, “Come, you that are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world; for I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.”