Mission one: I am gay and lov'n it!

Luke 4:14-21

        It's a shame homiletics is not a mainstay of ministry in many churches. That is: teach ministers how to preach! One thing I was taught was this advice: If you don't strike oil in the first 5 minutes, stop boring! It's a shame that sermons and homilies go virtually forgotten save for those few that really stand out and we remember for the rest of our lives.

         It is a wonderful feeling when you know the Spirit has moved you or was channeled through you to present a message from God. It is even better I suppose to hear a sermon that you can own and take in the message.

          Here Jesus reads as anyone normally would and finishes it off with that line that really grabbed the entire congregation: 'Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’ He got every one's attention, something they likely will never forget.

          There are a few messages I will never forget and messages that I received that I held until the time was right. Through all of my Catholic School education, courses, retreats and prayers I was being prepared for something that is quite difficult to fathom for a 'good Catholic boy'. That is uttering the words "I am gay". It gos against so much that the church teaches and society at large accepts. When I was able to say those three words all the messages of my past were there to support me. I knew I was loved and I knew I was a decent person.

           My fervent desire is that everyone in the gay community knows i their heart of hearts, in their mind and in their soul, in every fiber of their being, that they are loved and accepted as they are and that being gay is a true gift from God.  When we say aloud that we are gay we are proclaiming acceptance and embracing the person God created. This is something you will never forget and is a source of joy for your entire life.  First, it is accepting who God envisioned and made you as, a beloved gay person. Second, it is a base of what you need to express the love of God for yourself and others. How awesome!

          As Jesus said  'Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’, we too are called to accept, embrace and revel in who we are, who we were created to be. 

Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
‘The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
   because he has anointed me
     to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives
   and recovery of sight to the blind,
     to let the oppressed go free,
to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.’
And he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them, ‘Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.’

A 'dear slave' revisted

Matthew 8:5-13

          This seems like such a straight forward passage until you delve into it a bit more. On the surface you have Jesus speaking to a Centurion, a very unlikely person for an itinerant Jewish preacher to speak to (a soldier of an occupying army) and on the other it seems peculiar that the Centurion would seek out this itinerant Jewish preacher for help. The interesting part has not yet begun though. This seems like such a simple translation of something that was never in English, Latin or Greek. The original word for the Centurions 'servant' was Pais. This word is not as easily translated to simply 'servant' Pais carries a whole different connotation, that of a subordinate same sex lover. This was not uncommon at all at the time and I have written about this before (Sept. 17, 2012 "a dear slave" Luke 7:1-10)

         What I find fascinating here is twofold. One of course is that Jesus knows what kind of relationship this is and is willing to help the Centurion, a testament to God's all embracing love. The other part of the equation is that The Centurion states he is not worthy. The Centurion at the very least has a sense of his guilt for either being a Roman officer (unlikely) or for having this male lover (possible). In spite of this, the man seeks Jesus out. Why?  Would not you do anything for the person you loved? We often say we'd give our life for our kids, our spouse or a friend. That's the situation here. The Centurion is going to extra ordinary lengths for the sake of his pais .  If the Centurions judgement is correct about Jesus, he risks condemnation. Condemnation or Cure, a fifty - fifty proposition? Would you risk it for someone you loved.  Would you risk it for a casual fling, for a casual sexual encounter? You can tell though this was no casual sexual partner for the Centurion. At the very least he was a really good slave and considered a member of his immediate family(not a 'traditional family')  But using that word pais lends considerable more weight to some kind of intimate, sexual relationship.

             All I can say is that this is an incredible passage speaking to the all embracing love of Jesus. Jesus knew everything that was going on with the Centurion and embraced him and the genuine love this man had for his lover.  Jesus did not hesitate to render a cure.

            Will Jesus be any less generous with us? We are all sinners. But as far as being gay, perhaps Jesus is noting that no cure (for that) is needed. Jesus loves us just as we are, as God envisioned us to be and created us to be.  We should celebrate who we are and not fail to love. When we fail in some way, when we sin, we should ask forgiveness and help as the Centurion did. God will be no less generous. But as for being gay, redemption is not needed. Celebration is.

When he entered Capernaum, a centurion came to him, appealing to him and saying, ‘Lord, my servant is lying at home paralysed, in terrible distress.’ And he said to him, ‘I will come and cure him.’ The centurion answered, ‘Lord, I am not worthy to have you come under my roof; but only speak the word, and my servant will be healed. For I also am a man under authority, with soldiers under me; and I say to one, “Go”, and he goes, and to another, “Come”, and he comes, and to my slave, “Do this”, and the slave does it.’ When Jesus heard him, he was amazed and said to those who followed him, ‘Truly I tell you, in no one in Israel have I found such faith. I tell you, many will come from east and west and will eat with Abraham and Isaac and Jacob in the kingdom of heaven, while the heirs of the kingdom will be thrown into the outer darkness, where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth.’ And to the centurion Jesus said, ‘Go; let it be done for you according to your faith.’ And the servant was healed in that hour.

Failure to love and the possibilities of love

Matthew 9:1-8

        Sometimes I just think we don't get it. I saw a rather disturbing video on YouTube involving an overtly racist woman ranting and shouting, nay, spewing her vitriol at someone. It's hard for me to believe that such horror still exists and that there are people infected with such evil. I wonder if one day we will actually find out that such evil is some kind of infection. When you think about what Jesus preached and lived and you hear or see the antithesis of it in front of you it makes your psyche twitch and spasm. 

         One of the things that this passage conveys is the power that is granted us humans as heirs to the kingdom of God. It's right there in the last line. and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings. Jesus also said (Mt. 17:20) Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move.

We are children of God and as sure as Jesus is our brother, we are called and have the power to move mountains. Of course that would be somewhat silly, moving mountains. How about the power to effect loving change? To care for the needy, the homeless the disenfranchised. Could we do that with hard work and faith the size of a mustard seed? Could we?

         Jesus was questioned about forgiving the sins of the paralytic. His indignation and incredulity that we fail to love and put restrictions on love forced him to double down.  The paralytic walked home that day in the face of taunts and questions by so called religious men.  

          Can we live together (globally)? Can we effect changes that serve all mankind? Can we simply love, accept and help our very neighbors no matter who they are? I am astounded that we create infinite barriers between ourselves, God and our brothers and sisters. 

          In light of what we are called to be and do, I pray for a renaissance of love and peace born of respect and the recognition that every member of planet earth is a citizen and a brother or sister. We will not get there by spouting ungodly dictum's or religious rubrics. We will get there through love and understanding. If we can accept who we are and what we are called to do, marriage equality becomes a non issue because to love is the answer. Not stopping love, but engaging in love. Judgements will be left in the hands of God and we will be in charge of elevating humanity by treating each other equal with loving hearts.

And after getting into a boat he crossed the water and came to his own town.

And just then some people were carrying a paralysed man lying on a bed. When Jesus saw their faith, he said to the paralytic, ‘Take heart, son; your sins are forgiven.’ Then some of the scribes said to themselves, ‘This man is blaspheming.’ But Jesus, perceiving their thoughts, said, ‘Why do you think evil in your hearts? For which is easier, to say, “Your sins are forgiven”, or to say, “Stand up and walk”? But so that you may know that the Son of Man has authority on earth to forgive sins’—he then said to the paralytic—‘Stand up, take your bed and go to your home.’ And he stood up and went to his home. When the crowds saw it, they were filled with awe, and they glorified God, who had given such authority to human beings.

Gay hope, a prophets vision of God's expanding love

Joel 2:26-29

          Perhaps everyone looks forward to better times. If not, there is a political pundit or politician around who will explain why life was so good (and who's responsible for it going bad). The idea of looking forward to better times dates back millennia. This passage from scripture speaks of better times and is a vision of a prophet. The Bible is full of prophets and in many cases they speak in general terms otherwise they would not be called prophets they would be soothsayers and today they'd be called fortunetellers or card readers. 

           There's always some honest and true information in what the prophet has to say. This prophet is speaking about Israel but it carries truths about Jesus and a variety of other situations.  For example it says that the Spirit will fall even on male and female slaves. Practically unheard of before and into much of the common era, perhaps many hundreds of years before Christ, when Joel was written. This one prophet was giving hope to the Israelites but he could not help but also convey what the Spirit was telling him, that slaves are people too and are welcome and worthy in God's sight. Again, practically unheard of. I dare say such prophesy was not welcome words to the people of Israel. They felt their God was solely for them.

             Even as recent as a few hundred years ago, the Roman Catholic church felt that indigenous peoples did not have souls and were not worthy of salvation.  Things do change. The all embracing and expansiveness of God's love cannot be contained. The movement of the Holy Spirit helps us to see things that we once thought impossible. 

             There are a few religions and some churches that see this idea of hope and inclusiveness extending to the gay community. Once viewed as sinners and outside the mainstream, the gay community is being seen as people not unlike any other who only want to live, love and serve God. Sinfulness it seems is not inherent to the gay community any more than the straight community or the black community or any other group including Muslims. We may stereotype and wish to pigeonhole people but God does not. As I said, God's love is all embracing and expansive.  If we were permitted to judge anyone (and we are not), it would have to be on an individual basis. Otherwise we would condemn the 'straight lifestyle' people because of the adultery, divorce and numerous other infidelities and sins.  Sins are prevalent in all of humanity because we are humans and we are not perfect, we are not God.  We all sin and it is not up to us to judge or condemn.

           What God gives us, besides endless love and constant invitations to enter into a relationship with him/her is a sense of hope. That our lives will be better. We will be able to see the error of our ways and we too can expand the rings of love and equality because we realize God's love is not limited.

          We need to take the idea of forgiveness, relationship and the fact that God loves each and every one of us on our own level into our hearts for ourselves and so that God's love can expand outward. This especially true within the gay community who have often been given no reason to hope.

You shall eat in plenty and be satisfied,
   and praise the name of the Lord your God,
   who has dealt wondrously with you. And my people shall never again be put to shame.
You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel,
   and that I, the Lord, am your God and there is no other.
And my people shall never again
   be put to shame. 

 Then afterwards
   I will pour out my spirit on all flesh;
your sons and your daughters shall prophesy,
   your old men shall dream dreams,
   and your young men shall see visions.
Even on the male and female slaves,
   in those days, I will pour out my spirit. 

On getting better

Hebrews 10:32-39

            While I have been truly blessed in coming out, even at the age of 50, I am sadly aware of the pain and suffering of so many both past and present.  I cannot forget myself the anguish and the anxiety of when I began to realize I was gay. I can empathise with those that consider that suicide might be an answer, clearly it is not. For me, it seemed no matter what course of action I took, the potential for disaster loomed. Thank God for good therapists , good friends and well, God. But for many youths and adults alike, not only coming out has been a challenge but also daily life itself. It is with this in mind that I think of today's passage and yesterdays reading about how mistreated, maligned and marginalized the gay community has been.  Many still seek and see fit to lie, threaten and torment decent faithful people simply because they are gay and seek not to be alone. They forget one of the basic lessons of Genesis that is not good for man to be alone.

              Life for gay people has almost always been difficult it seems. Once it is defined and it is known that we are a minority, we seem easy pickings for every kind of socially orchestrated evil and threat. Those in power often feel they need a scapegoat and the gay community fits the bill, marginalized, small and misunderstood. 

             This only can last so long before we stand up, rise up and say NO MORE! We are achieving great strides but we must remember and we must support those who are still struggling, trying to cope in bad situations and find it hard after years of abuse to realize they are loved and have great worth.

             While I have been truly blessed, I am painfully aware of those that struggle. I am thrilled beyond measure at such good works of It Gets Better ( www.itgetsbetter.org ) and all they do. Their work seems to tie in so well to this passage for so many in our community. We need to know that however difficult it is or has been, it does get better.  The person of your dreams, the self respect and love you seek are all there or around the corner when you least expect it. Reach out in trust and love. Seek out in trust and love people, inclusive faith communities and individuals who are more than willing to help carry your burdens. 

         It does in fact get better even it if life seems tenuous and troubled now.  Even in the darkest times, God is with you and loves you more than you can ever imagine - just as you are.

But recall those earlier days when, after you had been enlightened, you endured a hard struggle with sufferings, sometimes being publicly exposed to abuse and persecution, and sometimes being partners with those so treated. For you had compassion for those who were in prison, and you cheerfully accepted the plundering of your possessions, knowing that you yourselves possessed something better and more lasting. Do not, therefore, abandon that confidence of yours; it brings a great reward. For you need endurance, so that when you have done the will of God, you may receive what was promised. For yet
‘in a very little while,
   the one who is coming will come and will not delay;
but my righteous one will live by faith.
   My soul takes no pleasure in anyone who shrinks back.’
But we are not among those who shrink back and so are lost, but among those who have faith and so are saved.

Blandina ! Drag Queen or Martyr?

Today I decided not to take the daily scripture as my muse. Instead I am using the writings about Blandina and Her Companions that are remembered by the church on this day.  I suppose my interest was piqued when I read the name Blandina because it seemed to conjure up an image of some drag queen as if that were her stage name. Blandina! But, it's much more serious than that in every way. Not only were Blandina and her companions martyred but the story of their lives as presented here seem disturbingly familiar.           As June is LGBT history month, it did not slip my mind about the dangers of being gay, perceived gay or really gay. The media is replete with stories of bullied youths (because they were gay or appeared gay), beaten or killed because they were gay or as was the sad case in Atlanta a few days ago, beaten, stripped and humiliated at the hands of a cooperative mob aboard a public train. The parallel between these types of actions and the reading presented today seem freakishly familiar.             When reading this passage about those early Christians, one might also see a similarity in the 'things we do versus the things they say we do'.  It's almost inconceivable that Christians were accused of such acts as cannibalism and incest. Many Christian denominations who exclude, vilify and bully the gay community seem either unaware of such history or blissfully ignorant that they too were treated the way they now treat us in the gay community. If it wasn't so sad it would be comical.            How do you defend yourself against such lying vitriol?  I think for one thing we have to stand our ground and not shrink at lies. I also think education is key, not only for those outside the LGBT community but especially for those inside our community. On face book there is a rather educational page that I have 'liked', it is Gay World History. I implore you to read it. It may surprise even some gay people the amount we have contributed to society, critical roles we have played in history and as this is a faith focused blog, the contributions of gay Christians and yes, even gay saints. There were saints who were gay and partnered.  We need to know all of this in the face of lies, denials and stories to the contrary. We need to stand up and be proud of ourselves and our community, as varied, as marginalized and as hurt as we are.              When a person comes to the realization that they are gay, at the age of 15 or 50, they most often have been already informed how evil "it" is or how "they" are.  Inside though, you cannot help be who you are. You cannot help being attracted to whom you are attracted to or who you are at your core. Inevitably no matter what evil people say about the gay community, it demeans you personally because even if it is not true, you know you are gay and so then you must be evil too. In the absence of truth and good information you believe whatever you are told, holding on to any shred of self respect you can muster even as you deny what they are saying about you. This is the history of being gay yesterday and today.          To move to the future we must have true self respect, honoring who we are, informing everyone by our love and our actions that we are good, decent and yes, faithful people. This may sound like what those early Christians were saying too.  So today we honor Blandina and we begin the month honoring the gay community and the diverse and the glorious history of our community.          Be out, be proud. At Lyons and Vienne, in Gaul, there were missionary centers which had drawn many Christians from Asia and Greece. Persecution began in 177. At first, Christians were excluded from the public baths, the market place, and from social and public life. They were subject to attack when they appeared in public, and many Christian homes were vandalized. At this point the government became involved, and began to take Christians into custody for questioning. Some slaves from Christian households were tortured to obtain confessions, and were induced to say that Christians practiced cannibalism and incest. These charges were used to arouse the whole city against the Christians, particularly against Pothinus, the aged bishop of Lyons; Sanctus, a deacon; Attalus; Maturus, a recent convert; and Blandina, a slave. Pothinus was beaten and then released, to die of his wounds a few days later. Sanctus was tormented with red-hot irons. Blandina, tortured all day long, would say nothing except, "I am a Christian, and nothing vile is done among us." Finally, the survivors were put to death in the public arena.  by James Kiefer

God has done great things for me: great to be gay !

Luke 1:39-57

           On face book yesterday, a friend posted a line from today's passage 'For the mighty one has done great things for me, and holy is her name'. Thank you Paul.  There is great joy in being what you want to be, what God made you to be.

            When my kids were growing up, I tried instill in them the belief that they could be whatever they wanted to be. They should follow their hearts and their God given talents and be what they wanted to be. I included professions, professions of faith (had they discerned a calling to be a Nun or Priest) and professions about their life and who they were. I said it was OK if they were gay. What I did not realize is I was trying to say it to myself. Good laugh on me.

            I imagine a person whose family decided for them what line of work they should go into and them being terribly unhappy at what they do. Probably not even being good at what they do.  I imagine it being like an arranged marriage, you may learn to love but the time of arranged marriages has passed hasn't it? I mean, you want to find your own true love, your soul mate, your muse, your best friend and lover don't you? I am blessed enough to have found mine and it is heaven on earth.

             So when I say that God has done great things for me I know from which I speak. There are countless ways in which God has done great things for me.  I try to fill each day with them, recognizing them and appreciating them. Some are easier than others. I mean, my husband, my kids, my grand kids, my profession, my faith are all pretty obvious to me. The setting sun has to have time set aside and time to look to be thankful and appreciated.  A simple post it pad might be easily taken for granted but it is appreciated none the less. Being born in the USA is something I appreciate and sometimes take for granted. 

              There is one thing I wanted to say though about a gift I truly appreciate because it completes me and makes me joyous.  I've mentioned so many already but the one that I probably appreciate more because I did not fully appreciate it for so long is being gay. Being able to say "I am gay" and being able to express it and revel in it and exude it is something I am humbly grateful for.  God has done great things for me and one of them is being gay.  If I was straight and acted gay, it would not be a gift but a burden and perhaps a sin. For me, it is a blessing and an integral part of who I am. Not all that I am, but a large part of who I am.

          This is gay pride month and what a great way to start but by appreciating who I am and you appreciating who you are, no matter who you are. Just certainly and most assuredly, just as you are.

In those days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill country,

where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth.

When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the child leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit

and exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

And why has this happened to me, that the mother of my Lord comes to me?

For as soon as I heard the sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy.

And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her by the Lord."

And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,

and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;

for the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name.

His mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation.

He has shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.

He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the lowly;

he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away empty.

He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to his descendants forever."

And Mary remained with her about three months and then returned to her home.

Now the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she bore a son.