Faith

"If you abide in my word, you are truly my disciples, and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
(John 8:31-32)
As Jesus has said elsewhere, all of the law hangs on serving God and loving your neighbors.  The way that we become disciples of Jesus is by becoming disciples: respectful followers.  As long as we adhere to Jesus' teachings about loving, we will be near to Him.  There is no amount of money or family lineage that will make us any closer.  As Martin Luther taught, we are saved by our faith in Jesus.  The way we have faith is by truly following our Lord.

Action

Today, we honor John Wycliffe, a notable translator and theologian from the Middle Ages.  Through his life, we learn that God calls us to action.  Indeed, "the sower sows the word," (Mark 4:14) speaking of Jesus, but we must nurture that word in our hearts.  Wycliffe took action and preached about how the church is not about how much money one has, but how much spiritual money it has.  He taught that the church depended on the people.  One of the ways he brought the church to more people than the rich was by translating the Bible into English.  Of course, he was ostracised by the Roman Catholic Church because of his actions and teachings, but that's what we must do.  Jesus preached about the corruption among the pharisees and gave us a solution to these problems.  In fact, Jesus gave us a very simply stated instruction: follow God.  When we put all of our talents to God, we glorify God.  When we glorify God, we bring the Kingdom of Heaven to earth.  So, let us take our time to think about our talents: teaching, listening, preaching, writing, volunteering, cooking, dancing, acting; and then we can put them forth to God to make earth the New Jerusalem.

The Soul

"So give for alms those things that are within; and see, everything will be clean for you." (Luke 11:40)
Before God, there will be no faking.  God will see through the mismatched colors, the cargo shorts, and the flannel shirt.  God sees what is deep within.  God sees the glitter and the fabulousness that is within.  So, before we go about living a life that is "clean" on the outside but "dirty" on the inside, let us come forward to God.  Let us give to God all that God has given to us.  Let us take off our mask that we use to get by and praise God with our whole heart, mind, and soul.  Just as Jesus made sure to make the unpopular and the downright ugly righteous and holy, so shall we make what is seen by others as detestable a glorification of our Lord of all.

The Gospel Centered Life

"But speaking the truth in love, we must grow up in every way into him who is the head, into Christ." (Ephesians 4:15)
Here's the simple message from Paul, this time, which calls us to love.  The only way we can grow into Christ is through love.  It's simple because the only way we learn anything is through careful practice.  As a musician, I feel like I know this all too well.  For starters, one must practice so much to be good. However, mindlessly spending hours on things only makes a habit, as opposed to perfection.  My teacher always says that I must focus whenever I practice.  Therefore, playing through the things I'm good at only reinforces the things I'm good at, and, consequently, makes everything else glaringly bad.  However, when I focus on a certain issue for a given amount of time, I make my playing all the better.  In the same way, the only way we can make our lives closer to the Gospel is by living in love.  However, we cannot just practice loving those we already love or those who already love us back.  We must practice loving those who may not be easy to love.  We must love those who have hurt us.  We must love those who preach against us.  We must love those who don't understand us.  By practicing what Jesus already did and what God teaches us daily, we will live a truly gospel centered life.

United We Stand

"Every kingdom divided against itself becomes a desert, and house falls on house." (Luke 11:17)
This is a universal ideal that we need to embrace.  When we divide ourselves against each other, we become weaker.  Indeed, we still bear our family names.  When we say certain people of the LGBT community are not for us, we make ourselves smaller, weaker, more vulnerable.  We need to unite with one another.  We need to accept the diversity of our family.  We need to accept each other's personality.  We need to unite in the love of God.  God will deliver us. We need to be ready for God's coming.

Love

In today's gospel, Jesus tells us the main message: love God and love your neighbors.  However, despite the fact that this is a reiteration of levitical law, Jesus adds one more statement: upon these hang all of the laws.  God's law is a law of love.  Anything that gets in the way of our loving relationship with God is sin.  Anything that gets in the way of our love for our neighbors is sin.  When we welcome our friends, strangers, and enemies, we are living for God.  When we devote ourselves entirely to God, we are indeed living for God.  When we take the position of God, we are separating ourselves from God.  When we start to punish others because of our own misunderstandings, we are no longer living for God.  Instead of pointing fingers, let us join hands, for we all live under the grace of God, and we live to praise God: our creator, our redeemer, our sustainer.

Asking

"If you then, who are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will the heavenly Father give tho Holy Spirit to those who ask him!" (Luke 11:13)
This comes at the end of one of my favorite passages.  Jesus tells us to be direct: ask and you shall receive.  There are no ceremonies or rituals that we need to do.  We just need to ask.  We need to establish a connection between God and ourselves.  How do we get friends? Do we not communicate.  Do we not start with a simple, "what is your name" or, "how are you?" We need to ask of God, for God has so much in store for us.  God asks us if we are ready.  All we need to ask is, "What do You need of me?" With God's reply, we will get our mission, our talent, our ministry, and the means by which we can accomplish our mission.

Pure Devotion

Today's gospel is about Martha and Mary and what Jesus cares about.  It tells of Martha becoming so obsessed with cleaning that she forgets that Jesus is already there with them.  I really enjoy this story because it puts a great issue into perspective: ceremony.  Sometimes we would prefer for there to be pictures of thousands of saints in our bedrooms.  Sometimes we would prefer to have a grand altar with incenses and candles and books all around.  Yet, at the end of the day, the only thing God asks for is our heart.  God asks for our devotion.  The pictures and candles and incense can be helpful for our devotion, but if our belief becomes the candle, then we need to take a step back and reevaluate our devotion to God.

Words

"For it is not you who speak, but the Spirit of your Father speaking through you." (Matthew 10:20)
This reminds me of a popular movie technique where, well into the movie, a distraught person will have a monologue, and as soon as she's into her speech, the voice changes to her mentor from a much earlier part of the movie.  It also reminds me of how, after watching a series so much, one can quote many parts during everyday conversations at very apt times.  That is what we need to be doing as Christians.  When we live and breathe the Word of God, and when we accept the Holy Spirit, we will not be lost for words.  In another event in Jesus' life, the devil tempts Him with Bible verses, but Jesus knew the word so well that He was able to give the correct answers to every temptation.  In the same way, when people who are outspoken with just one measly verse of the Bible confront us, we must be armed with the Word of Truth.  The only solution for all of our situations is the Holy Word and the Word Incarnate, who is Jesus Christ.

Naïveté

"I thank you Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because you have hidden these things from the wise and the intelligent and have revealed them to infants; yes, Father, for such was your gracious will." (Luke 10:21)
This is an interesting passage because it sounds a little contradictory: wouldn't the wise and intelligent be able to preach better than infants?  However, as in most of the gospel, Jesus has a hard time preaching to the Jews and an easier time preaching to the gentiles.  And, so, I like to see Jesus telling us that we need to receive the gospel without our preconceived notions and judgments.  We need to receive the good news without saying, "his family did that," or, "she is such a person of that kind."  No, Jesus wants us to love as children love: always in search of new friends, and never judging.

Lord of the Harvest

"The harvest is plentiful, but the laborers are few; therefore ask the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into his harvest." (Luke 10:2)
The harvest means that there is already a community out there.  There are already plants with fruits and vegetables waiting to be picked.  There are plants waiting to be seen.  One image that comes to mind with this is the entire concept of coming out.
Coming out is (currently) our lifelong task.  We have to come out to every new person we meet.  We have to discern whether it is worth us coming out at certain times or not.  How scary it is to come out when we have preconceived notions about a person.  How even scarier, though, when we actually know a person's beliefs see us at fault.  However, what joy it is to come out to an ally or another member of our queer family! We find another being just waiting to be seen and understanding what tribulations we have been going through.
Unfortunately, it is another uncomfortable experience to come out as Christian to someone in this same family.  It is an even greater joy and relief when we find another queer Christian.
That's what Jesus is telling us.  The harvest is plentiful.  Our LGBT family is strong and proud.  Our LGBT family is thirsting for God.  The laborers (right now, at least) are few.  Not only must we pray for more laborers, we must also bring out new queer Christians to become laborers.  We need to proclaim the Gospel that there is One who listens to us when we are beat up right in front of our house.  There is One who listens to us when we are being damned by everybody else.  There is One who loves us at all times in all areas.  There is One who forgives us.
Yes, the Lord of the harvest is providing the workers in these harvest fields today.

Devotion

"Let the dead bury their own dead; but as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God." (Luke 9:60)
Jesus never stutters when He commands us.  He says, "love your neighbor," meaning every one.  He says, "proclaim the kingdom of God," meaning always.  We like to place our attention elsewhere, but to what reward?  God provides us with everything.  The Kingdom of Heaven is perfection for all of us.  Why would we want to go away from perfection? God loves each and every one of us.  How about we show that love to each other?

Giving

Today's gospel is one of my favorites.  First, it shows us that Jesus is the answer to everything.  We can try to trust in our own knowledge and tricks to get away from Jesus, but that gets us nowhere.  Second, it shows us that we are not our own. We are God's.  Thus, we need to give all we have to God.  We have God's image all over us, which makes us God's.  We need to show our love to all of God's creation so that we can have our purpose in our lives.  By living with this purpose, we can bring God's kingdom to earth.

Different Forms

"The Lord is full of compassion and mercy, slow to anger and of great kindness." (Psalm 103:8)
Today's commemoration is for Luke, the evangelist.  Luke's work shows us God's compassion, for God gave Luke such an important mission: to spread the gospel as a gentile.  There are no limits to God's will: whatever God wants happens.  We should go by that example and listen to what God has in store for each one of us.  At the same time, we must respect those who have these missions.  We may not like that a certain person may not look a certain way but preach the good news.  We may not be used to somebody who lives a certain way to give us the message.  We must accept God's message, for in its different forms it teaches us.

Admonitions

"Unjust anger cannot be justified, for it tips the scale to one's ruin.  Those who are patient stay calm until the right moment, and then cheerfulness comes back to them.  They hold back their words until the right moment; then the lips of many tell of their good sense." (Sirach 1:22-24)
The Bible tells us so many times about controlling our anger and our words.  If we take some time to think more about others than ourselves, especially when interacting with others, we will live in better harmony.  The Bible gives us so many useful rules for a good society.  Why don't we go ahead and build the Kingdom of God on earth with what we already have and know?  Let's take time to love one another.

Service

"If any want to be my followers, let them deny themselves and take up their cross daily and follow me." (Luke 9:23)
Jesus is very clear.  It will be hard work. There will be times that you are going in the opposite direction as everybody else.  There will be times that a crowd and a parade will be headed in a different direction than you who follow Jesus.  But there will be times of grace, love, joy, and happiness, for God is the source of all these things. 

Dispatch

"Take nothing for your journey, no staff, nor bag, nor bread, nor money—not even an extra tunic." (Luke 9:3)
Jesus not only sends us out, but He also tells us to become part of the community.  He tells us to take nothing, which is important, especially because He is telling us not to take our prejudices or our own emotional baggage with us.  He tells us to go into the community and stay if we are welcomed.  Therefore, He tells us to go and make friends and to build up w community, for God's love is the best display of the gospel.  Once we show God's love, God will take care of the rest.

Faith of Action

Imagine this:
A fire drill goes off in a fifteen-story building, and it is raining outside.  Everybody rushes down the stairwell, shielding their ears from an alarm that reverberates very strongly due to the architecture of the building.  There is only one covered passageway outside of the building, and everybody is jam packed in that one area, waiting for the "all clear" announcement in order to go back inside.
Jesus was in that situation in today's gospel.  The key difference is that Jesus, our Lord, was running with the crowd, and a woman touched His robe.  She took the only chance that she had to touch His robe, and Jesus blessed her right then and there.
There is so much motion in this gospel, and it makes me think about how our own faith should be: active, running, with motion.  We are all in desperate need of Jesus.  Instead of sitting and waiting for a miracle to happen amidst a moment of distress, why don't we seize that moment, that fleeting moment down the fifteen flights of stairs, to hold onto our Savior?

New Life

Today's gospel is about Jesus healing a man from being possessed by demons.  However, the story does not end just there.  The demons plea to be put into some pigs, and Jesus sends them there, and then the pigs run off a cliff and die.  This upset the herders, and, therefore, the people told Jesus to leave.
Mind you, the demon possessed man who was famous for being demon possessed just got healed.  He had clean clothes on.  He was a new person.  But, the town cared more about the pigs and the status quo than for the miracle.  They asked for the miracle worker to leave.
Faith in Jesus requires us to live a life that may feel uncomfortable at times.  We have to love that neighbor, or we have to donate that money.  Instead of letting Jesus work miracles in our lives, we tell Jesus what to do.  Let's take a step back from our own habits and let Jesus take control, for He is the Almighty; He is Lord.

The Few

Today, the gospel is a little peculiar, for it sounds as if Jesus judges people based off of their clothing.  Sure, maybe not everybody has the best clothes to win a contest at every dinner party he attends.  However, Jesus gives us a good hint: Many are called, but few are chosen (Matthew 22:14).
Look at us today.  Many men and women have given up their lives so that we, the LGBT community, may have rights, and that we may walk, and that we may hold hands.  Many are working today in all facets of society, from government lobbyists, to priests, to soup kitchen workers, to teachers, and everybody in between.  Yet, we still go about and curse our neighbors.  We go out of our way to discriminate and divide our family.  We say, "bears over there, and queens over here; femmes here, twinks there."  How many of our LGBT martyrs have called on us to be united? How many of them have died for our cause?  Did they want us to hate ourselves as much as, supposedly, everybody else hates us already?  Did they want us to hurt each other?  Did they want us to separate ourselves into a niche where only the rich, the modelesque, and the outspoken can be?
All of our great LGBT figures have set up a banquet for us.  They have cooked us the bread of brother/sisterhood.  They have set for us a tablecloth of values.  They have given us seats of rights.  They have poured out the wine of joy.  And, yet, we go in and trash the table.  We tear the cloth.  We spit on the bread.  We spill the wine.
In the same way, God calls us to love.  God gave us Jesus, and God gives Him to us as a grand feast.  Do we welcome Him with the best that we have?

Coming Out

"For nothing is hidden that will not be disclosed, nor is anything secret that will not become known and come to light." (Luke 8:17)
On National Coming Out Day, I would like to encourage all of those who are questioning their sexuality to remember that God already knows.  God already has a great plan for you.  Give everything to God.  Don't let others push you around because of who you are.
Also, as an LGBT community, let us welcome all of those who are accepting us as a family.  Let us not put down others for looking the wrong way or for not acting a certain way.  We, as a family, need to show God's love for each one of us, and the best way is by accepting every member.

Appearance

"As for what fell among the thorns, these are the ones who hear; but as they go on their way, they are choked by the cares and riches and pleasures of life, and their fruit does not mature." (Luke 8:14)
Money is a typical issue here, but I feel that social stature is something that we like to go after.  We choke the gospel of love by saying things like, "this brand is the only way I'll be accepted," or, "this is how much I need to weigh to be accepted."  We place other humans before God.  God loves us.  God has been telling this since day one.  There has never been a day without God's love.  It is only we who have added ceremonies upon ceremonies, rituals, and customs to make this love become convoluted.  We care more about our public appearance rather than in our own duties as Christians.  Instead of planting thorns around our lives, let us be receptive to all of God.  Let's receive God's love without a concern.

Weep

Today's gospel is one of my favorites for two reasons.  The lesser reason is because Jesus uses a lovely passive aggressive technique in front of the Pharisees, which makes me think that Jesus had quite the sense of humor and a wit about Him.  The greater reason is because Jesus did not hesitate about the woman who came to Him.  Now, many other times in the gospel we see that Jesus forgives people's sins and then they're off on their merry way.  This instance, however, shows us an example of what we are to be.  Aside from the row between the Pharisees and Jesus, the woman comes to Jesus, weeping (Luke 7:38).
Weeping!
She took off her stern mask and began to give herself completely to Jesus.  She broke a jar of ointment on His feet.  She gave Him her all.
Let's take our time to take off our wig, wipe down our glitter and eye shadow, and surrender ourselves to God.  For when the situation gets tough, and you face persecution from the highest religious leaders, Jesus will fight for you.  Jesus will exalt you and send you off on your way, for He forgives sins and blesses you!

Simon Says

~God loves us.
~Except for the conservative.
~Except for the liberal.
~Except for the drag queen.
~Except for the butch.

Why do we add these issues into the most basic statement about our God?  Why do we judge against others, let alone our own community?  Today's gospel has a very interesting metaphor.  "The people of this generation are like children sitting in the marketplace and calling to one another,
'We played the flute for you,
and you did not dance;
We wailed,
and you did not weep.'" (Luke 7:32)
This image was a game that worked in the exact opposite way of Simon Says.  When the children pretended to be musicians, some other children were supposed to react differently to what kind of music they were playing.
It is just a game.
How, then, can we be compared to a children's game?  How can we be called mindless?
How about when we turn away from the gospel, a song of worship and praise? How about when we condemn others while God is reaching out for us with God's mercy?
You see, we play with God as if we were the other children refusing to follow the lead, whereas God is very serious about love and mercy.
Let's cut the games and give God our undivided attention.

Lord over All

"I lift up my eyes to the hills; from where is my help to come?" (Psalm 121:1)
I have to thank God for my mom.  She helps me through everything.  She was my strongest supporter for my coming out, and she remains my strongest supporter.  As such, she also offers to help me out in every way possible.  However, many times, I refuse her help.  I feel like by turning away from my resources I will become a better person.  However, she insists.  In the same way, Jesus is always willing to help us.  When approached by a messenger from a centurion, a very powerful member of Jewish society at the time, Jesus did not hesitate.  Jesus just went to help.  When He arrived at the house, the centurion declared Jesus' sovereignty.  In the end, Jesus healed the centurion's ailing slave.  Sometimes we all put on a mask of strength before God, despite the fact that there will never be any help from anywhere or anyone else.  We'd prefer to stumble and fall, yet Jesus is always there, ready to pick us back up, for He is the sovereign Lord over all.

Construction

"Why do you call me, 'Lord, Lord,' and do not do what I tell you?" (Luke 6:46)
Love your enemies.  Seek first the Kingdom of God.  Give to the poor.  Throw out all you have, take up your cross, and follow Jesus.  The list can go on!
Jesus is the only one with the 20/20 vision.  He is the only one with the sober eyes versus our own, drunk with our minutia.  He is the fountain of all that is good.  He is love.
The only way we can keep Jesus is by doing what He tells us.  Imagine the parable of the two men: one who built his house on a stone foundation; one, on a sand foundation.  Not only do we need the foundation.  We have to build up the house! Even with the Chinese and their skyscrapers built in six months, building takes time.  How about we build our house on the stone foundation? How about we give others the open permission to build on that same foundation with us? How about we take each stone and brick and dry wall sheet and sheet metal and lumber and mortar to build up the Kingdom of God?

Killing Prophets

Today's gospel was Jesus's parable of the vineyard owner and the workers.  All of the people the owner sent were rejected in various ways by the workers.  As my bishop preached this morning: is Jesus talking about us?  While we have something as authoritative as the Bible, God's word, why do we treat others with hate and contempt? While we have theologians, why do we not listen to their teachings? While we have God right at our side, why do we act as if God is distant? Why don't we accept the gifts that God has given to us?

The Judge

"Do not judge, and you will not be judged; do not condemn, and you will not be condemned.  Forgive, and you will be forgiven; give, and it will be given to you.  A good measure, pressed down, shaken together, running over, will be put into your lap; for the measure you give will be the measure you will get back." (Luke 6:37-38)
God is the ultimate judge in our lives.  We can go around, pointing fingers and cursing everyone around us, but God will determine who is in the right and who is in the wrong.  After presenting a method for living a meek and humble life, Jesus reminds us that when we point a finger, three point back.  This also reminds me of another verse where Jesus reminds His followers that a house divided will fall (Mark 3:25).  Thus, let's stop pointing our fingers of blame to one another.  Let's not divide ourselves among our looks and our feelings.  Instead, let us love one another.  Let us love our LGBT family.  Let us stand as a mighty house built on God, our sturdy stone foundation!

God Is Unfailing

"But you are always the same, and your years will never end."
(Psalm 102:27)
Today's readings concern the times of trials.  Jesus reassures us of God's mercy and grace with the beatitudes.  Paul stands up against the authorities and speaks out to the Jews with a sermon that is nothing more than a summary of his life: a living testimony.  People escorted Paul around like a wild cow: always wandering but never belonging.  However, Paul preached without wavering.  I believe that that is how we should be as well.  We must live our lives in Christ at all times, regardless of what is going on around us.  Jesus always teaches us to give our lives to God, for God will use us how we need to be used.  Our will becomes God's.  So in the face of a test, remember that God is there with us (1 Corinthians 10:13).  When your LGBT family asks why God, simply remind them that you are of the same family, and live your life as a testimony to the goodness of God!

The Lord's Day

Today's gospel talks about Jesus and about the Sabbath.  In the end, we learn that God is Lord of the Sabbath, and that our human ways impede on God's will.  The Pharisees had the Jewish thing down to a science: eat this, not that; talk to this person, not that; say this prayer, not that.  Of course their ways were highly questionable, as Jesus pointed out.  Now look at us today.  Look at our community! A gay man must weigh this much.  A lesbian must dress with these clothes.  How about we let God into our lives so that we can have everything sorted out? How about we let the Lord rule over us on today, the days after we have witnessed Jesus Christ, the days we have witnessed the Holy Spirit?

Radical Faith

What is radical faith?
It is leaving your pages scattered, coins strewn, time card blank, and following your savior (Luke 5:28).  It is saying a prayer before your meal while wearing a rainbow bracelet and holding the hands of your partner.  It is inviting your fellow LGBT friends to church, worship nights, bible studies, fellowships.  It is reading the Bible and contemplating God from your bedroom.  It is asking God for guidance when no other "pastor," "priest," "bishop," "minister," or "pope," would or will.
Radical faith is just a relationship with God.