Saturday, November 11 - Leo the Great

You are the salt of the earth; but if salt has lost its taste, how can its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything, but is thrown out and trampled under-foot. You are the light of the world. A city built on a hill cannot be hid. No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket, but on the lamp stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven.  Matthew 5:13-16

As I read this passage, a literal flood of ideas, emotions and comments came to mind. It immediately hit me that the salt could be analogous to that of the LGBT community who at one time hid who they were to escape cruelty, hate and even physical violence. These thoughts of course evoked so much emotion: anger, sorrow and compassion for those who have been hurt and those who continue to suffer the bigotry of the narrow minded.

In scripture I can literally hear Christ saying, "STOP hiding who you are!  If you continue to deny yourself, you will lose your saltiness, your very identity and then how will you ever know who you are."  It certainly seems that the LGBT community has taken heed to scripture as we all just experienced and celebrated National Coming Out Day.  It is long overdue for the LGBT community to embrace their identity so they may never lose who God made them to be.

But to take the chance of Coming Out and exposing yourself to possible hatred, alienation and even violence is a scary and even daunting thought.  But by putting your lamp out for others to see, your light shines on all of the house, God’s house and in the same way your light shines on others.  Your love, your identity, and your truthfulness about who you are and how your life shines is an example and can be respected by those who love God.

I know this sounds pretty idealistic but isn’t this what the LGBT community hopes for and strives?  Isn’t it the hope that those who love God might learn to love everyone, no matter what their orientation?

When the LGBT community celebrates their identity and their truthfulness of who they are we can see the scriptures come alive right in front of us and speak more and more truth to who we are supposed to be.  Thank God for the queer in all of us!

My prayer:
Loving God may your Spirit shed a brilliant light into our lives. When we experience those darkening thoughts of despair, confusion and even doubt may the filling of your Spirit let us see who we truly are. Help us to reflect on the person we have come to be do that we might realize that no matter what differences we might think we see in ourselves or we believe others perceive about us we will know that your unending, merciful, inerrant love for us will always be an integral part of who we truly are. Help us to continually share it with all that we meet. Thank you for the light of our souls. Amen

Steve Hummel