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October is anti-bullying month, but why have a special day for LGBT teens? Straight teens have committed suicide to escape the bullying. I think back to the widow. She had God on her side. There were many passages in scripture that commanded the community to take care of the widow. While she didn’t have any power compared to the judge; she did have societal justice on her side.
For LGBT teens who are bullied for being who God created them to be, there is no justice. Imagine being told by your church that you are an outcast because you are gay or lesbian, that God can’t possibly love you. And if your family has rejected you, what resource do you have? This type of bullying is implicitly accepted by parts of society – there is no justice on earth. That’s why it is important to remember and to support Spirit Day. We pray along with our brothers and sisters that the bullying will cease, that God will open minds and hearts to see the children of God. We pray by wearing purple on the third Thursday of October every year until the bullying ceases. We pray for justice for all. And God will hear and answer our prayers – eventually.
This is a day when I am called to preach about stewardship. What a wonderful reminder that stewardship is about being responsible for all of God’s creation. Paul gives some instruction on how to do that. “Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. Always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.”
Be like the widow. Be persistent in the pursuit of justice for victims of bullying and especially for LGBT victims of bullying. Be like the widow. Continue to pray for that which is right and just. Be like the widow. Have faith that our persistent actions will result in justice on earth. AMEN.
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In the gospel story, our characters are from two ends of the social spectrum. “The judge is the epitome of power — bound by neither jury decisions nor courts of appeal — and the widow is the epitome of powerlessness. Widows are symbols of vulnerability in both Testaments. “A widow could not inherit her husband’s estate. Widows were dependent on the compassion of the community” (Raymond Bailey, 429). Because of their vulnerability, the scriptures demand protection for widows. This widow is persistent. While the judge cares nothing for God or man, he recognizes that this woman can create problems for him. So the judge grants her request.” (SermonWriter, Dick Donovan)
Today we observe Spirit Sunday. Spirit Day is the third Thursday in October, and this year is was on October 17. Millions wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against the bullying they endure. According to the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network’s 2011 National School Climate Survey, 63.5% of LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, 43.9% because of their gender expression. GLSEN also reported that 81.9% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation, and 27.1% because of their gender expression.
Spirit Day was started in 2010 by high school student Brittany McMillan as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Observed annually, individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Getting involved is easy — participants are asked to simply “go purple” as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are.
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Our Gospel lesson (18:1-8) continues to address the issues of faith in difficult times, and reassures the disciples that God hears their prayers. It calls us to maintain hope through the darkest of days. It promises that God “will quickly grant justice” (v. 8). It tells us that discipleship is not an easy road, but reminds us that God will vindicate faithful disciples. The parable raises a question: Is the purpose of prayer only to bring our hearts into line with God’s will or does it also change God’s mind?
There is no question that persistent prayer — continuing communion with God — reshapes our hearts to God’s original design. Once this happens, clogged channels are cleared to receive God’s mercies. Of course, we prefer prayer to grant what we ask as we ask it — and quickly. We expect physicians to give instant relief. We expect motion pictures to inspire instant joy or sorrow. We expect technology to provide instant communication. We expect the stock market to bestow instant wealth.” (Sermonwriter, Dick Donovan)
God does not promise instant answers to prayer. God, who loves us, will answer our prayers in the way that is best for us. This can bring up difficult questions on our part. Is God punishing me for my sins? Does God really love me? Is God trying to teach me a lesson in this suffering? Two important things to remember: God loves us and is present with us in times of suffering; and we are all given free-will and sometimes decisions of others or prior generations affect our lives negatively.
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Gospel Lesson: Luke 18: 1-8
And he told them a parable to the effect that they ought always to pray and not lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor respected man. 3 And there was a widow in that city who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Give me justice against my adversary.’ 4 For a while he refused, but afterward he said to himself, ‘Though I neither fear God nor respect man, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will give her justice, so that she will not beat me down by her continual coming.’” 6 And the Lord said, “Hear what the unrighteous judge says. 7 And will not God give justice to his elect, who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long over them? 8 I tell you, he will give justice to them speedily. Nevertheless, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”
“This week’s Gospel lesson has close ties to the scriptures that precede it (17:20-37) and follow it (18:9-14; 19:11-27). There are also close parallels to 11:5-13. The church of Luke’s day is experiencing persecution and they are longing for the Parousia (Second Coming), which they expect to vindicate them and to end their suffering. However, the Parousia seems long overdue, and disciples are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their faith.
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Sermon
Proper 24, Year C
“This week’s Gospel lesson has close ties to the scriptures that precede it (17:20-37) and follow it (18:9-14; 19:11-27). There are also close parallels to 11:5-13. ThechurchofLuke’s day is experiencing persecution and they are longing for the Parousia (Second Coming), which they expect to vindicate them and to end their suffering. However, the Parousia seems long overdue, and disciples are finding it increasingly difficult to maintain their faith.
Our Gospel lesson (18:1-8) continues to address the issues of faith in difficult times, and reassures the disciples that God hears their prayers. It calls us to maintain hope through the darkest of days. It promises that God “will quickly grant justice” (v. 8). It tells us that discipleship is not an easy road, but reminds us that God will vindicate faithful disciples. The parable raises a question: Is the purpose of prayer only to bring our hearts into line with God’s will or does it also change God’s mind?
There is no question that persistent prayer — continuing communion with God — reshapes our hearts to God’s original design. Once this happens, clogged channels are cleared to receive God’s mercies. Of course, we prefer prayer to grant what we ask as we ask it — and quickly. We expect physicians to give instant relief. We expect motion pictures to inspire instant joy or sorrow. We expect technology to provide instant communication. We expect the stock market to bestow instant wealth.” (Sermonwriter, Dick Donovan)
God does not promise instant answers to prayer. God, who loves us, will answer our prayers in the way that is best for us. This can bring up difficult questions on our part. Is God punishing me for my sins? Does God really love me? Is God trying to teach me a lesson in this suffering? Two important things to remember: God loves us and is present with us in times of suffering; and we are all given free-will and sometimes decisions of others or prior generations affect our lives negatively.
In the gospel story, our characters are from two ends of the social spectrum. “The judge is the epitome of power — bound by neither jury decisions nor courts of appeal — and the widow is the epitome of powerlessness. Widows are symbols of vulnerability in both Testaments. “A widow could not inherit her husband’s estate. Widows were dependent on the compassion of the community” (Raymond Bailey, 429). Because of their vulnerability, the scriptures demand protection for widows. This widow is persistent. While the judge cares nothing for God or man, he recognizes that this woman can create problems for him. So the judge grants her request.” (SermonWriter, Dick Donovan)
Today we observe Spirit Sunday. Spirit Day is the third Thursday in October, and this year is was on October 17. Millions wear purple on Spirit Day as a sign of support for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) youth and to speak out against the bullying they endure. According to the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network’s 2011 National School Climate Survey, 63.5% of LGBT students reported feeling unsafe at school because of their sexual orientation, 43.9% because of their gender expression. GLSEN also reported that 81.9% of LGBT students report being verbally harassed because of their sexual orientation, and 27.1% because of their gender expression.
Spirit Day was started in 2010 by high school student Brittany McMillan as a response to the young people who had taken their own lives. Observed annually, individuals, schools, organizations, corporations, media professionals and celebrities wear purple, which symbolizes spirit on the rainbow flag. Getting involved is easy — participants are asked to simply “go purple” as we work to create a world in which LGBT teens are celebrated and accepted for who they are.
October is anti-bullying month, but why have a special day for LGBT teens? Straight teens have committed suicide to escape the bullying. I think back to the widow. She had God on her side. There were many passages in scripture that commanded the community to take care of the widow. While she didn’t have any power compared to the judge; she did have societal justice on her side.
For LGBT teens who are bullied for being who God created them to be, there is no justice. Imagine being told by your church that you are an outcast because you are gay or lesbian, that God can’t possibly love you. And if your family has rejected you, what resource do you have? This type of bullying is implicitly accepted by parts of society – there is no justice on earth. That’s why it is important to remember and to support Spirit Day. We pray along with our brothers and sisters that the bullying will cease, that God will open minds and hearts to see the children of God. We pray by wearing purple on the third Thursday of October every year until the bullying ceases. We pray for justice for all. And God will hear and answer our prayers – eventually.
This is a day when I am called to preach about stewardship. What a wonderful reminder that stewardship is about being responsible for all of God’s creation. Paul gives some instruction on how to do that. “Proclaim the message; be persistent whether the time is favorable or unfavorable; convince, rebuke, and encourage, with the utmost patience in teaching. Always be sober, endure suffering, do the work of an evangelist, carry out your ministry fully.”
Be like the widow. Be persistent in the pursuit of justice for victims of bullying and especially for LGBT victims of bullying. Be like the widow. Continue to pray for that which is right and just. Be like the widow. Have faith that our persistent actions will result in justice on earth. AMEN.
Share and Enjoy
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