The light really does shine*

Isaiah 9:2 “The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light; those who lived in a land of deep darkness– on them light has shined.”

Gay people know about this walking in darkness business. I remember as a teenager always feeling apart from my “friends.” I remember cringing at every Christmas party because my parents’ friends would inevitably ask me about having a girl-friend. I hated Christmas movies because in the end, the really cute guy always wound up with a woman. I knew that I walked in darkness, indeed (I thought) that I always would have to do so, because my happy ending would never be permitted. I knew that there was no way to reconcile my innermost truth with the world around me. I think we all have stories that fall somewhere along a continuum like this. Christmas was not happy because it only served to highlight the differences, the other-ness of gay life.

This year my husband and I celebrate our 33rd Christmas together. Our tree is lighted, presents are (mostly) wrapped, the refrigerator is stocked, and we look forward to mass together. Is it a miracle that after all of these years we go to mass, not only as life partners, but as priest and mate? Of course it is. It is the miracle of Christmas. The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light, on us this light has shined, brilliantly.

The light, of course, is the presence of God in our lives, in our family, in our work, in our home, in our neighborhood. God is always in our midst, right here in the thick of everything. Through the mercy of God the child Jesus was born for us—yes, us—you and me gay and lesbian and bisexual and transgendered us. He has brought peace, and justice, and righteousness. He has ended the darkness of our own exile with the brightness of the fullness of life.

All of us in the gay, lesbian, bi-sexual, and trans-gendered community can identify with those shepherds standing on the hillside that night, long ago. The angel that appeared in their midst terrified them. The presence of God can do that, if we are not prepared. And yet, if we can get past our fear, if we can get past our own self-judging territorial walls, then we can see this great light, and we can hear the voice of the angel saying to us: “Fear not, I bring you news of great joy for all people.” The child Jesus was born to bring the very human word of God to us in a way that nobody could miss. The grown up Jesus would mount his ministry among the down-trodden, walking from place to place, proclaiming the good news: “The kingdom of God has come near.” And he would teach us that the kingdom of God was already in our midst. To see it, to touch it, to bring it into our reality means tearing down all of those walls, putting our closets behind us, freeing ourselves to love as God has called us to do. All we have to do is love God and love each other, to see this kingdom.

Is everything perfect? Of course not. We still cannot marry in most of the world. We must keep one eye out all the time for the presence of oppression or violence. Too many of us are ill or alone. Too many still dwell in the darkness of their closets. Although life for our community is better in many ways than it was when I was a boy, it still is far from perfect. Rose-colored glasses do us no good. But good old-fashioned faith can change our lives. Belief is the essence of faith, and our belief in the possibility of the fullness of life is critical. The joy of a life lived in the fullness of Jesus’ call to us to love one another can drive away the terror of the closet and shine the brilliant light of God’s love into our hearts.

The darkest exile, my friends, is the one we create for ourselves when we choose to hide who we really are. And when we finally see the light and put that exile behind us, the brilliance of God’s light can be overwhelming—terrifying even—or, it can be awesome. But as the angel says, fear not, my friends. Be who you are. That is how God wants it to be. Reach out your arms in love to your 3-year old nephew, to your Alzheimer’s ridden parent, to your constantly irritating siblings, to everyone you meet. Stretch out your arms in love and you will see this bright light that God has brought among us.

God’s grace, my friends, has appeared among us, bringing salvation to us in freedom to be who God has made us to be. The miracles of Christmas are in our hearts and souls, just waiting to spring forth and shed God’s brilliant light on the whole world. This Christmas, let the light of God’s love shine in and on, and through you.

Christmas I (The Nativity of Our Lord)(Isaiah 9:2-4,6-7; Psalm 96:1-4,11-12; Titus 2:11-14; Luke 2:1-14)
©2011 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.

Almost there*

“Almost there” is how I feel. Christmas is almost here, not quite, but almost. Someone asked me about a week ago whether I was all ready for Christmas. I just said “well, I’ve done everything I was supposed to do, now I can do what I want to do.” And that is how I feel now. Presents are in the house, if not yet wrapped. Cards and stamps are ready, that will be an evening’s work. The house is lighted, the tree is decorated, and now I can get focused on real Christmas.

This is the sense in this week’s lessons too. Our collect asks God to “purify our conscience” so we can be ready to receive Jesus when he really does finally come into our lives. The wonderful lesson from 2 Samuel (7:1-11, 16) about who gets a house of cedar and when is just delightful. This is exactly how I fell all the time. I am ready to build a real house, a permanent house, a house in which God will dwell with me. When can I do that? God says “go for it, in fact I will build such a house for you” and you will be established forever. Wow, from a prayer about God coming into our conscience to a lesson about God building a permanent place to dwell with us, there is a continuum, a highway as it were, a path made straight, for us and for God. And it is almost here; we are almost there.

We hear this lesson from Luke’s Gospel every year at this time, as though the nine months of Mary’s pregnancy could go by in a liturgical week, as indeed they will yet again this year. What do we hear in this lesson? We hear about Mary of course, and we hear about how God’s angels speak to us. And we hear about how humility before God is the way to erase sin.

But what else? We hear “almost there.” We hear the promise of the angels, that God will come among us as a human child. Almost there, we hear, God is almost among you. We hear that the angel says that nothing is impossible with God. Almost there, we hear, God is almost among us. And we hear that we should not be afraid. Almost there, God is almost among us.

Now look at Paul’s letter to the Romans (16:25-27). “Now to God, who is able to strengthen you … according to the revelation … [that] now is disclosed … to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ, to whom be the glory forever. Amen.”

(You do know that “amen” means “so be it,” which is why when a priest says a prayer, you are supposed to shout out “amen” – “so be it” at the end?)

So be it. Almost there. So be it. Almost there.

See? It is a journey. God is always with us. God is always coming among us. God is always going to be coming among us. This action is constant, eternal. We must meet it with a sober “amen,” “so be it.” We must meet it with humilty “here am I, let it be according to your word.” We must learn to be open to the messages angels bring to us “Fear not” they always say.

Is there a message for gay people here? Of course. We are God’s angels on earth. We are the forefront of the angel troops, bringing the presence of purified conscience—consciousness with no restraints—not only before God, but for our brothers and sisters we bring this heightened consciousness to the whole of reality. We stand before God as people God has made in God’s own image to be lovers of one another, and a source of joy in the whole of creation. Almost there, already here …..

And there you have it, the true meaning of Christmas: almost there, already here ….

We have a week to go. This is the week to enjoy it. Sing the carols, light the candles, lift the glasses, wrap packages and send cards and plan the true feast, for the night when God will sit at our tables—Emmanuel, God with us.

Almost there ….

4 Advent (2 Samuel 7:1-11, 16; Canticle 15 The Song of Mary Magnificat; Romans 16:25-27; Luke 1:26-38)
©2011 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.

A Christmas kiss*

This time of year is so full of rich symbolism … the decorations, the smell of greens, the candlelight, the smiles, the warmth of mulled wine, and of course, sweet embrace. All of these things enrich our lives, and yet all of them also serve as reminders of the pure sweetness of Christmastide, when we try to recapture the innocence of love and trust that we had as children waiting for Santa Claus.

How sweet.

And yet, how do we, as gay Christians, use that emotional power to remind us that Christmas is not about giving or getting gifts, not about spiral hams or green bean casseroles … but rather, is about the Word made flesh, who lives among us?

The collect for this week is one of my favorites: “Stir up your power O Lord, and with great might come among us … we are sorely hindered by our sins.” It is a request to God to stir things up! And boy, if there ever was a description of this time of year I think that’s it. From Thanksgiving through the New Year, all of us are stirred up big time. And with great power. What we fail to recognize, often, is that that power is God, who is among us. And, that we are sorely hindered by our habit of deliberately disconnecting from God.

And so the carols and the lights and the hugs and the cards and the sweet moments are all reminders for us of the power of simple respectful love, which is the love with which God created each of us in God’s image, and which is the love we all share.

This lesson from 1 Thessalonians is one of my favorites of all time, of all scripture even (1 Thess 5:16) “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances.” What better advice could one ask for? Rejoice always? Well, isn’t that why we are called gay? Because this is our job in society, to show the others how to rejoice (intrigued by that? see Toby Johnson’s Gay Spirituality: The Role of Gay Identity in the Transformation of Human Consciousness). Pray without ceasing? Yes, of course, because to pray is to be deliberately connected to God. Pray my buddies, pray. Pray that you hear God calling you, pray that you stay connected tightly to God. Pray that God rejoices with you and your gay family and your gay friends. And above all, give thanks. Sometimes this is the hard part; because you have to think pretty seriously about what God has given you, for which you are grateful. But your gratitude, even as a blip in the back of your head, is a connection with God. And connection with God is the erasure of sin. All you have to do my friends is be the terrific glbt folks God has made you to be, and once in awhile give thanks for it.

Have you ever thought about that? “What if I’d been born straight?” … He he, do you react “oh ick!”? Then, please, give thanks to God for the gay you that you are. And while you’re at it give someone you love a surprise kiss. And rejoice!

*3 Advent (Isaiah 61:1-4, 8-11; Psalm 126; 1 Thessalonians 5:16-24; John 1:6-8,19-28)
©2011 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.

God’s kiss*

It’s Advent (I almost want to add, “at last”). We had friends over for dinner the other night. It was a lovely evening. At one point, while I was out in the kitchen cooking, I heard them ask Brad about whether we would get a tree for Christmas. The question seemed to come up because we don’t have any decorations going on yet.

Of course we don’t! We’re good Anglicans. Christmas begins at sundown on the 24th of December. Harumph, harumph!

When I got back in the room I told them all, fondly, of how while I was in seminary at Chelsea Square in 1995, we had our collective parents visit us for Christmas. And of how, the Advent Police (which was just a joke!) would prevent excessive decoration before the 4th Sunday in Advent. Still, I think it is important. My neighbor across the street has had Christmas ornaments out since mid-October. Last year when I finally strung Christmas lights during Advent 4, she came over and cried about how great it was I put up lights. I’m glad she likes them. I’ll do it again this year. But not until it is time.

God’s time is not my time or your time, but it is our time. Because in God’s good time all is revealed. I remember only barely an excruciating letter telling me that, although I clearly was called to the priesthood, I would have to wait a bit. That was God’s time catching up with my time. And it was right. And here we are two decades later. I am God’s priest in Christ’s church. And it all is good, in God’s good time.

So we have to just catch on to that. For us, gay folk, we have to sort of bear down, as they say, about how slowly our rights are being made permanent in the US. Not to beat a drum, but my friends, if you would move to Canada, or the Netherlands, or Belgium or Spain, you would be protected under the constitution as a gay citizen, you would be permitted to marry, and not treated as a criminal when your partner died. And you would have the right to live and love, as it says in the psalm “righteousness and peace have kissed each other.”

I wish. I can’t wait.

Well it isn’t time for Christmas lights yet. It is Advent. It is time for darkness in the evening, for getting used to the different schedule of the sun. It is time for contemplation as cold approaches. It is time for careful planning about what we will do for our families in the new year. This is the purpose and the meaning of Advent. And, of course, also, to be still, to listen for the voice that cries out, to know that for God a day is like a thousand years. To know that God is not slow about God’s promise, to know that waiting with God is the path God has chosen for us.

I love Peter’s letter (2 Peter 3:8 ff.); it is from the heart. Do not fear, do not fold up, while you wait, “strive to be found at peace; regard the patience of Christ as salvation.” It means to persevere my friends, persevere mostly in love. Love, love, love. That is how to prepare for God’s good time.

God’s kiss … think about that. How sweet is the kiss you know from the one you love? And yet, how complex is the love you share that greets that kiss? Think about that when you think about how God’s kiss can happen, when righteousness and peace kiss each other? What will that look like in your life? Righteousness means being right with God, peace means being right with each other. As we know from Jesus, both are the same, we cannot be right with God unless we are right with each other, and we cannot be right with each other until we understand that to do so is to be right with God. Righteousness, peace, indeed must kiss each other.

There is another way to look at this kiss, as well. In many cultures a kiss is a greeting. Is this kiss, God’s kiss, a beginning? Advent my friends is “the beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God” who will “baptize you with the Holy Spirit.” Take time, God’s time, to be ready.

2 Advent (Isaiah 40:1-11; Psalm 85:1-2, 8-13; 2 Peter 3:8-15a; Mark 1:1-8)
©2011 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.