Go for it already!*

I have just last week been licensed as a priest in the Diocese of Milwaukee. For this we sing Alleluia. I do not yet have a parochial placement, but that will come. Let us all sing Alleluia. It was a joy two Sundays ago to be at Church of the Holy Trinity, Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia and to celebrate the high mass. It was a profound honor to communicate and lay hands on folks at the communion rail. It was only my second mass since I left Philadelphia in May. I look forward to being back “in the saddle,” as they say, working out the gift God has given me to do.

Curiously today is Candlemas, or the Feast of the Presentation of Jesus in the Temple. It is the feast of a child presented as an heir of God’s kingdom and the forerunner of salvation. It is a reminder to us, that when Jesus became our brother we became his siblings and through him heirs of God’s kingdom. It is a little celebrated feast of the church, and I dare say most Episcopalians never heard of it, even Romans rarely celebrate it unless, as this week, it falls on a Sunday. After all, you all know today is “Super Bowl Sunday”—right? One of the hallmarks of Candlemas is the canticle (song) Nunc Dimittis (The song of  Simeon): “My eyes have seen your salvation … a light for the revelation to the Gentiles and the glory of God’s people Israel.” Anglicans say this daily at the offices, and it always is a moment of inspiration—breathing God in—before a moment of expiration—Alleluia.

In the story from Luke 2 we also see something like a gay orphans Christmas dinner (read it carefully friends, with your gay eyes!). Simeon is the righteous devout (and single) man praying in the Temple who holds the baby and sings first the song of revelation. Standing nearby is the prophet, a woman, Anna, 84 years old and a widow but a woman whose work is prayer and fasting night and day … and she too sees the revelation of redemption in the baby. It sounds like a family of God to me, a family brought together through simple loving action. We—you and I—are the gay and lesbian children of God. God has made us in God’s own image. When we are born, our parents pray over us, which is this moment of  “presentation.” And it is us, we, who are the light of revelation and the glory of God, as are all children of God.

How is it then, that you, gay lesbian bisexual transgendered child of God, how is it that you are the light of revelation? Well, it is up to you, isn’t it? We share Christ’s flesh and blood, and in the sharing the light of our lives enlightens the world.

Well, there I go again, with the magical preaching stuff.

Yesterday I was at Whole Foods. There were too many people and it was crowded. A nice gay man (in a WF apron) just sort of wandered in, smiling, and started rearranging apples. I noticed at once how his smile and his commanding presence calmed everyone in the space.

See? My friends? It is up to us. God has given us this great opportunity.

We are the revelation of God’s glory.

Go for it already!

 

* The Presentation of Jesus in the Temple (Malachi 3:1-4; Psalm 84; Hebrews 2:14-18; Luke 2:22-40)

©2014 The Rev. Dr. Richard P. Smiraglia. All rights reserved.