Just and Moral
Martin Luther King, Jr. said, "Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter."
and
"Segregation is the adultery of an illicit intercourse between injustice and immorality."
I am always aware that as I think so also does one whose views are in direct opposition to my own. I know a couple of people who feel strongly that it is their God-directed duty to oppose those who claim to be homosexual. They do not believe that it is something that one must accept. They think it is immoral and a choice. They think it is wrong.
So, I put these two quotes of Martin Luther King, Jr. up for pondering. These both mean a lot to me. To truly live, we must first find that thing which we believe to be so profoundly true that we are willing to lay our lives down for it.
I cannot be silent about that which I believe to be a great injustice. I believe injustice is immoral. It isn't just about the gulf that separates us regarding sexual orientation but about that vast space between need and desire, poverty and wealth, just and unjust.
There is no such thing as "separate but equal". We can build walls to keep some out and to protect us from those we consider a threat; we can strive to separate ourselves from those with whom we disagree, but the only thing that we are really doing is separating ourselves from God.
As we near the end of this waiting time, may we come into an understanding that it is not about what we live for... It is about what we are willing to die for.
As I speak out for what I believe, I have to keep near to me the knowledge that there are others who believe just as strongly and know that they too must speak from out of what they perceive to be the silence. While we strive to work for those things we deem moral, may we also remember that without justice, there is no morality.
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Hesed Being in right relationship is so important. Reconciliation seems to be a main message of the Episcopal Church at this time. Reconcili... -
I would like to ask all those who suggest that some of us wait “for a season” to do the same. How convenient it is for “distinguished theolo...
2 comments:
We must remember that the opposition will only listen to those who are more like them. In the case of civil rights - the white man had to join forces with the black man to bring about civil rights. In like manner, we need straight clergy and laity to stand up for the homosexuals in the church if there is to be true equality. For every cause there must be allies and advocates or that cause is dead.
St. Julian wrote once "He did not say, You will never have a rough passage, you will never be over-strained, you will never feel uncomfortable, but he did say You will never be overcome."
And Blessed Thomas Merton (my patron Saint) wrote "The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another."
Pax Christi!
...changing hearts and minds is a daunting task...
...that precious combination of word and deed unknown...
...to advocate, to stand witness, to, to walk a narrower path...
..."Be the change you wish to see in the world." - Gandhi...
...Love God, love your neighbor - Jesus...
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