Today's
Gospel gives us a very human picture. Jesus' family and those around
him are concerned that he may be possessed by a devil or even insane.
Those who are insane or otherwise different from others are often
rejected or imprisoned by their families and by society. I would like
to reflect today on one particular sector of our society whom we often
make suffer because of our insensitivity and lack of understanding.
The
group I refer to are those who find themselves to be homosexually
oriented. They are often rejected or made objects of scorn. The reason
for this may be that we often laugh at what we fear most. Those who
are insecure about their own sexuality - and we all are in some ways
- tend to mock those who are more clearly in trouble that they are.
But being homosexual is like being diabetic. It is something that
happens to a person for which they are not responsible. It is in no
way morally wrong or bad in itself. Homosexuals like heterosexuals
need to be sexually responsible. This may in fact be more difficult
for them because society makes them feel outcasts - and the feeling
of desperation may lead them into some behaviors as a way of seeking
relief from their pain.
Recently
a person of homosexual orientation whom I was counseling shared with
me a reflection that he had written and gave me permission to publish
it.
He
called it "The Cross Is My peace" This is what he wrote.
There
is so much to learn from the Cross.
Last
night, as I meditated on it, I realized that my life and Jesus'
life are in many ways the same. Jesus Christ was innocent. But why
did he have to suffer? To be persecuted?
I
too am innocent. But why do I have to be burdened with my homosexual
compulsions?
I
questioned God. I know that I never desired these things to happen
in my life.
What
could be his reason for allowing these seemingly irrational situations
to befall me? Why?
Did
God Answer? Yes… but not in the way we expect him to respond
to our groaning.
He
never offered immediate answers.
Rather,
He let me experience hurts, pains, mockery, rejection.
How
could he - a loving God - do that to me?
Until…
a beautiful moment in silence brought me to the light.
"Both
Jesus and I have realized that our crosses can bring us to inner peace.
And the only thing that we have to do is for each of us to face our
own Jerusalem - we need to own our hurts, our pains, the undesired
circumstances that we are in - and be crucified on them. For, we believe,
our mission lies in our crucifixion. Unless we are crucified we can
never bring peace to ourselves and share this to others.
"To be crucified is nothing more than to make peace with ourselves
and to give peace to others. This is the peace and joy of the resurrection.
"Personally,
I would like to believe that my vocation lies in my deepest hurts
and frustrations in life. God calls me because I'm hurt. And my response
to God's call is nothing but my courage to face this reality - and
make peace with it - and in return to share peace with others."
"Next time you use a term like Bayot or Bakla (transvestite or
homosexual) think of the sensitive and maybe even heroic person that
inhabits that body."
In
Meditation we try to be at home with our true selves. Everybody has
some "Achilles heel," some point where he or she is weak
and maybe even deviant. In meditation we learn to accept the persons
that we are. Before God the tide is always in the right place. As
we accept our imperfect selves in love we will also become more capable
of accepting those who differ from us in sexual orientation or in
any other way.
