Transformations, Promises and Strength for the Weak

Genesis 15:1-12, 17-18; Psalm 27; Philippians 3:17-4:1; Luke 13:31-35 or Luke 9:28-36


Today's readings are a beautiful testimony of of life in God; one the one hand, we hear the Psalmist proclaim his trust in the Lord, on the other hand, we see the uncertainty that also accompanies life in Christ. And yet, woven in these readings is the unwavering persistence and encouragement that defines God's love for us. It is in that love that we are given a life of peace, reconciliation, and radical inclusiveness.
The Transfiguration is a "coming out" of sorts for Christ. Jesus is on his way to his home which, according to Luke and Acts, is Jerusalem, when he calls three of his apostles to the mountain to pray. From the Old Testament, we know mountains to be a place of revelation for the Lord. When they are praying, the Lord transforms himself, revealing his true self. In many ways, this was the "ah ha" moment that Peter, James, and John needed in order for the message of Jesus to make sense for them. As LGBTQ persons, we have our own "ah ha" moment; that moment when we first accept our sexual orientation. When we have that moment, we enter into a more authentic relationship with the Lord. We cannot begin to understand the mystery of the Divine until we begin to understand ourselves. Our own transfigurations occur when we tell our friends and family who we really are. 
At face, in his letter to the Philippians, Paul seems to be calling for conformity. Surely, God does not call us to conformity to human ways. However, Paul reminds us that we must follow in the example of Christ, who served for the salvation of humankind. Paul decries those who use ministry in order to build up their own image. Imitating Paul, which means living in the image of Christ, means considering the needs of our community before considering our own. Reflecting on this, it raises the question: in what ways can our experiences as queer persons be used to benefit our own faith communities? 
The Old Testament reading for this week look back at God's covenant with Abraham. Just as God made a promise to provide descendants for Abraham despite the obvious problem of no offspring God will provide for His queer children. Often times, things that seem impossible in the eyes of human society, are an opportunity for God to work miracles. How can I be a means for God's work of salvation if there are churches that don't accept me? The fact is, with God, works of incredible hope can be worked through all of us. 
Today's Psalm celebrates the complete reliance he has on the Lord. It is in God that those who are cast out and scorned must rely. As queer persons, especially Christians, we often feel excluded, so hearing the Psalmist sing "God is our light and salvation, whom shall we fear" (verse 1) becomes a line of great comfort. Even though we are aware of the real dangers that exist in the world, we must also be aware of the protection of God. 
Because there are some who are forsaken by friends and family, the need for us to foster sacred spaces for all to worship becomes increasingly apparent. In the face of opposition, we can find comfort in the knowledge that the Lord is protecting us in our endeavors as we do the work that we are called to do.