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Advent in the Christian Church is a time for preparation, anticipation and hope. It is a time of retelling a centuries old story about God’s love for humanity. A story full of possibilities and hope that can guide us in this time of moral confusion and ethical dilemmas. It can be our moral compass, which will challenge our ability to love as a community. Also, more importantly it emphasizes love as the road to community.
Both stories challenge us to see our neighbor in the poor, the outcast, and the immigrant. Both stories require us disobey any laws or religious dogma which promote homophobia in the name of religious/political correctness.
Stonewall points to a community of love, and continuously calls us never to limit either our community family, or our responsibility for each other. Like Christmas, Stonewall calls us to promote peace, and avoid war.
The Christ child that is born on Christmas day is not an endorsement of Christianity. His birth and story is a consistent challenge to the religious establishment to move beyond the box of comfort when it comes to community, love, and hope. Stonewall like Christmas challenges us to be an inclusive community, promote diversity and not leave any member of our community family behind when it comes to social justice. Under the mantel of political strategy Pharisees and Sadducees among us have justified rights for gay/lesbians/bisexuals, while cutting off our transgender brothers and sisters.
So Christmas and Stonewall challenge us to be better people. We are called by both stories to love one another and be responsible for one another. Both stories point to a world in which everyone knows and accepts each other with love and dignity. Both Christmas and Stonewall remind us no person is excluded from this vision of hope.
Merry Christmas to all.
