{"id":9481,"date":"2022-11-29T08:35:43","date_gmt":"2022-11-29T13:35:43","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=9481"},"modified":"2022-11-29T08:39:06","modified_gmt":"2022-11-29T13:39:06","slug":"december-4-2022","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2022\/","title":{"rendered":"December 4, 2022&#8211;Truly Listening?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><b>Alex Zuber, Harrisonburg, VA<\/b><\/p>\n<h4><b>Warm-up Questions<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Can you think of a time where you felt like no one heard or understood you?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>What did it feel like to be overlooked or even misrepresented?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>How did you try to be understood or be noticed?<\/p>\n<h4><b>Truly Listening?<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>In recent weeks, our country has been rocked once again by gun violence targeting the LGBTQIA+ community.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>On the eve of the Transgender Day of Remembrance, a lone gunman walked into Club Q\u2014an LGBTQ friendly nightclub in Colorado Springs, CO\u2014and opened fire, killing 5 people and wounding 17 more.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The shooter was subdued by an army veteran and a trans woman who acted with incredible bravery, but not before Daniel Davis Ashton, Raymond Green, Kelly Loving, Ashley Paugh, and Derrick Rump were added to the litany of those who have died at the hands of anti-LGBTQIA+ violence.<\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/11\/iStock-172844718.jpg\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignright wp-image-9491 size-medium\" src=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/11\/iStock-172844718-300x199.jpg\" alt=\"\" width=\"300\" height=\"199\" srcset=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/11\/iStock-172844718-300x199.jpg 300w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/11\/iStock-172844718-1024x681.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/11\/iStock-172844718-768x511.jpg 768w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/11\/iStock-172844718-250x166.jpg 250w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/11\/iStock-172844718-526x350.jpg 526w, https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/15\/2022\/11\/iStock-172844718.jpg 1256w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px\" \/><\/a><\/p>\n<p>Like the devastating 2016 shooting at the Pulse Nightclub in Orlando, this act of violence bears an extra measure of cruelty in that it happened at a club which has so often been a place of safety, refuge, and affirmation for a community that faces daily fear and rejection by family, friends, and strangers.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Comfort, love, and community flourished in \u00a0Club Q, where the patrons simply wanted to be seen, loved, and valued for who they were made to be.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>In this heinous act, a place of sanctuary was violated, and this act should serve as a wake up call to people of faith who have been a part of perpetuating anti-LGBTQIA+ bias for far too long.<\/p>\n<p>As the voices of the LGBTQIA+ community have cried out from the wilderness of pain, sorrow, and fear over these last weeks, it asks the question of the church as a whole\u2026 are we truly listening?<\/p>\n<h4><b>Discussion Questions<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Mass shootings in the United States have become all too frequent in recent years.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Were you aware of this act of violence?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>How prevalent has this story been in your circles of conversation and why?<\/li>\n<li>What have you heard LGBTQIA+ siblings say in recent weeks about how they are feeling in the wake of this violence?<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>If you are an LGBTQIA+ person, have you had someone with whom you could share and process your feelings?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Second Sunday of Advent<\/b><\/h4>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=536134109\">Isaiah 11:1-10<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=536134139\">Romans 15:4-13<\/a><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/?ql=536134207\">Matthew 3:1-12<\/a><\/p>\n<p>(Text links are to <a href=\"http:\/\/bible.oremus.org\/\">Oremus Bible Browser<\/a>. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year C at <a href=\"https:\/\/www.elca.org\/Our-Work\/Congregations-and-Synods\/Worship\/Lectionary\/YearC\">Lectionary Readings<\/a>.)<\/p>\n<p>For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic <a href=\"http:\/\/www.agnusday.org\/\">Agnus Day.<\/a><\/p>\n<h4><b>Gospel Reflection<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Matthew 3 bridges the gap between Matthew\u2019s birth narrative of Jesus (which includes Christ\u2019s genealogy, birth, visit from the Magi, flight to Egypt, and the death of the infants of Bethlehem) and the beginning Christ\u2019s public ministry at his baptism.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 I<\/span>n this story we see God\u2019s faithfulness through the generations, God\u2019s assuring presence with Joseph, and God\u2019s<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span>deliverance through Egypt (again!).<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>In the midst of this \u00a0we also see the cruelty of those with the most power.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Furious that he cannot thwart the coming of a new king, Herod kills the children of Bethlehem.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This is the climate into which John the Baptizer raises his voice in Matthew 3.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cRepent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near,\u201d John proclaims from the margins of society.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Wearing camel\u2019s hair and eating locusts and wild honey, John is anything but mainstream and acceptable within Herod\u2019s court.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Heard but misunderstood, John is consigned to the fringe of society with his message of judgement against those who abuse and hope for those who are crushed. <span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Like the LGBTQIA+ community, John finds his place and people on the outside, building a movement where he finds others who are suffering under tyranny.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>He sternly rebukes the Pharisees and Sadducees who come out to see him, calling them a brood of vipers and imploring them to bear fruit worthy of repentance.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>These leaders are part of a religious system \u00a0that has created circles of insiders and outsiders. \u00a0The kingdom of heaven which John proclaims has no such circles.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The kingdom is a gift from God for all people, and John\u2019s fiery words are meant to burn away all the bias and indifference that would allow these religious leaders to see anyone as an outsider to the gifts of God.<\/p>\n<p>Perhaps the baptism of John can wash across the generations with a flood of justice.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Perhaps the fire of Christ can burn away the institutional indifference and disdain which consigns our LGBTQIA+ siblings to a place on the margins.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>The way of the Lord which John proclaims is lived by Christ, who calls all people to his way of grace and peace.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>But in order to walk this way, we all must bear fruit worthy of repentance.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This is a difficult lesson to hear, because the\u00a0kingdom of heaven is deeply disruptive to the oppressors, and it is freedom and life to those who have been oppressed.<\/p>\n<p>Advent is a time for waiting, a time when we practice giving space to hear and see the ways that God\u2019s kingdom is moving around us.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>John the Baptizer asks of us, \u201cWhat then will you do when you hear the voice of one crying out in the wilderness?\u201d<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>For the sake of those being crushed by injustice, for the sake of those who are told they have no place, for the sake of those who have heard that grace does not belong to them\u2026 I pray that the Church of Jesus Christ will answer as one, \u201cWe will prepare the way of the Lord!\u201d<\/p>\n<h4><b>Discussion Questions<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Have you ever felt challenged rather than comforted by the words of the gospel?\u00a0 If so, share how that experience changed your perspective.<\/li>\n<li>John deals firmly and directly with those he feels are perpetuating injustice. What instruction do you imagine John the Baptist might offer you regarding your own repentance?<\/li>\n<li>How might the church better hear and care for the needs of our LGBTQIA+ siblings who may be hurting in the wake of the violence in Colorado Springs?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Activity Suggestions<\/b><\/h4>\n<ul>\n<li>Practice active listening within your small group.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Split into pairs and have a have a one-on-one conversation with your partner about what concerns they have in their life or their community.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Practice \u201cactive listening,\u201d where you summarize their statements with \u201cI hear you say\u2026\u201d or \u201cwhat I think you\u2019re saying is\u2026\u201d.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Do not offer commentary on their reflections, rather ensure that they are being heard and that you are aware of the needs around you.\n<ul>\n<li>Use your active listening skills and make a point to check in with friends and neighbors in the LGBTQIA+ community to hear how they are feeling. Offer no commentary, but hold space for their feelings and honor their suggestions for what the way forward looks like.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n<li>Even if \u00a0you do not have friends or neighbors that you know of in the LGBTQIA+ community, you can try to understand that community&#8217;s \u00a0experience. \u00a0Organize a small group to study <a href=\"https:\/\/www.augsburgfortress.org\/store\/product\/9781506453828\/Dialogues-On-Sexuality-Learner-Book\">\u201cDialogues on Sexuality\u201d from Augsburg Fortress<\/a>.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>This study will allow you to explore seven unique perspectives and experiences by reading opinions from leading voices on this topic.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h4><b>Closing Prayer<\/b><\/h4>\n<p>Stir up your power Lord Christ and come.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Give us ears to hear the voices like John who cry out from the margins with a word of challenge and hope.<span class=\"Apple-converted-space\">\u00a0 <\/span>Prepare in our hearts the way of your Son, that all may know the kingdom of heaven has come near, through Christ our Lord. Amen.<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Alex Zuber, Harrisonburg, VA Warm-up Questions Can you think of a time where you felt like no one heard or understood you?\u00a0 What did it feel like to be overlooked or even misrepresented?\u00a0 How did you try to be understood or be noticed? Truly Listening? In recent weeks, our country has been rocked once again [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":13,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1400],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9481","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-post"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.4 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>December 4, 2022-Truly Listening? - Faith Lens<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/december-4-2022\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"December 4, 2022-Truly Listening? - Faith Lens\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Alex Zuber, Harrisonburg, VA Warm-up Questions Can you think of a time where you felt like no one heard or understood you?\u00a0 What did it feel like to be overlooked or even misrepresented?\u00a0 How did you try to be understood or be noticed? 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