On March 12, I partook of the body and blood of Christ across
from a manually-powered bucking bronco and within earshot of a drag show
spectacular.
We created a sanctuary there, at the St. Francis of Assisi Church's booth at the Jacob Javits GLBT Expo on West 34th street in Manhattan, NYC. I'm not Catholic. I didn't know the words to the refrains - or when to kneel or make the sign of the cross. But I know Jesus, and because of that I felt welcome.
I grinned like a court jester the whole time, bouncing around on my tippy toes to read hymn lyrics off the paper of the person standing in front of me. Here we were celebrating the Lenten season, fresh from the contemplative holy day of Ash Wednesday and welcoming the "GLBT Expo Congregation" to take part in the Lord's Supper. I was invited to share the encounter. And sometimes an encounter is all you need.
Lisa Ling said during her OWN Network special, "Pray the Gay Away?" that she'd "fallen in love with Jesus" during the course of her research for the program. We have such an eminently lovable Savior that it took just a little bit of "research," to draw the heart of an accredited journalist. "If I be lifted up, I will draw..." As GLBT individuals we know a little bit about the price of love. We have a thing or two we can teach the church. If only we would all come to the communion table.
At first I didn't realize it was a mass. I just saw a booth for a church with people gathered in front of it and made myself at home. When we all shook hands to pass the peace, I thought the service was over and had nearly walked away when I noticed the bread and wine. We drank from one cup - cold virii be damned (literally!) I grabbed for the chalice (I think I wasn't supposed to do that) because there was so little wine in the bottom of the cup that I automatically responded to the urge to raise and tip the goblet back further. The host was placed in my hands and I savored the moment.
Yes, I am one of the ones that He gave His life for. One reason among an impromptu congregation of reasons. A Pentecostal Holiness child among Catholics, a lesbian among drag queens, a child of God, among children of God. And so I smiled.
We created a sanctuary there, at the St. Francis of Assisi Church's booth at the Jacob Javits GLBT Expo on West 34th street in Manhattan, NYC. I'm not Catholic. I didn't know the words to the refrains - or when to kneel or make the sign of the cross. But I know Jesus, and because of that I felt welcome.
I grinned like a court jester the whole time, bouncing around on my tippy toes to read hymn lyrics off the paper of the person standing in front of me. Here we were celebrating the Lenten season, fresh from the contemplative holy day of Ash Wednesday and welcoming the "GLBT Expo Congregation" to take part in the Lord's Supper. I was invited to share the encounter. And sometimes an encounter is all you need.
Lisa Ling said during her OWN Network special, "Pray the Gay Away?" that she'd "fallen in love with Jesus" during the course of her research for the program. We have such an eminently lovable Savior that it took just a little bit of "research," to draw the heart of an accredited journalist. "If I be lifted up, I will draw..." As GLBT individuals we know a little bit about the price of love. We have a thing or two we can teach the church. If only we would all come to the communion table.
At first I didn't realize it was a mass. I just saw a booth for a church with people gathered in front of it and made myself at home. When we all shook hands to pass the peace, I thought the service was over and had nearly walked away when I noticed the bread and wine. We drank from one cup - cold virii be damned (literally!) I grabbed for the chalice (I think I wasn't supposed to do that) because there was so little wine in the bottom of the cup that I automatically responded to the urge to raise and tip the goblet back further. The host was placed in my hands and I savored the moment.
Yes, I am one of the ones that He gave His life for. One reason among an impromptu congregation of reasons. A Pentecostal Holiness child among Catholics, a lesbian among drag queens, a child of God, among children of God. And so I smiled.
Aimee Sims is the founder of NuWine Press, a publishing company which aims to provide fresh perspectives on the Christian faith without alienating any of Christ's followers because of their gender, ability, political affiliation or sexual orientation. We publish fiction, non-fiction, resource books and scholarly works. http://www.nuwinepress.com
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I really enjoyed this post because it captured so well a personal encounter with Our Lord in an unexpected setting for the author. A non-Catholic encountered Jesus in a Catholic setting. Of course, a Catholic could find Jesus in a non-Catholic setting, too. We all have miracles that happen in our lives everyday if we care to take notice. The author of this article did--and to great spiritual benefit. It is to our benefit to try to see the face of Jesus wherever we go and see Him in whomever we encounter. This article proves it!
ReplyDeleteThanks for the comment Joe. Very well said.
ReplyDeleteGod bless..
Your friend in Christ..
Jini