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| The Ottawa River. Image by Monteregina. |
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A GREETING
You, God, are my protection, my glory,
the One who helps me hold up my head.
(Psalm 3:3 TIB)
A READING
The eunuch said to Philip, “Tell me, if you will, about whom the prophet is talking—himself or someone else?” So Philip proceeded to explain the Good News about Jesus to him. Further along the road they came to some water, and the eunuch said, “Look, there is some water right there. Is there anything to keep me from being baptized?” He ordered the carriage to stop; then Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water, and Philip baptized him.
(Acts 8:34-38 TIB)
MUSIC
A MEDITATIVE VERSE
Humankind was created as God’s reflection:
in the divine image God created them.
(Genesis 1:27 TIB)
A POEM
They sing of love and strongholds falling down,
And build up walls and bulwarks all around;
When strongholds fall, they counter with dismay.
I worship anyway.
You know the truth, and You have made me free,
And in Your House, You’ve made a place for me.
You cleaned and painted to tempt me to stay.
I worship anyway.
- excerpted from "I Worship Anyway,"
by Esther Spurrill-Jones
VERSE OF THE DAY
Let everything that has breath praise God!
Alleluia!
(Psalm 150:6 TIB)
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| Image by Monteregina. |
The St. Lawrence river flows around the island of Montreal at the very point where it also intersects with the Ottawa, an east-west river that forms the boundary line between Ontario and Québec for much of the southeast portion of its 1200 plus km length. Canada’s capital city of Ottawa rests on the river, which is crossed over at its center by two other rivers, the Gatineau flowing north and the Rideau, flowing south.
As we come to the end of a long and difficult week of history, in which some of the unspoken and/or lesser-spoken truths of our country’s story have become part of our Lenten prayer and reflection, today we remember those affected by a federal government-sanctioned and financed effort to rid the country’s civil service sector of its 2SLGBTQIA+ employees during the 1960s. In a cold war era of spies and secrets, there was concern that those employees who were gay might be subject to bribes, and thus reveal sensitive government information. Using a device and theory developed by a Carleton University scientist, those suspected of being gay were subjected to a physical stimulation test, in which they were shown erotic pictures and measured for their pupillary response. If there was deemed to be stimulation, a verdict was reached and a person was removed from their position. More than 9,000 people were impacted by this process just during the 1960s (the program was started in the late 50s), across many aspects of the public sector, from the military to social services. Participants were uninformed, and/or told they were participating in a different kind of study, or they were told nothing at all. The test was dubbed ‘the fruit machine,’ and referred to openly this way in government records.
In today’s reading, we hear a small part of the story of the baptising of the Ethiopian eunuch by Philip the Evangelist. This story has become a comforting one for those who identify as ‘queer,’ a word that has been reclaimed by the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. Some trans folks hear in the eunuch’s eagerness, and Philip’s zeal, a passionate expression of inclusivity and discipleship. Eunuchs were responsible for overseeing harems and also treasuries — a version of being a civil servant. They had responsibility and status. In the story, the eunuch asks if there is anything to prevent him from being baptized, perhaps because eunuchs were forbidden in the temple. Philip does not seem to worry about the eunuch’s gender identity and immediately baptizes him.
“Our love is not a victory march,” sings k.d. lang, in Leonard Cohen’s Hallelujah. Too often, 2SLGBTQIA+ people have found themselves the victim of someone else’s victory march — in a campaign to prove or disprove the meanings of scripture and consequently of church membership. How can we lean into the deeply abiding and constant love of Jesus, who loves each of us through and through? How can we help to create an environment of personal wellbeing and safety for all of God’s children in our own homes, our churches and our communities?
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A STORY OF ENDURANCE
"The Fruit Machine," is a 2018 Canadian documentary made by Sarah Fodey about the campaign to eradicate 2SLGBTQIA+ people from government service positions. Here is the trailer. If you wish to watch the entire film, you can find it here.
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Resources in today's devotion:
Scripture passages are taken from The Inclusive Bible.
There are many versions of the lyrics for Hallelujah, reflecting the many verses (more than 80) that Cohen himself is believed to have written and/or rewritten and performed. A discussion of the lyrics can be found here. kd lang sings the most famous four verses of the song, found on this link as vv. 1,2,3 and 5.
Esther Spurrill-Jones is a Canadian queer poet. Read more about her here.
The next devotional day is Monday, April 7.
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LC† Streams of Living Justice is a devotional series of Lutherans Connect, supported by the Eastern Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in Canada and the Centre for Spirituality and Media at Martin Luther University College. To receive the devotions by email, write to lutheransconnect@gmail.com. The devotional pages are written and curated by Deacon Sherry Coman, with support and input from Pastor Steve Hoffard, Catherine Evenden and Henriette Thompson. Join us on Facebook. Lutherans Connect invites you to make a donation to the Ministry by going to this link on the website of the ELCIC Eastern Synod and selecting "Lutherans Connect Devotionals" under "Fund". Devotions are always freely offered, however your donations help support the ongoing work.
Thank you and peace be with you!