Isaiah 56:3. Let no foreigner who is bound to the Lord say, “The Lord will surely exclude me from his people.” And let no eunuch complain, “I am only a dry tree.”
Foreigners (uncircumcised Gentiles) and Eunuchs (castrated males) were prohibited from entering certain areas of the temple grounds and from making sacrifices – all because of their “inferior” status. But the prophet Isaiah envisions a time when those who were excluded from full participation in the life of God’s people would be welcomed as equals. The book of Acts includes the conversion stories of Gentile Cornelius and the Eunuch from Ethiopia – fulfillment of Isaiah’s vision. What groups are currently excluded from or limited in full participation in the life of the Church? On what basis are these groups excluded? What do you think Isaiah would say about their exclusion?
Wednesday, March 31, is “International Transgender Day of Visibility,” a time to show your support for the trans community. Trans people of color are most likely to experience violence and assault of any group. On Palm Sunday, March 28, the congregations of the Logan Square Ecumenical Alliance will join SOUL – Southsiders Organized for Unity and Liberation – at the Cook County Jail to demand protection for incarcerated trans folk and access to the facilities of their gender identity. Kimball and Nuestra Señora de las Américas are member congregations of LSEA. The event will be streamed live on the LSEA Facebook page for those unable to attend in-person. For more details about the event, go to https://www.facebook.com/events/133340135370153/
Prayer: Lord of Foreigners and Maker of Eunuchs, open our eyes to the plight of those who are outsiders and those who are mistreated because of their status. Open our hearts to your liberating vision that gives full access to those who have historically been kept behind walls of exclusion. Forgive us for acting out of presumption and ignorance and remind us that we, too, were once considered foreigners and strangers, but have now been reconciled by the cross of Christ. Break down the walls that have been built up within us and within our communities. Amen.
Tongue on Fire 