5th Sunday after Pentecost

The gospel today is the story of the good Samaritan.

“Who is my neighbor?

In the New Testament Jesus talked about our neighbor three times. I am using the First Nations version an Indigenous translation.

You must love your fellow human Beings in the same way you love yourself (Matthew 22:39).

In Mark 12:31 it again states,

You must love your fellow human beings in the same way you love yourself.

If this message is written three times in the New Testament Jesus wanted us to really hear this and follow and treat others with love and dignity.

“Who is my neighbor?” I am your neighbor. A neighbor may be someone you know or a stranger, it is anyone you have the ability to help.

Last year I was fortunate to go on the Civil Rights Pilgrimage with people from our diocese. It gave me time to reflect on our history and to walk in many places that I read about. I was at times overwhelmed with sadness of what to place during that time and other times I felt the spirit of God who was there leading his people through some tough times for their freedom. It also took me back to my youth and my history.

Who is my neighbor?  I am your neighbor, I am a Mexican and a lesbian with a history of discrimination and hate.

In 1965 I was 10 years old. But that summer I was under Marshall law for six days because of the Watts riots. It was a scary time and that was the first time I felt different and looked at differently.

It was two years later while I was walking home from school – a boy walking from the other way stopped and spat in my face and laughed and called me a dirty Mexican. I was confused and tearful and just started running home and I didn’t tell anyone.

In 1969 I was headed to high school and I chose a school out of our neighborhood. I was told I needed to take an entrance exam to see if I was qualified to attend. Only one girl was accepted, and it was not me.  It was not me and later I learned that only girls from the inner city had to take an entrance exam to limit the minority girls in the school.

My parents looked for houses to move to out of our neighborhood and we would dress up in our Sunday best to go look at homes in areas where my mother’s friends from work lived. My parents were told many times that the house was no longer for sale or that there was a bid for the house. My mom’s friends would tell her that the houses were still on the market and we knew they did not want a Mexican family to move in.

In 1978 I was outed in college by the girl I was dating. She belonged with the Rejoice in Jesus group on campus and shared that she went out with me.  Well, they laid hands on her to remove the evil spirit and labeled me the devil. The campus heard about this word-of-mouth from this group and people would not walk or eat with me. I was told I could no longer be a catholic or be a part of the sorority. My Good Samaritan was my college advisor who gave me shelter.

2 ½ years ago when we walked into St. Johns I was a little fearful when I looked around and saw all the white faces. Will I be accepted or given that look I had seen so many times in my life? I had my guard up for a few weeks but received nothing but acceptance and feeling welcomed.

This year going on the Rome Pilgrimage was amazing and I feel blessed with the group of people I went on this journey with. At our first worship the first song was one of my favorite songs, I knew I had to take the booklet back to my room. Every morning, I read the words and before I went to bed at night I read the words again.

Our visit to St Paul-Within-the-Walls was my day to remember the most and I have shared earlier about the encounter I had with the mosaic on the wall of Mary.

This is why I am up here today to share with you my life and how we should look at others around us and be that good Samaritan. I am not up here to have you feel sorry for what I went through, but to be aware of what is going on today in our world. The man in the Gospel that helped was not from the same town as the person they helped, it was someone in need.

These are scary times for people of color, and I know I pray before I leave my house and go to the supermarket or other places, “Will it be me they pick up?” I know I am not the only person in this church that has feelings, anger, and wake up every day thinking I hope this will be a good day. I should not have to ask someone to be my safe contact in case I get picked up.

It is a part of our mission here at St. Johns To be like Jesus and I would hope to also be a Good Samaritan. To connect with our neighbors, families, coworkers and in our communities that are scared and sitting on the side of the road.

I would like to end with the words from my favorite song.

I, the lord of sea and sky

I have heard my people cry

All who dwell in dark in sin

My hand will save

I have made the stars of night

I will make their darkness bright

Who will bear my light to them

Whom shall I send

Here I am Lord, It is I lord

I have heard you calling in the night

I will go lord if you need me

I will hold your people in my heart.

AMEN