by Rev. Sean Amato

As I sat down to write this piece, my thoughts were paused by our church’s marvelous carillon: it had begun to chime out an uplifting tune – “Here I Am, Lord.”

This hymn, one that emphasizes a person’s willingness to heed the call of God, is a standard at ordinations. Even though I’ve heard it a goodly number of times, I’ve never been able to shake its power. At my fiancée Emily’s ordination in Massachusetts, I remember her standing next to me singing it loudly and lovingly; her passion almost had me weeping.
We sang this same joyous tune again on June 1 when Fran Graveson, one of Emily’s congregants at the United Parish of Upton, was ordained. It is, indeed, a special song.

Fran’s ordination was a special start to Pentecost, a time in which we are called to speak prophetically and act with God at our back. It was a special start to Pride Month, too – a time of year when we celebrate the continued survival of our LGBTQIA+ siblings, those who continue to live under threat of political jockeying, depreciation of rights, and real violence.

This is a doubly-important time of year for us as Christians, for it is where our witness – and the limits of our witness – are made plain for all to see. I believe that Christians have a profound and clear duty to stand between those being harmed and those harming and to remain there until the danger is passed, regardless of our comfortability. And I promise you that this is not a partisan word, my friends: it’s one rooted in the life of our Savior.

Our Jesus wasn’t quiet, or avoidant, or insistent upon His own comfort. He stuck His neck out for others, including people who were despised and misunderstood. Much to the chagrin of those who “don’t pick sides” when it comes to our LGBTQIA+ family and friends, Jesus did pick sides: He sided with the oppressed and maligned, for He knew their lot and loved them. He weathered earthly critique, made no excuses, sought no convenience; he did so to widen and lengthen God’s grand table so that we all have a place to sit and rest.

This Pentecost, will you follow the Christian tradition of prophetic witness – the tradition of troubling the waters and advocating for the unloved, as did the Son of God? This Pride
Month, will you let down your guard and soften your hearts, so that you might affirm and protect your fellow children of God? To help with your decision, I leave you with these hymnal lyrics:

I, the Lord of snow and rain; I have borne my peoples’ pain –
I have wept for love of them; they turn away.
I will break their hearts of stone; give them hearts for love alone
–
I will speak My words to them; whom shall I send?
Here I am, Lord! Is it I, Lord? I have heard you calling in the night
–
I will go, Lord, if you lead me. I will hold your people in my heart.

Pastor Sean