Beloved Children of Our Loving God: The Rev. Canon Rosemarie Logan Duncan
Let us pray. Holy God, open our eyes to your presence. Open our ears to your call. Open our hearts to your love. Amen.
My dear friends, we gather here this evening in this chapel, St. Joseph of Arimathea, to remember and to give thanks for the life of Matthew Shepherd on what would have been his 46th birthday. We remember that 24 years ago, he was brutally taken from his family and friends. And the world lost more than a 21 year old student at the University of Wyoming. We lost a gentle soul who was son, brother, and friend.
His death continues to have a profound impact on the way we talk about and address the sad truth of the existence of hate in our nation, particularly toward the LGBTQ community. And four years ago we gathered and we laid his ashes to rest in the columbarium of this chapel just beyond those gates. We welcomed him to this house of prayer for all people, no exceptions, as his final home. As we remember Matthew’s short life and his death, we can’t help but have feelings of sorrow, but our faith provides us with a source of strength. And yes, even hope.
Psalm 46 that we heard, reminds us that God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble. Yes, it is God, our refuge and strength, who is with us in our deepest times of need and sorrow, in our darkest moments of pain and suffering. We are never alone or apart from God’s loving presence. And we shall not fear though the earth be moved and though the mountains be toppled into the depths of the sea. I know that God was with Matthew Shepherd in that remote area east of Laramie where he had been left to die on a cold night. I believe that Matthew knew this in his heart and experienced God’s presence.
The truth that God is our refuge and strength was real for Matt and is real for us. This is the promise of God that no matter what challenge or hardship we may face, we are reminded how far we have come by faith as the LGBTQ community. But we are also clear that there is much work still to be done. On this World AIDS Day, many of us remember and still mourn the deaths of friends and lovers and family members. And remember when a HIV positive diagnosis was a death sentence. Advances had been made, but there is still more work to be done worldwide.
Just this week, the Senate passed a bill that would protect federal recognition of same sex marriage, a measure taken up in response to worries the Supreme Court could overturn the 2015 decision that legalized it nationwide. This is good news, but it comes as the LGBTQ community has faced violent attacks such as the shooting at the Gay Nightclub Club Q in Colorado that left 17, at least 17 injured, and five dead. Raymond Green Vance, Kelly Loving, Daniel Aston, Derek Rump and Ashley Paul. My siblings remember their names. And let’s be clear, the type of tragic violence targeted at our siblings is the predictable consequence of anti-gay queer hate speech. Statements of hate do not exist in a vacuum, and the regular dehumanization of us prevents us from being seen and valued as beloved children of God.
Anti-LGBTQ sentiment is so pervasive now in our society and we know that while there are these horrible incidents of extreme violence, there are also everyday types of aggression that our siblings experience. And that includes discrimination at the workplace, in schools and in religious organizations. It is also includes the kind of policy conversations we are hearing from lawmakers, including the anti-transgender bills that have been proposed by various state legislatures. As the rhetoric surrounding LGBTQ issues has become more charged, several of our safe spaces and our celebrations have been targeted with threats of acts of violence.
My siblings, this must end. They are still work to be done. And as people of faith, we know that the heart of God is broken when we fail to see one another as beloved children of our loving God in all of our variety and expressions. Tonight, we remember Matthew, a young man who had a great love of people and a passion for equality. And we give thanks for the important lessons he left for us, taught us about living authentically and being true to the person God creates each of us to be. He taught us about love. And Judy and Dennis Shepherd bear testimony to this through their tireless work through the Matthew Shepherd Foundation.
Our greatest tribute to Matt this night is to strengthen our resolve, to confront and to end hatred in its many forms. Embrace the dignity and equality of all people and to create a more caring and just society and world. The love of God demands our hearts. The work of God requires our hands. It requires all of us, all of us to be witnesses of love. In just a few moments, we will dedicate a devotional portrait of Matthew, created by artist and iconographer Kelly Latimore, for all of God’s children to embrace. Kelly who is with us this evening, worked closely with Judy and Dennis in a labor of love. And we are benefiting from that this night. Matt’s image is surrounded by what one person described as “a rainbow of words”. They are snippets from the many letters and cards that Judy and Dennis received in response to Matt’s death. They reflect so much in the hearts of siblings touched by the tragic loss of life. I invite you to read them, but here are a few: “He was all of us. This hate will end. Create change. It starts with one voice. Good will come of this. And much love to you.”
It is our hope that this portrait will not only help those of us who were impacted at the time of Matt’s death but will introduce his story to new generations of the human family, to inspire new witnesses of love and advocates for justice. As we reflect on Matthew’s legacy, we are called to a greater resolve to build the inclusive kingdom of God. We must remember that the kingdom is closer to us when we work for justice and mercy and the inclusion of all of God’s children. That is our call, that is our mission, to bring that kingdom closer to reality for you, for me, and all of our siblings. Amen.