Light a Candle
Last night, I had the privilege of taking part in a candlelight vigil to honor those who had been killed in the last year as a result of hate crimes – particularly Larry King and Simmie Williams. What I shared in was a beautiful remembrance of those we’ve lost and a courageous call to move forward with heads held high… and a weary look at where we are today.
“’If the world hates you, keep in mind that it hated me first.’” –John 15:18
As I prepared to go, I spent some time in scripture to prepare myself and my eye was drawn to this passage. It’s a part of Jesus’ last message to his disciples before he was to be crucified and it’s a reminder that He doesn’t call His followers to do anything that He’s not done before.
The religious leaders, the Jews – the world – hated Jesus. So they killed Him.
That’s not so unlike the people we honored with the vigil. Each of them faced hatred and each of them died as a result.
What makes this story particularly unique is the fact that Jesus chose this fate. He stepped down from glory to become one of the despised.
He was the blasphemous rabbi. He was the smelly bum. He was the slave on the southern plantation. He was the Jew in Auschwitz. He was the young man in a woman’s skirt. He was the faggot.
He was hated.
He also spent his time among the hated and despised. There were the lepers and the Samaritans who were guilty of being sick and being born respectively… and that’s not so far from those with AIDS and those who are transgendered – people who I believe Jesus would be spending time with today.
He was beaten and mocked and killed – and no one lifted a hand to help Him.
But the lesson of His story was that death doesn’t have to be the end… it can lead to something better.
The deaths of these innocent people doesn’t have to be in vain if something better can come out of them…
… if we can learn to respect and value differences.
… if we can have the courage to speak out against injustice.
… if heightened awareness can save the life of another innocent victim.
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