Siate dei cristiani LGBT+ “beati”?

Homily of Gerhard* On the Beatitudes (Mt 5.1–12) Tenuta of the group about of Monaco (Germany) on the occasion of the celebration for the Pride di Monaco (Germany) held in the church of St. Paul in Monaco on 22 June 2024. Freely translated by the volunteers of the Gionata project

What an extraordinary opening that of the Evangelical song of the Beatitudes (5.1–12 m): there is a large crowd, so much so that Jesus decides to get on the mountain. He sits down - a gesture that recalls the master's chair - and the disciples approach him. Then he starts talking, and teaches.

Every moment seems slowed down, marked carefully. And then comes the first word, powerful as a thunder: blessed.

It is on this that the announcement of Jesus is based: the bliss of the human being. It is not about subjection, submission, but full happiness. There is no mention of promoting a genre, an orientation, a nation or a color of the skin, but of the bliss of all people.

"Blessed are the poor in spirit", reads the liturgical translation. But we could also say: Blessed are those who know they need God. Like when I say to my partner: "I need you. Without you my life would be much poorer. With you I feel rich, blessed, happy". When we recognize poor before God, when we know we need him, then we are really blessed.

And immediately afterwards those who cry are remembered, not simply those who are sad. There is a difference. It is not the sadness that is proclaimed blessed, but the mourning, the active elaboration of the loss: the mourning for a dear person who was gone, the regret for the missed occasions that could have made our life fuller, the suffering for the wounds that have been inflicted on us. It is precisely this to remember and give space to pain that becomes blessing, because healing can take place through mourning.

The merciful are also blessed, those who have a pure heart, those who work for peace. And we want to believe forcefully that it is really that way: that they are the ones who inherit the earth, to see God, to be called children of God. Not the violent, but those who build peace.

And to give us a concrete example, today we have also listened to the story of Giuseppe and his brothers (Genesis 50,15–21). A story that speaks of reconciliation between brothers. The brothers had stained themselves with a serious fault: they had hurt Joseph, they had sold him. But then they find themselves in difficulty and are forced to ask him for help. What irony! Those who have committed evil become dependent on the one who has been a victim.

Still, this story shows us how forgiveness can be born: when we recognize that we need each other. Reconciliation succeeds when you are not too proud to apologize, and not too proud to grant forgiveness.

What is striking about this story is how tiring it is for all the protagonists to get to forgiveness and repentance. Because yes, it's terribly difficult. But we human beings want just what costs us most: happiness, bliss, is a tiring conquest.

But it is possible. The story of Joseph and the beatitudes remind us: reconciliation can succeed. Peace can grow among humans. We can be merciful, really.

Of course, it's difficult. It is difficult for Jewish and Palestinian women, for Russians and Ukrainians, for supporters of the Afd party and migrants. And it is also difficult for queer people and for those fundamentalists who use the name of God to justify homophobia.

Yes, it's really a great challenge. But it can succeed. And perhaps, we queer people can make a special contribution. Because it is our experience to see how our society has opened up; how the commitment to tolerance and welcome has brought fruit; Like the public and confident path in society and in the Church it has generated results.

It is a model that works. Maybe we could even continue writing the beatitudes:

Blessed are you, when you rejoice in how God created you.

Blessed are you, when you know how to appreciate the richness of the colorful garden of Eden.

Blessed are you, when you recognize a blessing for everyone in diversity.

And then - perhaps - we will also give to live the most difficult bliss: blessed are you, when they insult you, persecute you and mind they will say all sorts of evil against you for my cause (Mt 5:11).

Let's not let us down as Christian people queer. We walk with courage and trust. Because we bring a message of peace for all people: the great call of God aimed at every human being. It is to this call that we have said our "yes". It is she who guides us today, on the day of Pride, and in all the days of our life.

*Gerhard is a preacher and collaborator of the Catholic group about of Monaco (Germany), which proposes inclusive celebrations and reflections in the context of the German Catholic Church.

Original text: Gerhards CSD-predigt