A Pride Month Reflection

Pride is a testament to the belief that all individuals have worth in the eyes of God and portrays hope for a future rooted in justice and dignity for all.

by Father Lee Davis on June 03, 2024

A Pride Month Reflection

Mark 3:20-35

20 Then Jesus entered a house, and again a crowd gathered, so that he and his disciples were not even able to eat. 21 When his family[a] heard about this, they went to take charge of him, for they said, “He is out of his mind.” 22 And the teachers of the law who came down from Jerusalem said, “He is possessed by Beelzebul! By the prince of demons he is driving out demons.” 23 So Jesus called them over to him and began to speak to them in parables: “How can Satan drive out Satan? 24 If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. 25 If a house is divided against itself, that house cannot stand. 26 And if Satan opposes himself and is divided, he cannot stand; his end has come. 27 In fact, no one can enter a strong man’s house without first tying him up. Then he can plunder the strong man’s house. 28 Truly I tell you, people can be forgiven all their sins and every slander they utter, 29 but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never be forgiven; they are guilty of an eternal sin.” 30 He said this because they were saying, “He has an impure spirit.” 31 Then Jesus’ mother and brothers arrived. Standing outside, they sent someone in to call him. 32 A crowd was sitting around him, and they told him, “Your mother and brothers are outside looking for you.” 33 “Who are my mother and my brothers?” he asked. 34 Then he looked at those seated in a circle around him and said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! 35 Whoever does God’s will is my brother and sister and mother.”

As communities around the world celebrate Pride this month, we acknowledge the journey of the LGBTQIA+ community, recognizing their challenges and honoring their successes in living authentically.

June is Pride Month, a time to celebrate the courage to live and speak personal truths. The journey of LGBTQIA+ people is still marked with struggles, both visible and invisible. Discrimination, rejection, and hardship are unfortunately still a reality for many. Yet, there is a continuous inner renewal, a steadfast spirit that refuses to be diminished. This resilience is at the heart of what we celebrate during Pride. For the LGBTQIA+ community, Pride is not just a celebration of the present but also a hopeful gaze toward a future where love, acceptance, and equality prevail universally. In a world where books about race, sexuality, and gender are being banned and LGBTQIA+ people are accused of family-destroying agendas, we need Pride more than ever.

Personally, I've been told countless times that I'm not a real priest because I'm gay. People have also accused me of leading others to hell and causing division when I speak out against phobia towards LGBTQIA+ individuals. Many have also claimed that I am not holy and that my priesthood is "false" and goes against God.

In the Gospel of Mark, especially in the passage for this Sunday, Mark 3:20-35, I can relate to the portrayal of Jesus. Throughout Mark’s Gospel, Jesus is targeted by religious authorities and government officials alike. Even his own family wants to restrain him because they think he’s out of his mind. He is a healer, a seer, and a revolutionary who confronts oppressive ideologies and seeks to upend demonic evil, causing uprisings with his very presence.

The people's violence toward Jesus is so severe that religious leaders begin to criticize, accuse, and undermine his authority. Despite seeing Jesus's just actions, they are confused and outraged. Jesus undeniably possesses great power, but the religious leaders attempt to explain it by suggesting that his power is corrupt or perverse because he does not behave as expected. They condemn him with the most horrific accusation they can think of: they accuse him of having demons and being an accomplice to Satan.

The story shows how those who accused Jesus put themselves in a dangerous position by committing an unforgivable sin. They failed to recognize signs of inclusion and progress, committing blasphemy by opposing the movement of the Spirit. They mistook the work of freedom for satanic evil. Ultimately, standing in the way of justice puts us on the path of evil, according to Mark's Jesus.

 

Mark 3:20-35, when viewed through an LGBTQIA+ affirming lens, speaks to the common experiences of misunderstanding, rejection, and the quest for belonging that many LGBTQIA+ individuals encounter. Jesus' experiences and responses in this passage provide validation of identity: just as Jesus remained resolute despite being misunderstood and labeled, LGBTQIA+ individuals are encouraged to embrace their true selves with courage and resilience. Jesus' confrontation with the religious authorities emphasizes the importance of challenging unjust judgments and standing against ignorance and hatred. Jesus' inclusive definition of family validates the chosen families within the LGBTQIA+ community, where love and acceptance are the guiding principles.

Jesus’ teachings remind us that every person deserves dignity, respect, and a loving community, regardless of sexual orientation or gender identity. The LGBTQIA+ community and their allies gather this month to celebrate Pride, embodying the essence of living by faith and affirming the worth of all people. Pride is a testament to the belief that all individuals have worth in the eyes of God and portrays hope for a future rooted in justice and dignity for all.

Happy PRIDE!

About the Author
Father Lee Davis

After a diverse career in marketing and finance and a sudden realization of the love and power of God that he discovered aboard a Navy ship, Father Lee Davis has the distinction of being baptized, confirmed, and received for Holy Orders on the same Sunday. He studied at Bexley Hall Seminary in Columbus, Ohio where he received a Master's of Divinity degree in 2009 and then served as priest-in-charge of St. Andrew's in Hollywood, Florida as well as an assisting priest at St. Benedict's in Plantation. Father Lee also worked as a Hospice Chaplain. When he left after a little more than two years, St. Andrew's had grown in membership and under his guidance extended its outreach into the community. He was also a pivotal leader of the Jubilee Center of Hollywood, a vital outreach ministry to the homeless and hungry, and served on the Board of Directors for St. Lawrence Chapel, serving the homeless in Pompano Beach. He also served on several diocesan committees working with the youth of the diocese.


In December 2012, Father Lee was called as rector of St. Anne's Episcopal Church in Damascus, Maryland. During his 8 year tenure there the vestry of the parish noted that "His dynamic leadership, inspired preaching, creative ideas and compassionate pastoral care combined to bring a new level of excitement, commitment, and growth among the congregation." Through his leadership, he developed partnerships with other organizations in the community, helped establish a transitional home for victim's of domestic violence, began the process of developing affordable senior housing on some of the acreages of land owned by the church, and grew stewardship achieving their first balanced budget in over a decade. At the beginning of the COVID pandemic, he led the congregation into the development of an online presence and with a couple of dedicated lay members started a feeding program for families in need which continues today. He served in the Diocese of Washington DC helping in the implementation of a Diaconate Formation program as well as being on the Board of Directors of the Washington Episcopal Clergy Association and serving on the Diocesan Executive Council.


Amidst the COVID pandemic, Father Lee accepted the call to be our rector and began his tenure in September 2019. His leadership has already blessed our community.

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