<p><em>Too often the authenticity of ones faith is confused for their adherence to accepted doctrine. Todays reflection reminds us that we follow in the footsteps of our saints not when we are unswervingly loyal to the status quo but when we hold within ourselves the dynamism of a percolating faith and a longing for justice.</em></p><p><strong>December 17 2023: Third Sunday of Advent Year B</strong></p><p>Isaiah 61:1-2a 10-11</p><p>Luke 1:46-54</p><p>1 Thessalonians 5:16-24</p><p>John 1:6-8 19-28</p><div><div class=titan__email-divider>&nbsp;</div></div><h3><strong>From Acorn to Oak<br></strong></h3><p>A reflection by Cait Gardiner</p><p>When I first learned about people whose gender fell outside of the binary norms of man or woman I went on a scavenger hunt. For a long time my only exposure to non-binary agender genderfluid and other genderqueer folk was in mocking news segments and memes on social media. I began to wonder if they existed and I listened eagerly anytime people were asked to share their pronouns. I thought I was just searching for these people to humanize a concept I had heard such strong opinions on but when I finally met L (name changed for anonymity) I realized I had been looking for myself.</p><p>Todays first reading begins with The spirit of [our God] is upon me because [our God] has anointed me. As Isaiah describes the actions this spirit demands he discusses concepts that resonate with any lover of social justice: bring good news to the oppressed heal the brokenhearted proclaim liberty to the captives comfort those who mourn and spread joy and gratitude. When L answered my well-intentionedthough often misguided and presumptuousquestions this spirit was effortlessly working through them. It would have been easy to respond to my questions of Why do you use they/them pronouns? and How did you know you were non-binary? with anger and frustration but they chose to assume good intentions and have a deep conversation despite the emotional labor it required of them. These interactions that I had been longing for showed me that genderqueer people do in fact exist helping to resolve the decade-long gender crisis that I had tried so hard to ignore believing instead that the mental prison of pretending to be a cisgender woman would become less cumbersome over time. As faithful LGBTQIA+ Catholics how frequently have we been blessed to see the spirit of God work in another?</p><p>I came out as non-binary in my senior year of high school which directly impacted my college search as I sought to stay out of the closet. Every campus talked about their commitment to diversity equity and inclusion but I saw it in action where I least expected it. When I toured Emmanuel College I had the opportunity to attend an evening event and as we did introductions I heard those words I had longed for years ago:</p><p class=align-center><em>My name is Colleen and my pronouns are they/them/theirs.</em></p><p>It seemed effortless and met with nodsin the same way one would acknowledge someone sharing their age hometown or major. Once again I felt that joy of connection but this time it was deeper because they were a fellow Catholic. Colleen provided a testament to the light much in the same way John did not by trying to be something or someone more divine or magnificent than they were but by simply showing up to do Gods work. The evening event was a discussion hosted by one of the feminist organizations on campus. Colleen showed up not expecting to help a fellow queer Catholic finally embrace their identity and faith but simply to continue their gradual contributions to a more just society.</p><p>When Colleen opted to show up that day they followed the call to be an oak of righteousness. Oak is one of Earths oldest species dating back approximately 65 million years. A single tree can survive for over 1000 years and produce over 10 million acorns in its lifetime. These trees which hold sacred places in many religions and myths grow steadily and with a significant root system grounding them in place they have branches reaching out to new possibilities and foliage that changes with the season allowing the tree the flexibility to adapt and survive each season. They do not transform from an acorn to a towering tree overnight but through steady balanced growth based on their needs and opportunities. When my path crossed with Colleens they were continuing this steady journey of growth as they had always done and continue to do but I found inspiration in the mighty oak I witnessed. How do we show up for others as a consistent presence for justice?</p><p>When I travelled to Portugal for World Youth Day with DignityUSA earlier this year what existed of my oak was grafted onto something much larger than I could have imagined. In the span of one week I was blessed with more opportunities to act in the spirit of God than I ever would have imagined. Some of our readers may have read our stories spanning every range of emotion in that week from those we prayed for to those we rejoiced with but as I read this weeks letter from Paul to the Thessalonians a few interactions stood out to me. Many times we heard the phrase You do not belong here because of our LGBTQIA+ identities. When I responded with curiosity asking why I was told This is a time to celebrate and pray not to protest. Yet 1 Thessalonians tells us Rejoice always pray without ceasing give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise the words of prophets but test everything; hold fast to what is good; abstain from every form of evil. The very passage that calls us to rejoice pray and give thanks also calls us to test what our religious leaders teach us so that we may strive towards a more perfect faith.</p><p>As we celebrate the strides the Catholic Church has made in further inclusion of LGBTQIA+ people and continue to advocate for greater inclusion still we do so not because we spurn our faith or its leaders but because we follow in their footsteps. Isaiah John Paul and many others strived for justice even and especially when the status quo led to injustice. John tells us that he is the voice of the one crying out in the wilderness make straight the way of [our God] but we know that he does not mean everyone along this path must be straight too. How will you answer this call to fight for justice?</p><div><div class=titan__email-divider>&nbsp;</div><div class=titan__email-divider></div><div class=titan__email-divider><img src='https://www.dignityusa.org/sites/default/files/cait534x534.png'></div></div><div class=mobile-full><div class=mobile-full><p><strong><em>Cait Gardiner</em></strong><em> (they/them) is a queer non-binary person who is passionate about uplifting the voices of marginalized communities and making civics education accessible. They want to be a light to others navigating the difficult experience of reconciling their sexual orientation with their faith.</em></p><p></p><p></p></div></div><p style=text-align: center;><a class=btn btn-primary href=https://dignityusa.app.neoncrm.com/np/clients/dignityusa/subscribe.jsp?subscription=8>Subscribe to Breath of the Spirit</a></p>