Tonight marks the start of Passover, the ritual celebration of the Israelites escaping Egypt. Meanwhile, Christians are making the slow trek to the cross with Jesus in hopes of the Resurrection on Sunday.
Both stories have a common theme: the deliverance from bondage to freedom, from sin and death to hope and eternal life.
What a providentially important time, then, for the United States Supreme Court to be hearing the oral arguments in two marriage equality cases. One seeks to uphold the Ninth Circuit's ruling that California's Proposition Eight is unconstitutional. The other is a challenge to the constitionality of the Defense of Marriage Act. Depending on how the high court rules on these two issues, this could be a watershed moment where the LGBT community is finally made full citizens in this country that has a hodge-podge of laws where we have protections in some jurisdictions, but not in others. Our relationships are validated... if we live in one of the nine states with marriage equality or the District of Columbia. It's an awful place to be.
At the Passover Seder, the youngest child is typically asked the question, "Why is this night different from all other nights?" As I meditate on that question in our modern times, and in this current context, my answer would be:
We were slaves to a world consumed with fear and loathing of our people, but the Eternal God has told us to not be afraid, and trust that God will work out God's purpose, and will always free the captives, and break the bonds of oppression. Trust and belive in it.
No matter what happens in June with the United States Supreme Court, the cases we are putting before them tomorrow are our plea for justice. And it will come.
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