Each Wednesday, a devotion is posted here, sent via email to our email list and also posted on our Facebook page. If you would like to be part of our email list please contact the church office. In addition, check out past Devotions on our Facebook page.
I often receive feedback that the devotions are rich in content and are complex. Reading devotions whether short and concise or longer and complicated should never be read once quickly. All types of devotions should be read multiple times using contemplation, reflection and pausing. In those spaces of contemplation and reflection we experience the Holy Spirit interacting with us. Sometimes, individuals will reach out and provide their thoughts and reflections on their devotion. My intent has always been to create a dialogue. So read these in the way that best works for you to experience the Holy Spirit and create a dialogue with others in our community.
Wednesday, March 25, 2025
Hi St. Andrew’s UMC Community …
Who do you look up to? Who has stuck up for you? When have you stuck up for someone else? Today we consider a woman of faith who spent her life sticking up for women and championing women’s rights.
Fight for Equality No Matter What
James 2:1
(My brothers and sisters, do not claim the faith of our Lord Jesus Christ of glory while showing partiality. NRSVUE)
“The church is totally sexist” are the words uttered with dignity and passion by Sister Marjorie Tuite. She was not afraid to call out injustice and inequity in both society and institutions such as the church. She was willing to go against the patriarchal system of the church and society and did not let those who oppose her stop her. In fact, in 1984, Sister Marjorie Tuite along with 24 other nuns, signed a controversial ad in the New York Times about creating healthy dialogue regarding abortion, which the hierarchy of the church did not agree with, and threatened expulsion of her from the Dominican order. Sister Marjorie Tuite lived out James 2:1. She fought diligently for equality.
The scripture states that one cannot have faith and be partial or make distinctions (verse 4) about others. Faith is to be inclusive. Where do you struggle with this concept? Where do you create distinctions or stereotypes or view others in a judging way? It’s easy to say one doesn’t, but when one really examines how they view themselves and others, it is often based on differences. What differences in others cause you to create partiality?
Where in your faith do you create division instead of inclusion? Fighting for inclusion is difficult in today's world and yet God created us to be inclusive in our diversity. Sister Marjorie Tuite not only knew that God created us to be inclusive in our diversity, she worked actively to create inclusiveness in the church and the world. How are you creating inclusiveness in the church and the world? How are you creating partiality in the church and the world? Let’s follow Sister Marjorie Tuite and live faith by creating inclusiveness in God’s creation.
Dear God, help me to see the beauty of Your creation in all its diversity. Help me to see the beauty of inclusiveness of the diversity You created and create. Open my eyes, ears, mind and heart to the beauty You provide. Amen.
(image from: https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sister-marjorie-tuite-op)
Sources:
https://www.womenshistory.org/education-resources/biographies/sister-marjorie-tuite-op
https://prabook.com/web/marjorie.tuite/2269524
by Rev Dave Piltz
