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Who Is In First Place?
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 28, 2026
Pride Sunday!
"Step out of the circle of time and into the Circle of Love."
(Quote given to Stephanie Salter upon learning of her terminal diagnosis).
Who Is In First Place?
Matthew 10:37-42-Cotton Patch Version:
"The person who hoards his life throws it away, and the one who abandons his life for my cause discovers it. .Anyone who gives only a glass of plain water to one of these little people, aware that he is my student, will by no means, I tell you, go unrewarded."
------------------------
Journal of An Alien Queer Street Priest:
That's right: Who is in first place? No, I am not talking about the World Cup of Soccer, or who is in first place as a bull rider in the rodeo.
There are so many first place holders that can be hard to keep up with (tennis, ice hockey, NCAA teams, spelling bees, and so many more).
So who is in first place?
Well, what does the gospel reading for Thirteenth Sunday of Ordinary Time tell us Jesus says-- He should be in first place--in our hearts. Ahead of fathers, mothers, children, and although Jesus does not itemize these--aunts, uncles, grand kids, siblings (what??), friends, sports, cars, schools, stars of stage, or screen, singers, influencers, and on and on.
Jesus wants to be our Number One.
Jesus wants us to love all people and nature because it is through loving them, we meet Him.
And those may simply seem like words. For me these days there are days when I struggle with doubts, of even believing in Jesus.
So many tell us that Jesus does not exist, there are our Christian Influencer's, who are presently talking of Pride, of queers as sinners, going to hell. They will be at Pride hounding people with the "true way" to salvation, which means homosexuality is a sin. What they do is frankly turn off people to a spirituality that is open and affirming. Jesus sought to bring his reign, his reign of love to everyone, his instructions were to "Love your neighbor as yourself!"
Early this morning going for tests at Kaiser I passed by tents like the one above, my stomach became nauseated pondering the pain, and fear, and feeling guilty--simply going to Kaiser to have a check up.
My life is spent caring for people without housing, health insurance, food, with people simply walking by; I am working with a young guy soon going on trial for murder, I see people in the City struggling each day simply to make it, there is death of so many in the Middle East and Africa--and people do not seem to give a damn!
And I know, that even in my doubts, I continue to hear a still, small voice, which summoned me many years ago to follow him. In making him Number 1, my life has been full filled to its fullness, it has been a life of great joy, for all that ever makes sense is to treat each person as the broken body of Jesus. I see in each person the Crucified Jesus.!
For when we love Jesus most of all, we bring Jesus to everyone with whom we interact. For He reminds us:
Anyone who gives only a glass of plain water to one of these little people, aware that he is my student, will by no means, I tell you, go unrewarded.
We can show Jesus is number one through the way we treat others, with no judgment, our respect for creation, by building his
kingdom by restoring relationships, by restoring peace and justice. We can show Jesus is number one, by giving to those outside of our on door, and on our doors!
Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
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Incline Your Ear!
Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time
June 21, 2026
-----------------------
"Step out of the circle of time and into the Circle of Love."
(Quote given to Stephanie Salter upon learning of her terminal diagnosis).
======================
(Ishmael)
(Angela and Anthony, June 20, 2026)
Genesis 21:8-21; Psalm 86: 1-17; Romans :1-11; Matthew 10:24-39
========================
Journal of An Alien Queer Street Priest!
"Incline your ear, O Lord, and answer me, for I am poor and needy. Preserve my life"(Ps. 86:1-2). When Hagar, in our Genesis readings finds herself forsaken and alone in the desert with her boy Ishmael, she can not even muster a prayer like the psalmist's, asking for help. She was low at the moment. Hagar was the woman brought in by Abraham to have his heir when Sarah, could not but then when Sarah gave birth to her on son, Hagar was kicked out into the desert to die. They were shoved aside as no- bodies, as queers, shoved out of the memory of the prevailing culture.
Yet in this story God hears them, sees them. God delivers. And yet today God is hearing the voices of LGBTQ people who increasingly feel uneasy and afraid:
. We live in a moment marked by attacks on diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives.
. We see efforts to remove books from libraries.
. We witness legislation targeting transgender youth.
. We hear public officials question the legitimacy of same sex marriage.
. Fear to advocate for safe spaces for LGBTYQIA?+
. Fear to publicly oppose bullying, discrimination and dehumanizing rhetoric directed toward LGBTYQIA?
Howard Thurman wrote that "the religion of Jesus emerged as a resource for people living under conditions designed to deny their dignity.
Through out the Bible we see the inclusion of all people:
. The prophet Samuel heard God declare:, "Human beings look at appearances, but God looks at the heart" I Samuel 16:7.
. The Ethiopian eunuch in Acts 8 occupied
a gender category that did not fit
conventional expectations, yet he was
welcomed into the Christian community.
. Paul proclaimed that there is no longer Jew or Greek, slave or free, male and female; for all of you are one in Christ Jesus"(Galatians 3:28).
. Jesus repeatedly refused to reduce people to labels. Tax collector, Sinner,
Samaritan, Leper. Foreigner. Jesus looked
beyond the category and saw the person.
Today I remember, our own "Ishmael". He was 17 when I first met him on the banks of the American River in Sacramento. I was walking along the river, and this cute boy jumped out of his tent, smiling, running up and started walking beside me. He wanted money, but I took him for some food.
Thus beginning a relationship which would last for eight years. Ishmael shared with me that he was kicked out of his home, by religious parents, because they could not fix his like of "men". He was sent to a "conversion therapy" program, where they tried to pray him straight, and that did not work. So they made him an emancipated youth and kicked him out on his own at 16.
He "hustled", and stole, and begged, his way of making money. He was told he was "feral", "a social misfit by a counselor in a local youth program.
Think about hearing those words, that you are "feral", "a social misfit", especially if you are young? Take a moment--how would you feel? Those same words were used to describe me when I was in the "conversion therapy" program, my denomination placed me in. Those word tore me to pieces! In many ways they pushed me to the streets of L.A.
Ultimately he simply gave up and embraced the life of living in a tent on the side of the river, making money anyway he could, not believing in his own self-worth.
For eight years I usually saw him once a month, or he would come to the City to see me. I was his Story Catcher, we skated, had good food, went to movies, simply what good friends do. He had some surgery and I rented a hotel room in Sacramento and stayed with him for a week.
One Winter night a storm arose in Sacramento, the area where his tent was located flooded, took everything with it. I received one text after that "River, thanks for being my best friend, bye". That was the last time I heard from Ishmael! I truly believe he is loved by the Divine on this journey, and one day Ishmael will be in God's arms! And we will be together again!
Today I was blessed with Anthony and Dr. Angela, who have come to visit and work on the street since August, 2022. Anthony was shorter than me, and a 7th grader, now he is taller, and going into his Senior year. Both have a heart of gold! They are two of the most compassionate people I have known,
They love feeding people and giving socks, water, blankets, tooth paste, soap, and deodorant to our brothers and sisters on the street. Both treat them equally, as brothers and sisters. As Dorothy tells us above: our LOVE will transform our actions into the loaves and fishes that feed many!
Today Angela asked me why I was so quiet towards the end of our time together. And what I did not really tell her is every time I come home from the Tenderloin my heart is over flowing with the pain and their being treated as "social misfits" by society. But I own the words "feral" and a "social misfit"--I do not want to fit into this society of riches, of neglect, and power.
In all three of our stories, and during our Pride Week, God hears them. God sees them. God delivers. And so today on behalf of the LGBTYQIA?/Homeless+ young men and women whose throats are hoarse from crying, for the parents and society whose words and actions have left them out in the cold, for all those whose voices have been silenced, I join the Psalmist and pray: Give your ear, O God. Answer! You are good, steadfast, so listen. Today, right now, is the day of trouble, and we call on you. You will answer. You must answer. You said it yourself, "Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall on the ground" without your knowledge (Matthew 10:29).
"Save the child of your maidservant, O God" Psalm 86:16). If possible use me. I'm available. I am not afraid of those who kill my body but not my soul (Matthew 10:28). In fact come after me, come after me and I will meet you with my eyes and faith! I am afraid of losing my soul if I forget about the children, which include all adults! I would rather die in their service! Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
=====================
Please Consider Giving A Tax Deductible Gift to Temenos Catholic Worker:
By Mail:
P.O. Box 642656
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Fr. C. River Damien Carlos Sims, Director
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. . .
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=======================
Suggested Reading:
Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice
By Jennifer Mullan, PsyD
Come Home!
"Step out of the circle of time and into the Circle of Love."
(Quote given to Stephanie Salter upon learning of her terminal diagnosis).
(River 1988)
"A Saced Invitation to Come Home!"
"During those days, Saul, full of angry threats and rage wanted to murder, wanted to murder the disciples of the Lord Jesus. . .Just outside the city, a brilliant light flashing from heaven suddenly exploded around him. Falling on the ground, he heard a booming voice say to him, 'Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?'. .Saul replied, 'Who are you, Lord?' 'I am Jesus, the Victorious, the one you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city, where you will be told what you are to do"(Acts 9: 1, 3-7, THE PASSION VERSION).
----------------
Come Home! by Fr. Henri Nouwen
"Jesus is the host who wants to gather us around the table, the Good Shepherd who invites his people to a table where the cup is overflowing (Ps. 23). This is not a stern, harsh Lord, but the Lamb of God who says, 'Come into my home.' We can read the whole Bible with this image in mind. God is continually inviting us to dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of our life (Ps. 27:4). The Lord wants to be our home."
----
John Wesley, founder of Methodism, popular preacher among the working class in England, came to a living faith and experience of the grace of God, when one night at Aldersgate, he found his heart "strangely warmed".
The core of his message was that Christianity is based on the experience of God's grace, which bears fruit through a life of love. Wesley said, "When I have money, I get rid of it quickly, lest it find a way into my heart." He died at the age of eighty-eight, lifting his arms and saying, "The best of all, God is with us!"
Both the Apostle Paul, and John Wesley encountered Jesus, and both discovered God was continually inviting them into (his/her) house, for the "Lord wants us to be home!" It is a sacred invitation given to each one of us--we are all invited into God's house.
Both Paul and John Wesley grew in their journeys of faith, through hardships, and letting Jesus use them as they worked with people, they remained centered focus on Christ. They ultimately as their lives came to an end loved people, for simply who they were, with out judgment. Both had one conversion experience after another as they found the face of an ever loving Jesus.
At twelve years of age, at a campfire, in the Ozarks, I felt my heart "strangely warmed". From that moment forward I knew my life was was called ministry; and that journey lead me to seminary, to serving local churches; being kicked out of the denominational ministry for being "queer"; (in the photo above, painted of me by a former "john" who wanted to give me a gift as I left the world of prostitution I am clear eyed, sure of myself, sure of the God who called me at twelve; a few days after my experience with Our Lady of Guadalupe. I was invited to "Come Home!"
The years since have been a joyful time! Through coming to Polk Street, struggling to survive, having a second conversion experience in calling me back to the ordained ministry; probably the greatest conversion experience was through the death of Zach coming to see all creatures simply as creatures of God, deserving of a life of having a quality of life of food, shelter, health insurance, and love. Coming to not judging others. "Come Home!"
Through Zak's death and sitting with Hollywood Dave as he died, again, I was invited to "Come Home!"
With all of the pain of the Queer community over slogans worn at baseball games; the fundamentalist idiots on "Instagram", "Face book", "Ticktock" preaching their hate messages, politicians doing the same, and the history of the Church fanning the same Gospel through the centuries it is easily understood, why so many have come to hate, despise, and fear their message. The message of the Gospel has always been to "Come Home! All are welcome! I can personally testify that the message of Jesus is to Come Home!
My own personal experience is found in the words of Dan White, Jr.:
"When you live in a Culture War Mode there is always a battle to fight, a side to take, and people to fear.
When you live in God's Kingdom there is always a stranger to welcome, a neighbor to befriend, and an enemy to love."
It is no secret that I have some metal objects headed toward the center of my brain and threats on my life have intensified, plus as some have like to point out I am no longer as young as I was once was, therefore I need to prepare for illness, etc. well, as a friend once loved saying in a negative manner, "You are a child" , God's child actually, and I live in the present, trusting in the care of my heavenly Father. And continue to believe, and strive for what Fred Rogers said many years ago:
Deo Gratias! Thanks be to God!
================================
Please Consider Giving A Tax Deductible Gift to Temenos Catholic Worker:
By Mail:
P.O. Box 642656
San Francisco, CA 94164
Fr. C. River Damien Carlos Sims, Director
www.temenos.org
0n PayPal
Scan the QR Code to Donate
.
. ..
.
=======================
Suggested Reading:
Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice
By Jennifer Mullan, PsyD
.
The Man With A Thousand Billion Dollars!
Eleventh Week In Ordinary Time!
June 16, 2026
"Step out of the circle of time and into the Circle of Love."
(Quote given to Stephanie Salter upon learning of her terminal diagnosis).
======
"The Man With A Thousand Billion Dollars!
Every day I pass people, and talk to them, who are sitting on a corner, laying in a door way, who are in desperate need for food.
There is one man who is seventy-eight years old, in a wheel chair, and sleeps ever night in the doorway next to my building.
Actually in the last few years there is no place I have gone in the United States, where I have found no one homeless.
And so while thinking of our brothers and sisters on our streets, our doorways, I find myself reflecting upon a remarkable headline: Humanity now possesses its first trillionaire!
Not a billionaire. But a trillionaire. A single person who possesses one-thousand billion dollars. A person who is working on robots to perform all human service functions, and suggests giving every American a thousand dollars a month. A thousand would put all of us on the streets in San Francisco, it will not cover one months rent.
As part of my morning prayer, I cannot help but wonder what Jesus of Nazareth would say about such a moment. I suspect he might begin with a parable about a poor man--let's call him Lazarus--sitting outside the door--I call him Susan, David, James--begging outside my door.
As Bob Dylan asked many decades ago, "How many times can a man turn his head and pretend he doesn't see?"
Jesus constantly spoke about wealth. Not because money is evil. Because money reveals what we truly love.
The rich man and Lazarus in Luke 16 are separated not solely by a door. They are separated by wealth and indifference. The rich man daily saw the Lazarus suffering outside his door--and yet somehow, he never truly saw him.
Sound familiar? We turn our own eyes away from the neighbor at our doors, and streets.
The moral question is whether any economic system that creates trillionaires alongside starving children can be considered healthy.
The goods of creation is intended for everyone. Not merely for those fortunate enough for those who acquire them.
This is why the early Christian community in Acts 4:32-37 held possessions in common and ensured that no one was in need. Imagine that-- Due to their generous sharing no one was in need.
When I think of Christian greatness, I do not think first of billionaires:
+I think of St. Francis of Assisi stripping
himself of wealth.
+I think of Dorothy Day welcoming the poor.
+I think of Oscar Romero speaking for the voiceless.
+I think of Mother Teresa holding dying people in her arms.
+I think of the countless unnamed people, who feed and care for people in our City.
The saints measured success differently, perhaps they thought of success in these words by Elizabeth Gilbert:
You can measure your worth by your dedication to your path, not by your successes or failures.
St. Basil the Great understood our lectionary reading for Monday well:"Learn to generously share what you have with those who ask for help, and don't close the heart to the one who comes to borrow from you"(Matthew 5:42, The Passion Translation)" when he wrote:
"Are you not a thief if you treat the possessions given to you to administer as if they were your property? A person who takes away the clothing of another is called a robber. Does somebody who refuses to clothe the naked although able to do so deserve any other name? To the hungry belongs the bread which you keep from him, to the naked the clothing you preserve in your closet, to the barefoot the shoes which you let rot, to the needy the silver which you have buried." No resistance. Non-violence.
Transformed by the mystery of the cross, such a path is life-giving and affirming and has the potential to change the world. Deo Gratias!
----------------------------------------
---------------
Please Consider Giving A Tax Deductible Gift to Temenos Catholic Worker:
By Mail:
P.O. Box 642656
San Francisco, CA 94164
Fr. C. River Damien Carlos Sims, Director
www.temenos.org
0n PayPal
Scan the QR Code to Donate
.
. ..
.
=======================
Suggested Reading:
Decolonizing Therapy: Oppression, Historical Trauma, and Politicizing Your Practice
By Jennifer Mullan, PsyD
.