Jesus And Women

Houstonians take a stand for God at cemetery for vets

Hundreds of flag-waving demonstrators converged on Houston National Cemetery on Independence Day to protest reports of religious censorship at burial services there.

"We felt it was one of the best ways we could have spent this time of the Fourth of July," said Marine veteran Steve Cranston, a 58-year-old pastor from Houston who attended the protest with his wife, Judy, 66. "We feel like it's our duty."

"And I believe the ones who are already buried here would be right with us," his wife said.

The Houston Area Pastor Council planned Monday's protest in support of a federal lawsuit filed by the nonprofit Liberty Institute on behalf of American Legion Post 586, Veterans of Foreign Wars District 4, and National Memorial Ladies, a volunteer group that attends burials at the cemetery.

The suit accuses U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs officials and Houston National Cemetery director Arleen Ocasio of banning members of these groups from invoking the names of "God" or "Jesus" at burials, and forbidding the recitation of religious messages unless the deceased's family submits the text to her for approval.

Ocasio has not responded to requests for comment. Other VA officials, however, say the names of God and Jesus are not only allowed during interments, they are freely spoken at national cemeteries across the country.

"We cherish the religious freedoms our Veterans secured for us," Steve Muro, VA's Under Secretary for Memorial Affairs, said in a statement published online Friday. "At all VA national cemeteries, families are free to choose and use the burial rites and rituals that are meaningful or sacred to them. ... Families are equally free to have a service without religious references."

Such reassurances did little to assuage the anger of protesters clad in red, white and blue who rallied Monday in the Hemicycle, a large, circular memorial at the heart of the cemetery. Bikers in leather jackets stood shoulder-to-shoulder with women in tea party T-shirts, and veterans in combat fatigues. They sang , waved Bibles and flags over their heads, shouted God bless yous and prayed.

Why do you seek the living among the dead?

Then they returned and prepared spices and fragrant oils. And they rested on the Sabbath according to the commandment.

Now on the first day of the week, very early in the morning, they, and certain other women with them, came to the tomb bringing the spices which they had prepared. But they found the stone rolled away from the tomb. Then they went in and did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. And it happened, as they were greatly perplexed about this, that behold, two men stood by them in shining garments. Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" And they remembered His words. Then they returned from the tomb and told all these things to the eleven and to all the rest. It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the other women with them, who told these things to the apostles. And their words seemed to them like idle tales, and they did not believe them.

In yesterday's reading, we read of Jesus' death on the cross, the darkness at noon, the tearing of the veil in the temple. Jesus cried out, " Father, 'into Your hands I commit My spirit.' " The centurion declared, "Certainly this was a righteous man!" The people beat their breasts and returned, while Jesus' acquaintances and the women who'd followed Him from Galilee watched all from a distance. Joseph of This verse ended yesterday's reading, and it begins today's. The Sabbath gives us a pause. It's as if all the world is silent and rests for a pace, a breath, a day. This Sabbath pause is a moment between worlds, in a sense. It's like a moment between darkness and dawn -- a new day and perhaps even a new world is born here, in this one day of rest.

Then, as they were afraid and bowed their faces to the earth, they said to them, "Why do you seek the living among the dead? He is not here, but is risen! Remember how He spoke to you when He was still in Galilee, saying, 'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, and be crucified, and the third day rise again.'" And they remembered His words. And the good news really begins! The messengers in the shining garments are angels, messengers with a message for them. Indeed, such a message is this! "Why do you seek the living among the dead?" Forever we remember these words, and the angels begin the task that starts this day: the words of Jesus are recalled and illumined for them. And my study bible adds, "He is risen! The news of great joy, heralding the new dispensation, resounds throughout the whole world, transforming the creation and the lives of millions of men and women.

Jesus and women

Jesus and women, Paul and women

Jesus, the Man Who Loved Women, He Treasures, Esteems, and Delights in You

Jesus and women

Women in the ministry of Jesus, a study of Jesus' attitudes to women and their roles as reflected in his earthly life