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My name is Rev Elder Maxwell Reay and I am in Edinburgh Scotland.
Greetings to everyone this day.
In Gospel of John chapter 10 v 22 onwards -
Jesus is walking in a covered area of the Temple. It is winter. He is questioned by those there.
Who are you?
If you are the Messiah, tell us.
Jesus answers by saying I have told you but you do not believe.
He further explains that there are others who do believe who he is and they have been given the gift of Eternal life. A gift that comes directly from God as Jesus is one with God.
Like Jesus - How many times have we as an LGBTQI+ people been asked,
Who are you?
What right have you to be here?
Why should your views be taken into account?
How many times have we had to explain who we are?
Sometimes it can feel relentless, exhausting and emotionally draining.
But the “coming out” process can also be exciting, exhilarating and liberating. It should be this way. But it is not always this way.
Especially in places where LGBTQI+ rights are not protected by the laws of the land.
We see Jesus answering (a kind of coming out) in a calm and straightforward manner. He answers with facts, clarity and certainty.
Jesus knows who he is. Just as we know who we are.
Jesus had found his people, his tribe, those who understand him and believe.
In MCC we can find our people, our tribe – a diverse, vibrant, fabulous, multi-facetted, queer community of people across the Globe.
An interconnected rainbow people. Connected to each other and connected to our planet.
So as we continue to celebrate the resurrected Jesus - Let us continue to be a resurrected community - a welcoming and liberating community for all those around the globe who still experience the daily questioning of who they are.
Let us pray:
Glorious loving God
Be with each one of us today, as we do what we need to do
To be who we are.
In the ordinary and
In the complicated.
Be with us
Be our guide
Be our strength
As we strive for justice
Especially in places where justice does not exist
Help us share who we are
So we become your presence on this earth.
Amen.
And may God go with you this day.
Jesus is rejected by the Jews
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