Open Table, St John Waterloo, Sunday 14 April 2024
Easter 2 – Gospel: Luke 24:36-48
As we gather this evening for our Open Table service, full of warmth, welcome and inclusion here at St John’s, we come with our own unique experiences, our struggles, and our joys.
As queer Christians, we often come to Church seeking Christ’s message of hope, affirmation, and empowerment in a world that frequently marginalizes and excludes us.
And in today’s reading from Luke’s Gospel, we find such a message –
the message of resurrection that speaks directly to our hearts and identities.
In this passage, we encounter the risen Christ appearing to his disciples in the midst of their fear and confusion. He greets them with the words “Peace be with you,” offering them reassurance in the midst of their doubts.
But even as he extends this peace, the disciples are startled and terrified, unable to comprehend the reality of Jesus’ resurrection. They question whether they are seeing a ghost, unable to reconcile their preconceived notions with the unexpected reality before them.
How often do we, as queer Christians, find ourselves in a similar situation startled and terrified by the unexpected twists and turns of life, unable to reconcile our identities with the expectations and prejudices of the world around us?
How often do we long for a message of peace and affirmation in the midst of our doubts and struggles?
But just as Jesus reassures his disciples with his presence, so too does he reassure us with his message of inclusion and empowerment. He invites the disciples to touch him, to see that he is not a ghost but a living, breathing presence amongst them.
And he commissions them to be witnesses of his resurrection to proclaim repentance and forgiveness of sins to all nations. In this commissioning, Jesus extends his invitation to all people, regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or any other characteristic that the world may use to divide and exclude.
He invites us to embrace our identities fully, without shame or apology, and to use our unique gifts and experiences to bear witness to the transformative power of his resurrection.
But embracing our identities as queer Christians is not always easy. We may face rejection and discrimination within society, and definitely within certain elements of the church.
We may struggle with doubts and fears, wondering if we truly belong in the family of God.
But just as Jesus reassured his disciples with the words “Peace be with you,” so too does he offer us his peace a peace that surpasses all understanding, a peace that empowers us to overcome our doubts and fears, and to live boldly and faithfully as children of God.
As we continue our journey through this Easter season, may we be reminded of the radical inclusivity of Christ’s resurrection a resurrection that embraces everyone, welcomes everyone and empowers everyone to live fully and authentically as beloved children of God.
And may we, in our Open Table community, and in our lives beyond here, respond to his call to be witnesses of his resurrection, sharing with others the hope and joy that come from knowing and following him.
Amen
C. E. Lord OBE 