John the Baptist called out from the wilderness to make a way for Jesus. You see it is important as we begin to make our way through the Gospel of Mark that John the Baptist is the fulcrum of the entire story. John the Baptist sets the stage. John the Baptist made the way from the wilderness. John the Baptist called out Jesus’ name.
This morning as we begin Black History Month, I am reminded of my upbringing on the Southside of Atlanta. As a young man one Sunday, I remember sitting at a large predominately black church and being moved beyond words when the pastor looked straight into my eyes…yea perhaps even my soul…and loudly declared, “somebody is calling your name.”
We all have our own John the Baptists that are walking around…those voices that are calling us to our destiny. Jesus was moved to be Jesus because John the Baptist was calling his name. John the Baptist brought Jesus to his destiny.
Will we listen to those voices that are calling us to our destiny? Will we listen to those who call out our name?
Perhaps an even greater question is…when we call the names of others will we call their names to call them to their destiny or will we call their names to slander and hurt them? There are many who cannot hear their name being called to higher and greater things because they drowned out such words with all the shit they keep talking about everybody else. Are you going to be a life giver or a life taker?
There is nothing queerer than to love people and help them live into their queerness.
John the Baptist baptized Jesus and the heavens opened up. Jesus accepted exactly who God created Jesus to be and the heavens opened up. If you will respond to the call of God to simply be who God created you to be and live into your destiny…then you will have the otherworldly experience of the heavens opening up. Do you want the heavens to open up in your life? Respond to the call of God to be who God has created you to be and live without the fear of not being normal. Be my friends just be you. God is there.
After Jesus accepts Jesus destiny…just like when we start to accept our own purposes and destiny…there was and will always be the temptation to turn back. I am sure you have heard such words…you are never going to make any money doing that…your major will never get you a job…that sounds crazy…you might as well go ahead and get divorced…go back to the places that are safe. Don’t turn back! Don’t turn back! Don’t turn back my friend! We all need you to be you. We need you to be who God has called you to be.
If we keep going, we will begin to realize that there is a crowd of people who are following us. When we have the courage to be, there will be many who want to know the secret of our being. Jesus began to collect disciples after Jesus responded to the divine call to be, embraced who he was called to be and pushed through the temptation to turn back. Can you imagine if Jesus had turned back? Jesus pushed through to become and became exactly who the people needed Jesus to be. Where are you at right now? What are you becoming? Who’s following you?
The entire end of the first chapter of the Gospel of Mark is filled with healing. The healing comes from being. The evil spirit shouts out, “I know that is you Jesus! Leave me alone.” Jesus confronted evil by simply being. I want us to live in such a way that all the evildoers in this world are convicted in their evil at our mere presence. I think this can happen when we have the courage to be and live into who God has called us to be. Later, Jesus heals a leper. Leprosy was the social stigma of the era. Will we be the people who heal the social stigmas of our era by being who we are called by God to be and encouraging others to be the same? Will we be the destroyers of social stigmas? Will we be the ones who heal in love? Will we open doors for all people and invite them in?
Do you choose to live in a way that heals your self and others? Do you choose to be?
It begins with listening to those who are calling your name, accepting your destiny, pushing through the temptation to not be and joining in the restorative healing of all things.
Do you choose to live in a way that heals your self and others? Do you choose to be?
Go in love. Go in love. Go in love. Go in love.
Amen.
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