God is Sweet. Love is Sweet. Now, go and be the sweetness…

This morning we arrive back in the aftermath of a restoration of love.  The woman at the well was granted sight of herself and the world around her.  Jesus loved past the society of the time’s barriers of race and class to actually see and restore a human being.

The events of the morning were so odd that the disciples were struggling to believe that Jesus was a real person.  So often when we love in ways that are queer…people begin to wonder if we are real.  Our society expects us to wear so many masks and normalizations that when we take off the mask and people find love…they struggle to believe it is real.  The disciples got nervous and sheepishly requested, “Rabbi, eat something.”  You see the disciples wanted to know that Jesus to eat something so that they could test and make sure he was still real.  You see they had never seen someone love another person like this.  When was the last time someone wondered if you were a real person…just because they were amazed by how you loved?

Jesus replied, “I have food to eat that you do not know about.”  The sustenance of Jesus was the spirit of the living God found and sustained in the people that Jesus kept encountering.  We too can feed off of love if we will take off our masks and allow ourselves real encounters.

Due to the woman’s testimony, many of the Samaritans came to believe in Jesus.  Many people were changed because Jesus took the time to love a woman.  Will we allow ourselves the time to change the world through loving someone?  What if one encounter can change everything?  Would you take it?  Would you speak?  The world is curious…

After Jesus left Samaria, Jesus traveled to Cana in Galilee.  A royal official ran out to meet Jesus and asked him to come and heal his son.  Jesus replied, “Go and your son will be made well.”  The boy was healed because Jesus spoke.  We all have similar power…if we will just have the courage to step out of our boundaries and speak a queer word…  “I love you.”  “You are beautiful.”  “You are special to me.”  “Is there anything I can help you with?”  “Can I help you get something to eat?”  “Can I help you find somewhere to sleep?”  “Would you like to sit down and chat for a little while?”  “I have missed you.”  “I have never met someone like you before…you are amazing.”  On and on and on…

Friends…

We have the power!  We have the words of healing!  We have the words of healing!!  We have the words of healing!!!

The boy was healed because Jesus spoke.  I know many of you don’t believe in miracles…but when you begin to speak healing words you will begin to see the miraculous.  You will begin to see people made whole by love.  The miraculous is the sweetness of life.

God is sweet.  Love is sweet.  Now, go and be the sweetness…

Amen.