Let us not delay in stating the obvious. We are meeting this morning in my house. We find ourselves in this space after many conversations about the need to find a new space to meet on Sunday mornings. Though our parting with Mable Peabody’s was quite amicable, we are still meeting this morning at a critical juncture.
This morning we are able to feel the power of Peter’s words to Jesus at the end of the 13th chapter of the Gospel of John, “Where are you going?” Many of us are looking at each other and asking a similar question, “Where are we going?”
A few verses later, Jesus does not reply with specifics. Jesus simply says, “Do not be afraid.”
In times of uncertainty, it is easy to be afraid. In these moments, we desire clear certain paths and often they are not to be found. So where are we to go? Jesus asks us to go that place beyond fear and create our own path of love.
How do we get to that path beyond fear? Jesus responds, “I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life.”
This verse is used to consistently pummel those who don’t believe that only Jesus is the way, the truth, and the life. I think such an interpretation is a failure to move beyond fear and to the path of love. If we follow the path of love and are slowly made to be like Jesus, then we too should be able to declare, “I am the way, I am the truth, and I am the life.” Thus, through this queer love, we too become the way, the truth, and the life.
Jesus affirms such a message later in the chapter, “Those who love me will love others.” The reaction should produce action. Those who long for the way, should be the way. Those who long for the truth, should be the truth. Those who long for life, should be the life.
Jesus tells us to believe a higher love is coming. I invite you to be that higher love. When you get to the end of the way, then make your own path. When you get to the end of your truth, then be the truth the world needs. When you get to the end of your life, then be life for others.
The message of Jesus is that the path of love is the path that is not easy…but rather the path filled with risk and danger that takes us to places of love and hope that we can only dream of.
We have some decisions to make as far as our name and location, but let us not forget that we are on the right path when we are blazing our own queer trail of love.
I conclude with the words of Jesus to the disciples at the end of the 14th chapter, “Get up, let’s go.”
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