| p2. October 17-31 Communion. Oct 17. God is God of the living, not the dead. See Matthew 22:32. Jesus pursued the religious leaders� disbelief in the resurrection of the dead by reminding them of God�s self-declaration to Moses as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. How could this be, Jesus questioned, if they were not still living? For to God all of these are alive. See Luke 20:38. Oct 18. Jesus said, �If they do not listen to Moses and the prophets, neither will they be convinced even if someone rises from the dead.� See Luke 16:31. This story foreshadows people who would refuse to believe in a resurrected Christ. Oct 19. �Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.� See Matthew 5:4. By your word, comfort all who mourn. Oct 20. Jesus said, �I am the resurrection, and the life. Those who believe in me, even though they die, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die.� See John 11:25-26 Oct 21. God does not force. God loves, then waits. Jesus said, �Do not let yourselves be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me�And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again and will take you to myself, so that where I am, there you will be.� See John 14:1, 3. We may prepare our own rooms or homes carefully and elegantly, but we know loved ones are what make it a home. Christ Jesus, keep my heart from being troubled, trusting God and trusting you. Oct. 22. Then their eyes were opened, and he vanished from their sight. See Luke 24:30-32. Just as the resurrected Jesus opened the scriptures, so we who are raised from closets provide hope, and help others to know what it means to be Lesbian, Gay, and Christian. Being visibly out of the closet helps others. Oct 23. Though we have walked through the shadows of death, we fear no evil, God, for you are with us. �Death has been swallowed up in victory. Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?� See 1 Corinthians 15:54-55. Oct 24. May your Holy Spirit live in me. Jesus said, �This is my body that is in you. Do this in remembrance of me�This cup is the new covenant in my blood. Do this, as often as you drink it, in remembrance of me.� See 1 Corinthians 11:24-25. May your flesh and blood unite with mine, Christ Jesus, so your love may live in me. Oct 25. Some churches are warm, some are cold. The reward for the warm church is that we see Christ in them. Jesus said, �For truly I tell you, whoever gives you a cup of water to drink because you hear the name of Christ will by no means lose the reward.� See Mark 9:41. Oct 26. Love your neighbor. Jesus said, �I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothes, I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me,�Just as you did this for your neighbor, you did it for me.� See Matthew 25:35-36, 40. Oct 27. See yourself in another�s shoes. �Remember those who are in prison, as though you were in prison with them; those who are being tortured, as though you yourselves were being tortured. See Hebrews 13:3. Oct 28. All people are invited to Christ�s church. God made and loves all people. Many if not most lesbian and gay men left the church in youth at a time when they felt unwelcome or uncomfortable. It is man, not God who rejects lesbian and gay people. See Matthew 22:8-9. We choose you, O God, as you have chosen us. Thank you, Lord, for the hospitality that many of your churches now show us. Oct 29. Job said, �For I know my Redeemer lives,� after loosing family, friends, wealth, health, and social standing in the religious community. See Job 19:25-27. We too can assert that our redeemer lives, and when we die, we will see God, and God will come stand by us, because God loves each one of us. Oct 30. �Why do you look for the living among the dead?� See Luke 24:5. The angels asked this question to the women when they came to Jesus� tomb. Christ Jesus, may your Holy Spirit live in us, and may we be able to receive you in one another. Oct 31. Underneath our masks we all share human feelings and impulses. �Let us love one another, because love is from God, everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.� See 1 John 4:7. Bless us with loving sexual and spiritual communions, God of love. |
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