What Color Eyes Does Nadia Have

January 16, 2011

2nd Sunday after Epiphany. A. Year

• What does being chosen by God? What does it mean to be loved by God?

strength and protection from the enemy are the images evoked in Isaiah 49: 1-7. The servant, the people of Israel, confessing his identity as a born and called by God, endowed with gifts (covered by the protective shadow of God, verse 2), and then sent to show strength and light to others. The images of birth and body connect with the sword and arrow. Restoration is the underlying theme, the restoration of those who have been neglected. Psalm 40: 1-11 evokes more images of restoration and protection proclaim faith in God as one whose love and loyally maintains alliance unless the psalmist.

• Can war bring peace? Can you build the destruction? Can you cure the violence? What leads you to answer these questions as well? What they teach you about your prayers, your experience and your reason?

In 1 Corinthians 1: 1-9, Paul greets the church in Corinth, described the congregation as a faithful and then encouraged to be blameless. Paul's exhortation continues through this reading, accusing members of the community of all kinds of wrongdoing. Moreover, the demand for irreprensibilidad Paul continues to work as a concept of control from above. Those who have the power to determine what is acceptable, while others compete for acceptance.

What connects Paul's letter to the other readings of the day is the language of force through the blessing of God, here expressed as follows: "ye come behind in no gift" (verse 7). Communities of all types may want to explore this line further and celebrate the abundance of gifts in their midst.

The gospel passage this week change Matthew John. John 1: 29-42 presents the dialogue of John the Baptist with Jesus right after his baptism, Jesus and also between Andrew and Simon.

In light of previous texts that promise power and restoration, the call here is for a name change, new identities, and this new understanding of one's identity. Let's look at verse 43: "You are Simon son of Jonah, thou shalt be called Cephas (which means Peter)." The name change connects with an invitation: "Come and see" (verse 39) and eventually an invitation to the leadership. The call is to claim their own identity in its fullness, and use them to follow Jesus (verse 43), to do God's work, even if we do not feel specially prepared or comfortable.

• What or who has done more to shape who you are and the modeling of your faith community? How does following Jesus shapes your identity and your congregation? How to reveal your identity in the world?

This dynamic echoes in depth for many LGBT people, called to express their identity, to use the gift of oneself to act fairly, even though it is neither safe nor comfortable doing, but needs to be done.

Prayer

inclusive

God of many names,

honor and help us reclaim our identity in you.

You know us better than anyone else.

Help us to be truly ourselves, making it

this as we are, without guilt or shame.

Our actions and tasks we call

places where we ask: where is God? Let

time to stop and know that

you're so close to us

as our next breath.

Amen.