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The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity  

is an ecumenical international Christian week,  

normally celebrated in the Northern Hemisphere  

between January 18th and 25th.  

For this observance, some churches might organize daily events,

or concentrate on one joint service with neighbouring churches.

The beginning of...

Today we hear about the beginning of Jesus’ ministry, his first public event as man, prophet and teacher.

His ministry started with his baptism by his cousin, John,

Who symbolically dunked him underwater at the river Jordan.

As a baptized child of God, Jesus would go about his mission helping people and talking about God.

As we remember...

The good news of the extraordinary birth has to do with the fact that Jesus will be brutally executed? 

That’s not so cute, and isn't something to ooh and aah about!

The birth is special because of the baby’s death.

And yes, Christmas without keeping Good Friday and Easter in mind is absurd.

So if Jesus is a different kind of King, 

What does his kingdom look like?

Jesus’ kingdom is a Kingdom of remembrance.

Jesus is one who remembers us when he comes in to his own.

Jesus’ kingdom is a kingdom of forgiveness,

A place where all our sins are forgiven, our debts are paid in full.

His is a kingdom of accompaniment,

He is a shepherd king who walks with us through the darkest valley.

We have nothing to fear for God is near,

That is the message of this Psalm of trust.

God’s reign is universal, which gives us hope beyond what seems to be infinite, 

but actually isn’t: God is beyond all that is, above, and before, 

God is the stability amidst the chaos,

The firm foundation and defence in the face of destruction and fear.

When we struggle and argue with God, 

this intense deepening relationship can give us new hope, 

new meaning and new life, we can be blessed through the encounter 

if we allow ourselves to be open to it.

Which one of you would leave the 99 behind to seek out the single lost one?

This is actually a good question.

Most people would probably answer: no!

It’s not good use of time.

You cut your losses and move along with the 99%.

You don’t waste your time on the slim minority if the vast majority is secured.

But perhaps the most compelling passage which helps us understand that God is not just male is located in the first chapter of the Bible, in Genesis.

(Gen 1:27) So God created humankind in his image, 

male and female he created them.”

So despite the fact that God is referred to here in the masculine,

If men and women are created in God’s image, 

then God must include both genders in God’s essence, 

or in other words, God is non-binary, 

or perhaps bi-gendered.

Condemnation of same-gendered sexual activity as fornication 

has been standard fare in homophobic discourses for a long time.

However, according to one scholar, the listing of “fornication, impurity and licentiousness are not condemning sexual orientation or queer sexualities per se. Rather they are referring to acts of “hostility, anger and hate” and the way in which we “use people as things” instead of respecting other people.” (Cheng)

In other words, what a lot of the listed activities have in common 

is selfish abuse and disregard for the humanity of the other, 

rather than mutuality, respect and love.

As I read our Gospel text relating Jesus’ prayer on the eve  

of his trial and death,

I picture Jesus on his knees,  

or perhaps better with arms wide outstretched looking up to heaven,  

maybe like the painting we have of Jesus ascending  

on our upper chancel back wall.  

If it were like in a movie,  

there...