Afraid

It was still the first day of the week. That evening, while the disciples were behind closed doors because they were afraid of the Jewish authorities, Jesus came and stood among them. He said, “Peace be with you.” After he said this, he showed them his hands and his side. When the disciples saw the Lord, they were filled with joy. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father sent me, so I am sending you.” Then he breathed on them and said, “Receive the Holy Spirit. If you forgive anyone’s sins, they are forgiven; if you don’t forgive them, they aren’t forgiven.” (John 20:19-23, CEB)

What is something you do because you are afraid of how people will respond to you?

Do you hide your true self because you believe society will not accept you?

This past Sunday was Pentecost, the day Christians celebrate the giving of the Holy Spirit, to empower believers to be bold in their proclamation of love and acceptance by God of everyone. And yet, is everyone welcome?

It seems interesting to me that this passage and this post comes on Harvey Milk Day.

Harvey Milk was an activist, organizer, and the first openly gay man elected to public office in the country as a member of the San Francisco Board of Supervisors in the late 1970s. Harvey Milk came out and started organizing against discrimination of gay and lesbian business owners in the Castro District of San Francisco, and against the Briggs Initiative (this was an initiative on the California state ballot in 1978 that would have banned gays and lesbians from working in California schools). Milk was responsible for passing gay rights ordinances for the city of San Francisco and served eleven months in office before he was assassinated on November 27, 1978, along with San Francisco Mayor George Moscone. We celebrate Harvey Milk Day on his birthday, May 22.

Harvey was someone who spoke what needed to be spoken and did what needed to be done even in the face of fear.

Are you able to do that?

Can you speak love in the face of hate?

Can you be the voice of reason in the face of hate?

Will you be in a locked room, or out speaking truth in love?

Loving People. Loving God.