Scriptural Basis
John 21:1-14 (NRSV)
After these things Jesus showed himself again to the disciples by the Sea of Tiberias; and he showed himself in this way. Gathered there together were Simon Peter, Thomas called the Twin, Nathanael of Cana in Galilee, the sons of Zebedee, and two others of his disciples. Simon Peter said to them, "I am going fishing." They said to him, "We will go with you." They went out and got into the boat, but that night they caught nothing.
Just after daybreak, Jesus stood on the beach; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus. Jesus said to them, "Children, you have no fish, have you?" They answered him, "No." He said to them, "Cast the net to the right side of the boat, and you will find some." So they cast it, and now they were not able to haul it in because there were so many fish. That disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, "It is the Lord!" When Simon Peter heard that it was the Lord, he put on some clothes, for he was naked, and jumped into the sea. But the other disciples came in the boat, dragging the net full of fish, for they were not far from the land, only about a hundred yards off.
When they had gone ashore, they saw a charcoal fire there, with fish on it, and bread. Jesus said to them, "Bring some of the fish that you have just caught." So Simon Peter went aboard and hauled the net ashore, full of large fish, a hundred fifty-three of them; and though there were so many, the net was not torn. Jesus said to them, "Come and have breakfast." Now none of the disciples dared to ask him, "Who are you?" because they knew it was the Lord. Jesus came and took the bread and gave it to them, and did the same with the fish. This was now the third time that Jesus appeared to the disciples after he was raised from the dead.
Blog Reflection
One of the biggest lies told by Christianists and for many years the Christian Church all together, is that the only sexuality that is valid, pure and holy is heterosexuality. As States such as Minnesota and many others push for marriage amendments and/or try to pass marriage equality the one matter the opposition to LGBT equality raises is homosexuality. The reason that marriage equality for same-sex couples should be stopped no matter what it takes is because of the "dangers" of homosexuality.
When humans are afraid of something, the greatest cause of their fear is usually due to ignorance. Most of us who are LGBT have heard so many gross statements about homosexuality and those who do it, that what is really offensive by itself also becomes quite comical in the long run.
Contrary to those who think they know, most LGBT people who engage in homosexual love are not perverted any more or less than straight people. LGBT people are successful, intelligent, beautiful and are as capable as living pure and holy lives as anyone can.
What constitutes "pure of heart" and "holiness" is not the act of sexuality inside or outside the marriage of a man and woman. What is a matter of purity and holiness is the intention, the attitude and the mutual honesty, love and respect of the individual(s) engaged in the act. Loving what you are looking at, and feeling those awesome urges that we all feel are part of the wonder of our sexual beings that God created as part of who we are.
Did anyone else besides me read the verses in today's Easter Gospel about Peter putting on his clothes because he was naked before he dove in the river to go meet the risen Lord? Hello, 11 men on board a fishing boat and one man, the man who is said to be the first of the Apostles was naked. I think we could easily assume that Peter was not the only one.
When Jesus greeted the eleven men who were out to sea fishing, to see if they had caught anything, and then to allow them to get an overflowing catch, do you think he was at all concerned that Peter was naked?
After finally coming ashore they sat around a fire and shared in the meal of bread and fish. What a beautiful story.
The risen Jesus gets such a bad rap when people insist that he must have been a sexual prude. The resurrection is such a fairy tale when people insist on making Jesus the reason why every other kind of sexual activity besides what happens between a man and a woman so that a baby can be born. The cross and resurrection might as well be a story in a dusty old book on a shelf if the story of human sexuality is limited to only one kind. I really do not think that God or Jesus are really that small minded.
The sexual love between two women or two men is indeed blessed by God as something very beautiful, very holy and very pure. The suggestion that those who practice that kind of love between each other are somehow damned forever and therefore must be treated like animals who must be tamed is just nonsense and an excuse for an enterprise of hate. It certainly does not exemplify the resurrection.
As we continue through Easter, let us all see the resurrected Lord with a new set of eyes. The eyes of love through which God sees and embraces all of God's pure and holy people.
Prayers
Almighty Father, who gave your only Son to die for our sins and to rise for our justification: Give us grace so to put away the leaven of malice and wickedness, that we may always serve you in pureness of living and truth; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen. (Collect for Friday in Easter Week, Book of Common Prayer, page 224).
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