In Acts 2:14, 36-41, Peter, the disciple of Jesus, is up against great odds. After Jesus’ crucifixion, Peter leaves the safety of the locked room where he hides with the other disciples, including the women and Jesus’ brothers (Acts 1:14). The same crowd that crucified Jesus poses a threat to this small, frightened and huddled group assembled in an upper room.  Yet Jesus’ followers bravely emerge, now filled with the Holy Spirit, and stand before the Judeans in Jerusalem. Peter preaches Jesus Christ as the resurrected Messiah — a message certain to hasten his own crucifixion!  

Adding fuel to the fire, Peter holds the crowd responsible for Jesus’ death. Perhaps at this point he and the disciples duck to avoid flying rocks. Yet, immediately a miracle occurs. Instead of a violent or even defensive response by the crowd, the Judeans are instantly affected.  “Hearing this, they were cut to the heart…” and they ask, “What are we to do?” (verse 37).  Peter’s response is “repent – make a radical change.” Turn away from the corruption of this generation that causes pain, intolerance and all of those behaviors that continue to “crucify Christ.” The miracle is that many in the crowd actually change!

Too often many of us in the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender community find ourselves facing great odds. We live in communities where residents and public officials feel safe maligning us or treating us unjustly. We raise our concerns and these words further provoke hostility or fall on deaf ears. On top of this, change seems to take forever. But the radical change that takes place in response to Peter’s sermon is immediate.  Sometimes when all hope seems lost, the once unreceptive crowd suddenly opens up their hearts and embraces sweeping changes in society. We see this when more and more states write legislation to protect the gay community.

	When in our communities have we witnessed surprising or swift change in society that seemed next to impossible?

The response to Peter’s sermon reminds us that we must continue to have the courage to speak out against injustice, even when the odds are against us. The Holy Spirit has ways of changing hearts.

The psalmist in Psalm 116:1-4, 12-19 proclaims love for God because God has heard and responded to the psalmist’s needs. The words of this grateful singer’s song remind us about the many ways God provides salvation for us because God continually bends down to hear our deepest anguish and then acts.

In response, the psalmist says, “I vow to keep the practices of the faith” (verse 18).  Has the singer been inconsistent in keeping practices of faith in the past? Perhaps the psalmist has been disheartened.  As our community knows, it can be difficult to worship when “the pangs of Sheol” (verse 3) ensnare us. Yet the psalmist is now able to sing because God’s justice has been tasted. The heart burns with passion and the psalmist shouts with joy to be God’s servant who can loosen bonds (verse 16). When our hearts burn with passion for justice, it is healthy for us to cry out. Speaking out is a faithful response to God’s acts on our behalf.

	What are ways that we can keep our passion for God and for God’s justice burning in the GLBT community?

Matters of the heart are tied together again in Luke 24:13-35 when on the road to Emmaus, the hearts of two disciples of Christ burn from within as they listen to the prophetic words of the risen Christ.  This narrative may be the most mysterious of all the resurrection stories.  Since the travelers seem to think the one who joins them is just another regular guy. It seems that he looked like any stranger. 

	Why do you think that Jesus’ identity is not immediately revealed? Why do you imagine Jesus did not “come out” to these disciples?

The encounter on this road and the relationship that follows parallel the deepening levels of intimacy that occurs as strangers become friends. When we first lay eyes on one another our information about the other is limited. Clothing and mannerisms might provide some information.  Yet nationalities, relationship statuses and sexual orientations are concealed until we engage in genuine conversation. Often, our identity as LGBT people is not recognized by strangers we meet. Then, like the disciples who are still not clued in to the stranger’s identity, we exchange stories with one another to discover if we wish to trust or invest more time together. The disciples share with Jesus their experiences in Jerusalem during the crucifixion. Even when Jesus responds to these events by appealing to the prophets, he is still unrecognized. Yet something, maybe the burning in their hearts (verse 32), leads the two disciples to invite Jesus home with them. Jesus accepts the invitation and, while breaking bread together, his identity is revealed.

Breaking bread together can open paths for friendship and intimacy. By breaking the bread, a common meal becomes sacred. Trust can be built, and we can learn to care about each other and feel secure in revealing ourselves in all fullness. The Gospel calls the LGBT and straight community to come to the table — to eat, laugh, cry, love. Our hope through Christ is that, in the sharing of the meal, we can co-create a world that accepts us as God created us.  When we open up and truly get to know “the other” – who, like us, embodies Christ – will not our hearts burn with joy?