Isn't this the carpenter's son?
I don't know whether it is comforting or demoralising to know that prejudice was evident in Jesus' day as much as it is today?
Jesus is in the synagogue in his home town where he is known, not so much for being a preacher, but for being the son of Mary (and presumably Joseph ... discuss!) and for the things children get up to as they grow up.
If we are committed to Jesus being both fully human and fully divine, then the human Jesus would have fought with his brothers, irritated his sisters and - given the level of wisdom and knowledge that scripture suggests he had in his youth - come across as rather arrogant to his neighbours.
All these things they had learnt to live with: but this was something new. Here he was, now a man but still the boy from the backstreet carpenter's shop, teaching with wisdom, performing deeds of power, such that people were left astounded.
But it doesn't take long for that astonishment to turn into offence. It doesn't take long for the wonder of "How" to transition into the animosity of "Why". We know this lad, we understand this lad, his heritage, his prospects, his potential ... and it doesn't include wisdom and power at this level.
This is prejudice: reducing someone else to fit the model of who you (we) expect them to be. We see it still: we do it still. One of the major steps - and one we need to take again and again - of challenging prejudice is to acknowledge those moments when our own prejudice creeps up and surprises us: when we find ourselves reducing another persons capacity, potential and humanity to fit the model of who we expect them to be.
As you know, prejudice comes in many forms: racism and sexism, around class and intellectual ability, in matters of gender identity and sexuality.
Here at St Mary Redcliffe we are proud - rightly proud - that we proclaim a gospel that celebrates diversity and inclusion: you can read the welcome statement on our website here. And this month we have a particular opportunity (in the words of St Paul) "to stand firm" with one section of society that is still marginalised and that still suffers significant discrimination as Bristol Pride 2021 takes place over the next two weeks.
Despite 'society' moving on a huge amount in the last decade (from women talking about their wives and men about their husbands on TV game shows to the Methodist Church voting overwhelmingly this week to allow same sex marriages in their churches), not everyone in society has made that journey.
Our LGBT+ sisters and brothers will, according to the Bristol Pride website, be "showcasing our wonderfully diverse community ... overcoming prejudice, hatred, reducing isolation and showing members of the LGBT+ community that they are not alone".
They are - you are - not alone. You are made in the image of God, God has declared you "very good" and God showers upon you that unconditional sunshine of love ... and we all know that sunshine in showers produces a rainbow.
Bristol City Council representatives and Pride Festival organisers opening the rainbow crossing
