Today’s reflection centers on the journey of faith, the call to be an affirming and inclusive community, and the challenge of letting our light shine in a world that often prefers darkness. Drawing from the story of the Israelites’ exodus, we see that God does not always lead us by the shortest or easiest path. Instead, God guides us in ways that prepare us for the challenges ahead, sometimes leading us through the wilderness so that we might grow in courage and resilience. The journey is not just about leaving behind what enslaves us, but also about carrying with us the memory of those who have gone before, honoring our past as we move into an unknown future.
The words of Jesus in the Beatitudes remind us that God’s blessing rests not on the powerful or the comfortable, but on those who are poor in spirit, those who mourn, those who hunger for justice, and those who make peace. To be salt and light in the world is to live in such a way that our presence brings out the best in others and illuminates the path for those who follow. This is not a call to arrogance or self-congratulation, but to humble service and courageous love.
As a congregation, embracing the identity of an affirming church is both a celebration and a responsibility. It means acknowledging the mistakes and shortcomings of our past, but also daring to move boldly into the future, confronting prejudice, exclusion, and injustice wherever they are found. The journey of inclusion is not a one-time event but an ongoing process, requiring continual openness to the “other”—to those who are different from us, whether in race, gender, sexuality, or background. God often comes to us in the guise of the other, challenging us to expand our understanding of love and community.
The story shared about learning to drive a standard transmission becomes a parable for the life of faith: it is easy to talk about love in theory, but much harder to practice it in the real world, especially when the pressure is on. Yet the light is green—the time is now to move forward, to let our light shine, and to be the community that our neighbors would miss if we were gone. We are called not just to exist, but to make a difference, to be a source of love, justice, and hope in our city and beyond.
Exodus 13:17-22 (ESV) — > When Pharaoh let the people go, God did not lead them by way of the land of the Philistines, although that was near. For God said, “Lest the people change their minds when they see war and return to Egypt.” But God led the people around by the way of the wilderness toward the Red Sea. And the people of Israel went up out of the land of Egypt equipped for battle. Moses took the bones of Joseph with him, for Joseph had made the sons of Israel solemnly swear, saying, “God will surely visit you, and you shall carry up my bones with you from here.” And they moved on from Succoth and encamped at Etham, on the edge of the wilderness. And the LORD went before them by day in a pillar of cloud to lead them along the way, and by night in a pillar of fire to give them light, that they might travel by day and by night. The pillar of cloud by day and the pillar of fire by night did not depart from before the people.
Matthew 5:1-16 (ESV) — > Seeing the crowds, he went up on the mountain, and when he sat down, his disciples came to him. And he opened his mouth and taught them, saying:
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> “Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
> “Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.
> “Blessed are the meek, for they shall inherit the earth.
> “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
> “Blessed are the merciful, for they shall receive mercy.
> “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.
> “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called sons of God.
> “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
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> “Blessed are you when others revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so they persecuted the prophets who were before you.
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> “You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost its taste, how shall its saltiness be restored? It is no longer good for anything except to be thrown out and trampled under people's feet.
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> “You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”
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