Daily Lesson for February 25, 2019

Today’s Daily Lesson comes from Matthew chapter 5 verses 1 through 11:

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:

3 ‘Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

4 ‘Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.

5 ‘Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.

6 ‘Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.

7 ‘Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.

8 ‘Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.

9 ‘Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.

10 ‘Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

11 ‘Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

I think today of my friends in the United Methodist Church who are gathering this week in St. Louis in important deliberations about the future of LGBTQ persons in the communion.

I have heard from many of my own LGBTQ friends who tell me how painful it is, not only to be excluded from church, but even to have the merits of their inclusion debated. I pray for the UMC as a whole; and I pray especially for the LGBTQ community within the UMC. 

In today’s Lesson Jesus calls those who are persecuted and reviled “Blessed”.  Another way of saying this might be “Worthy”.  Or even, “Beautiful”.

No matter how this week’s voting turns out, and what the days ahead might look like in the UMC or any other denomination or church, I pray our friends and family in the LGBTQ community might hear these words again and know in their deepest selves that their dignity does not hang in the balance of a ballot or the margins of a majority.

You are already worthy, my friends; you are already blessed. For God has called you blessed. 

And blessed are we too when we finally come to see just how beautiful you truly are.