In the beatitudes Jesus pronounces blessings in the midst of the people gathered around him on the mount where he teaches. Blessed are you. Blessed are you when you hunger and thirst for righteousness, when you are a peacemaker, when you mourn.

But you can hear that word “Blessed” as not a sign of God’s favor upon you, but more as a statement of God’s presence in your midst. God stands with the ones who weep, God stands with the ones who hunger, God stands with the ones who are reconciling themselves to God and to each other. Blessing is sign and not an award when we hear it this way.

What does it say when the children of God are present in the midst of suffering and loss?

This week I am thinking about the stubborn churches in the mill towns across the Rust Belt who have refused to walk away from their communities. And I’m thinking about what their continued presence in that community means.

You can view this week’s sermon directly by using this link.