On Sunday, I was honored to preach at All Saints Episcopal Church in Pasadena — a church with a long record of making good trouble. It was meaningful to be back in their pulpit, a sacred spot where many fine preachers have given the Word and proclaimed God’s justice and love for the world.

The lectionary texts yesterday (below) were a gift. And I opened my heart as widely as possible to share the power of their challenge and promise.

A couple dozen folks from The Cottage showed up having driven from all over Southern California. The church was beautiful — and full. It was a glorious day.

And I won’t even tell you about the weather. It wouldn’t be fair to those of you in the East.

May the Spirit warm your soul today — and give you wisdom about what to do!

Micah 6:6-8

“With what shall I come before the Lord,and bow myself before God on high?

Shall I come before him with burnt-offerings,with calves a year old?

Will the Lord be pleased with thousands of rams,with tens of thousands of rivers of oil?

Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?”

He has told you, O mortal, what is good;and what does the Lord require of you

but to do justice, and to love kindness,and to walk humbly with your God?

1 Corinthians 1:25-31

God’s foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God’s weakness is stronger than human strength.

Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, so that no one might boast in the presence of God. He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, in order that, as it is written, “Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord.”

Matthew 5:1-12

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

“Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted. “Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth. “Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled. “Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy. “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God. “Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God. “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven. “Blessed are you when people 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 in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.”

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Black History Month started yesterday, February 1. Celebrating Black history began 100 years ago with the celebration of Black History Week.

As of today, and breaking with the customs of his predecessors, Trump has not issued presidential proclamation for this month (he did in last year, but not this year).

You may want to begin the month by learning about Anna Alexander, the first — and only — African-American deaconess in the Episcopal Church (an additional link is here). She persisted in her calling of service and education in Jim Crow Georgia, working to eliminate injustice and living out the Beatitudes in ways that were both inspiring and risky.

Deaconess Alexander was made a saint by the Episcopal Church in 2015.

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