Thanks to Lord Paul Boateng for preaching at our Racial Justice Service on Sunday 16 February!
In his sermon “The Challenge of the Beatitudes: Holding a Candle for Equity and Inclusion in a Polarised World“, Paul introduced the topic of racial justice by way of his own experiences in South Africa. As he proceeded to reflect on the day’s readings, he considered the way in which Jesus offers us radical hope in times of drought with his promise of justice for those who suffer. This is an offer which still stands today.
As Jesus’ disciples faced a time of division and disputation following the Resurrection, so do we now face a polarised world of our own. When DEI is pronounced dead in Washington, refugees are divided into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ refugees, and Roma children are separated from their parents, Paul urges us to find a way out of the drought. This way may be found along the path of justice and leads us to true, divine joy. While this path and this destination is set for us by God, Paul reminds us that it is up to us to take the first steps and embark on the journey – for it is in our failure to act, to oppose, to intervene in the face of injustice that we fall short of what our Lord calls us to do.
Thanks again to Paul Boateng for his visit to Hinde Street! If you missed this sermon, you can now listen to it via our Worship page.