Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be satisfied.
-Matthew 5:6

Following worship last week, one of our members asked me about the use of the word righteous or righteousness. They are words that we do not use very often, except in the negative to describe someone as self-righteous. We are helped in our understanding by the Oxford Dictionary definition of righteousness, which states that it is "actions characterized by justice."

We are living in a time when whole segments of our population feel that they are being treated unjustly. Such feelings of injustice have permeated all communities of color, as well as those who call themselves "Proud Boys" or "Oath Keepers." Although the groups of our population who feel unjustly treated span the entire political spectrum, the feelings are, at root, the same.

As I thought about these feelings of injustice, I thought about John Woolman. Over the years, few writings have meant more to me than the Journal of John Woolman, which describes his pursuit of justice, especially for the enslaved African-American community in America. It was Woolman's immersion into what we can call the Fellowship of Suffering, and an ever deepening sensitivity and humility that moved him to that place where he did, indeed, hunger and thirst after righteousness. The channel of universal love will, at the very least, encom*]}*pass these two important spiritual elements. And if there was ever a time in our history when the human condition needed to be immersed in the fellowship of suffering and experience an ever deepening sensitivity and humility, it is now.

In your life, what has moved you to work for justice?

And what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
-Micah 6:8

I love the word discernment. It is a word that Quakers frequently use when trying to understand what Spirit is saying to us, and what the Inner Light is encouraging us to do. It is a word that is used when seeking to understand life direction and what our purpose in this life is. It is a word that describes the focus of any Clearness Committee. As Friends, we believe that we can be led by the Spirit of God in the here and now, and through the process of discernment we can learn what that leading is to be.

This process of discernment is greatly enhanced by the use of queries, or questions, which is another strong Quaker emphasis. By asking questions Friends believe that we can more fully discern God's Will for our lives, a practice that we believe is better than reciting creeds that were written centuries ago in a completely different cultural context.

This morning I want to focus our attention on one of my favorite topics, our search for meaning. Last week I spoke about hope, and used as our main scriptural text the Apostle Paul's words from Romans where he encourages those early Christians to "Rejoice in your hope." I quoted Andrew Del banco who wrote: "We always live at the brink of this chasm of meaninglessness where with just a nudge we might tumble into melancholy and despair." He then writes about how we can maintain our hope even when all seems meaningless. And so I return to the topic of meaning. I believe the search for meaning is central to understanding our life together, the hope for which we long, and the spiritual growth which results.

What gives your life meaning?

And the master said to the servant, 'Go out to the highways and hedges, and compel people to come in...'
Luke 14:23

I love the Parable of the Feast. It is a story about a host who is anxious to fill his table with guests. The host engaged in an energetic and even aggressive hospitality. His hospitality extended to those with Trump flags on the back of their pick-up trucks, and those with bumper stickers supporting Kamala Harris. This radical hospitality also extended to those fleeing oppressive governments and gang warfare, including Guatemala, Honduras and Mexico, who are seeking a new and safe home in the United States. Friends and strangers, people of every and any condition, the host wanted to bring them in.

Jesus believed that the experience which he had of God could be translated into human relationships and forms of community. How did he imagine this? Jesus told many stories, parables offering glimpses of what authentic human community might be. The Parable of the Feast is just one example of these stories. In this parable we see how Jesus understood God's love and his radical hospitality.

How might we imagine a world in which those who live teetering on the margins of life, never knowing whether food will come tomorrow, might disappear in a sea of enough? Or, what if those struggling for asylum, who do not know if they will be welcomed into our communities, or rounded up like cattle and placed in human animal pens, might disappear in a sea of freedom? Does this sound too hopelessly naive? I don't know. I do know that Jesus dreamed such dreams, and today I believe that we are called to dream such dreams as well.

In what ways do you practice a welcoming hospitality?

So whatever you wish that persons would do to you, do so to them...
-Matthew 7:12

Today is the Cincinnati Festival of Faiths. It is a day when our community celebrates the diversity of our faith traditions, and a time when we accentuate what we all have in common. Karen Armstrong, the former nun and now prolific author, has said, "Compassion is the wellspring of religion." She has observed that the Golden Rule is the touchstone of all the major faith traditions. As I considered Armstrong's observation, I began to ask myself, "What else unites and sustains our major faith traditions?"

First, and at the heart of Judaism, Christianity and Islam, is a spiritual hunger for a connection with the Living God. All three of these traditions have mystical elements that are central to this quest for connection.

Second, justice is also at the core of the major faith traditions. The prophets of Hebrew Scripture were all concerned about justice. Jesus made the issue of justice the heart of his teaching, and Muhammad's message challenged the unjust social order of his day. At core, all major faith traditions are concerned with justice, especially for the poor.

Third, a community that is built on the values of truth and integrity is at the core of concern of the major faiths. To cheat a brother or sister or to build a life upon a web of lies is unacceptable within Christianity, Judaism and Islam.

Today we celebrate our interdependent world of many races, cultures and faith traditions. Respecting our differences, we seek a better life helping others, and engaging one another in a spirit of peace and hope.

In what ways do you celebrate the diversity of our culture?