Many, including myself, are increasingly alarmed by the dismantling of D.E.I. efforts aimed at creating a more just and inclusive society. As Christians, we take our lead from Jesus, whose ministry was defined by radical openness to people from all walks of life. He did not simply preach love—he embodied it by welcoming outsiders, standing with the marginalized, and challenging systems of exclusion. In a world deeply divided by race, gender, social class, and religious identity, Jesus tore down barriers and built up the beloved community, showing us a way of being that reflects God’s inclusive love.
Jesus’ encounters with people from diverse backgrounds show that God’s love is for all. In Matthew 8:5-13, he praises the faith of a Roman centurion, a Gentile, saying that many from east and west will join God’s kingdom. When speaking with a Samaritan woman at the well (John 4:1-42), Jesus breaks both ethnic and gender barriers, revealing that true worship is not about birthplace but about spirit and truth. And in his final commission (Matthew 28:19-20), he sends his disciples to “all nations,” making clear that the good news of God’s love is not limited to one group but for the whole world.
Jesus also challenged human notions of fairness with God’s vision of equity. In Matthew 20:1-16, he tells the parable of the vineyard workers, where those hired last receive the same wage as those hired first. This story reminds us that God’s grace is not measured by human standards but by divine generosity. In his inaugural sermon (Luke 4:16-21), Jesus proclaims good news to the poor, release for captives, and freedom for the oppressed. He reminds us that the heart of God’s justice is lifting up those whom society has pushed down.
Again and again, Jesus chooses inclusion over exclusion. He eats with tax collectors and sinners (Mark 2:15-17), heals those deemed untouchable (Matthew 9:20-22), and calls society’s outcasts to the center. In Luke 14:12-14, he instructs his followers to invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, and the blind to their banquets—those who could never repay them.
Perhaps the most powerful image of Jesus’ inclusive love is The Parable of the Lost Sheep (Luke 15:3-7). A shepherd with a hundred sheep notices that one has gone missing. Instead of writing it off as a loss, he leaves the ninety-nine to seek the one, rejoicing when he finds it. Jesus tells us that this is how God sees us—every single person matters. No one is expendable. In a world that often prioritizes the powerful, the successful, and the many, Jesus reminds us that the most vulnerable and excluded are just as worthy of love and belonging.
In a time when divisions seem ever-present, the Gospel challenges us to live differently. To be followers of Christ means embracing the diversity of God’s creation, working for equity in systems that oppress, and ensuring that no one is left outside the circle of God’s love. When we welcome the stranger, advocate for the marginalized, and stand for justice, we are not just being “nice”—we are living the very heart of the Gospel. As the Dayspring community, we are called to continue Christ’s work—to help make God’s world more peaceful, just, compassionate, and inclusive.
As Jesus says in Matthew 25:40, “Whatever you did for one of the least of these, you did for me.” May we, as a community of faith, continue to be people who extend God’s radical welcome to all, rejoicing in every lost sheep who finds their way home.
Pastor Jeff