Dear HBIC Family,

Momo Mollykunda Sambolah was my maternal grandfather. Much of what I know about him has been passed down to me. Those who knew him remember his kindness, generosity, brilliance, resilience, service and love for people. I remember our walks across his vast property and afternoon naps. Visiting him meant that everyone who came to greet him brought me a treat. I very much enjoyed the blessing of being his favorite. 

All these years later, as I’ve reflected on his life, I have come to realize that much of who I am comes somewhat directly from him and the time spent together during my very first years. I like to think that my calm disposition but fiery tongue, droopy eyelids, restless spirit, and love of serving others all comes directly from the witness of his life. Even my distaste of coffee and other supposedly acquired tastes – I get from him!

One of my favorite stories about my grandfather was how he would often give land or buy houses for young couples, not expecting to get anything back. To him, a healthy community needed healthy families with the stability of good housing. Because he was so blessed, he felt an obligation to love and bless others as well.

What makes all of this even more remarkable to me is that my grandfather was a Vai Muslim Chief. This meant that he was an ethnic minority whose ancestral lands had been colonized by formerly enslaved African Americans. He was also a religious minority in a country that prioritized the needs of Christians first, while taking away his voice and agency. He was a political minority in a system designed to strip him of power his family held for centuries. 

Our passage this week is Jesus’ teaching on loving our enemies during his Sermon on the Plain. Here, we are challenged to do good to those who hate us, bless those who curse us, and pray for those who mistreat us. Ultimately, Jesus calls us to be better than those who only love the people that love them back – being kind to the ungrateful and to the wicked, and being merciful as God our Father is merciful.

As you prepare for this week’s service, I invite you to read and meditate on Luke 6:27-36. As you reflect, I would like to ask you to focus on the following questions:

• What is one thing that you have learned from your grandparents that you still practice?
• How have you seen others show love for enemies?
• What lessons from Jesus’ teaching in this passage are most needed in your life right now?
• Who is one person you will be kind to today? How?
• Do those around you consider you merciful? Why or why not?

For years, I struggled with my grandfather’s religion. I admired him as a person and am deeply grateful for so much of the legacy he left behind for us. The fruit of his life is not just in our physical numbers as a family (there’s a lot of us!), but in the ways so many of us are impacting our communities and loving our neighbors. To my grandfather, perhaps Jesus was only a prophet, but I love that he lived by Jesus’ teachings. 

Sisters and brothers, I pray that those who know us and walk this life with us can all say that we live by Jesus’ teachings. N.T. Wright says that if we lived in a world where everyone believed in the God of Luke 6, there would be no violence, no revenge, no divisions of class or caste, and all neighbors would be welcomed and loved. He further adds that if even a few Christians lived like this, our world would be so joyously different. May we be that exuberant few that live and love like Jesus. 

God bless you all!

Love in Christ,

Pastor Hank (Luke 6:35-37)