February 1, 2026

“Foolishly Blessed”

“Foolishly Blessed” A sermon based on Micah 6:1-8; Matthew 5:1-12 and 1 Corinthians 1:18-31 delivered by the Rev. Alison Andrea Young on Sunday, February 1, 2026 at the First Congregational UCC of Onekama, Michigan.

This sermon could just as easily have been named “Blessed Foolishness,” for what I want to bring across to you today speaks of both being what the Apostle Paul calls a “fool for Christ” and what the gospel of Matthew records in what has traditionally been called “The Beatitudes” (lat. The blessed) as being “blessed.” For many of us in this modern world, the Beatitudes appear to be foolish statements. How can it be a blessing to be poor in spirit, or persecuted, or hungry, or be in mourning, or be reviled? How, in short, can it be a blessing to appear to be a fool? . . .