That’s the first story I read on Sunday, a story about Philip.

Philip was Jewish but not from Jerusalem. He was an outsider, with a Greek inspired name. And he knew God’s love.

So when people got kicked out of Jerusalem for loving Jesus he went first to Samaria, the home of the Samaritans. The outsiders. And he talked about how much God loved them.

And they were delighted.

And he listened for God’s quiet nudge which said, go out to the road that goes to the desert, to Gaza and the parts farther south. So he went. To the edges.

There wasn’t much traffic. He saw a chariot coming. He was open enough to the nudge from God that he heard “stay close to that chariot.”

It was an African man, clearly not a born Jew. But Philip didn’t care because he was an outsider and loved by God. So he went and listened and discovered that the man was asking questions that he knew the answers to.

Questions about a description of a person being despised and killed. An outsider.

Philip was able to say, “That’s about Jesus, who was so full of love for outsiders that he  put on a human body and died for us. And came back to live and lives for us. And loves us. And calls us to respond to his love. And to love others.”

And the man knew it must be true because, a man suddenly appeared in the wilderness and was willing to get into his chariot and talk with him and include him.

Philip’s love from God became Philip’s love for God and Philip’s love for everyone.

Those of us who are outsiders often feel afraid of rejection. But what if we aren’t rejected, at least by God? What if we are loved. And can love.

What if God’s perfect love for us, poured into us more and more, drives out the fear?

That’s our prayer and our hope.

And my friends, you are loved.