Wrestling with Jacob Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley Oct. 5, 2025 Rev. Kathryn Jay

Unitarian Universalist Church of Berkeley Wrestling with Jacob Oct. 5 2025 What does it mean to “win” when life itself is full of struggle? Drawing on the biblical story of Jacob wrestling through the night, we explore how struggle can lead not to triumph, but to transformation. Jacob, blessed yet deeply flawed, mirrors both our nation’s history and our personal lives—where success often comes at the expense of others. From the Puritans’ exclusionary covenant to modern injustices, we are challenged to see how the drive to win has wounded us all. Yet Jacob’s story shifts: his struggle leaves him limping but changed, ready to reconcile. Likewise, our own wrestling—with history, with privilege, with conscience—can be holy work. Transformation hurts, but the wound can become a blessing. The struggle itself is where grace lives.