Dean John’s Sermon from the Diocesan Martin Luther King, Jr. Day of Service . . .
Sisters and brothers, my sincerest thanks to Canon Deb Clarke, Canon Deb Ford and Bishop William Stokes for this beautiful liturgy celebrating one of the great Icons of American history; The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
I pray we understand Martin Luther King, Jr. did not give his life, so as to be honored. Yet and still there are more streets, hospitals, schools and all manner of facilities throughout our universe that bear the name, Martin Luther King.
On this day on which we celebrate MLK I think it's most important to recognize MLK was most concerned about service, with no thought about recognition for himself. He would go on to say, “Everyone has the power for greatness, not for fame, but for greatness, because greatness is determined by service.”
Service
In fact, Martin Luther King would also posit, “Life's most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
But beyond his love of service, Martin Luther King was also about peace, love and justice. And whilst he was always a strong proponent of non-violence, he was never afraid to speak out against injustice.
For instance, in many of his messages he was very outspoken about America's treatment of the poor, disadvantaged and people of color. Someone once said, so often, “People would rather hear comfortable lies rather than uneasy truth.” Peace-promoting MLK as opposed to radical King.
If you are not comfortable with uneasy truth Martin Luther King is not the person for you. In a very imaginative and hard hitting sermon delivered to the Commission on Ecumenical Missions and Relations, at United Presbyterian Church, USA, Martin Luther King scolds America with a message, which amazingly is still pertinent today.
“But America, as I look at you from afar, I wonder whether your moral and spiritual progress has been commensurate with your scientific progress. Your poet, Thoreau used to talk about improved means to an unimproved end. How often this is true. You have allowed the material means by which you live to outdistance the spiritual ends for which you live. You have allowed your mentality to outrun your morality. You have allowed your civilization to outdistance your culture, and through your scientific genius you have made of the world a neighborhood. But through your moral and spiritual genius, you have failed to make of it a brotherhood. And so, America I would urge you to bring your moral advances in line with your scientific advances.”
Non-violence
But in as much as Martin Luther King challenged America to do right, he was a passionate proponent of non-violence.
“Please, I must continue by faith or it is too great a burden to bear and violence, even in self-defense, violence creates more problems than it solves. Only a refusal to hate or kill can put an end to the chain of violence in the world and lead us toward a community where men can live together without fear. Our goal is to create a beloved community and this will require a qualitative change in our souls as well as a quantitative change in our lives. The American racial revolution has been a revolution to “get in” rather than to overthrow. We want to share in the American economy, the housing market, the educational system and the social opportunities. The goal itself indicates that a social change in America must be nonviolent.
If one is in search of a better job, it does not help to burn down the factory. If one needs more adequate education, shooting the principal will not help, or if housing is the goal, only building and construction will produce that end. To destroy anything, person or property, can’t bring us closer to the goal that we seek. The non-violent strategy has been to dramatize the evils of our society in such a way that pressure is brought to bear against those evils by the forces of good will in the community and change is produced...” ‘Non-violence the only road to freedom.' MLK
Love
Today's Gospel speaks powerfully to the beliefs of Martin Luther King, and no doubt was a passage he quoted and was familiar with in his many messages.
Luke 6: 26-37 was at the very heart of who Martin was and sought to shape us into becoming the Beloved Community. In Martin's eyes we cannot be the Beloved Community until we learned to love like Jesus.
“But I say to you that listen, love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. Do to others as you would have them do to you. Please, if you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful. “
“I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word in reality. This is why right, temporarily defeated, is stronger than evil triumphant.”
Martin Luther King, Jr.
In conclusion, The Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. represents many things to all of us, but his life of service, non-violence and love for humankind made him one of the truly great icons of American history.
In Christ,
Rene +