Luke Pearson
Dear Friends,
Yesterday, we honored the life and memory of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. We remembered a man who fought for the civil rights, liberty and dignity of all African Americans in the United States through the acts of nonviolent activism. Yesterday, we celebrated a minister who strived to unite a nation (and the world) through bonds of love and reconciliation and not hate or devastation. We cherished the memory of a man who dreamed of a country that lived into its creed of equality for all its citizens.
During the height of the Civil Rights movement, there were those who criticized Dr. King's dream as being unrealistic or too idealistic. How can one love their enemies, when that enemy seeks to oppress them? How can we do right among our fellow citizens when our nation is so divided? There are many to this day that say this dream is unattainable, and our country cannot be saved from these injustices and divisions.
Dr. King responded to his critics, by emphasizing the works of the Savior of us all, Jesus Christ. Dr. King stated, “Jesus is not an impractical idealist; he is the practical realest.” Furthermore, Dr. King goes further when he said, “He (Jesus) knew that the old eye-for-eye philosophy would leave everyone blind. He did not seek to overcome evil with evil. He overcame evil with good. Although crucified by hate, he responded in aggressive love. These statements show that Martin Luther King Jr. saw Jesus as the purest and best example of fulfilling this dream. Through the messages and life of Christ, we could live and be witnesses in a world compassed and centered in courage, forgiveness and peace. We are all acceptable and loved in God’s eyes, and so we should be accepting and loving of all people on this earth.
In this morning’s reading from the Acts of the Apostles, we hear Peter also speaks about God's love and acceptance for us. Peter begins by stating, “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him.” Therefore, Peter emphatically notes that God’s grace is not exclusive to one nation, race, or group of people, but is available to anyone seeking it. Equally as important, God has sent the Lord of all and the Prince of peace, Jesus Christ to live out this marvelous truth. Peter then provides a summary of the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus. He does this so the world could gain a better understanding of Christ’s purpose for their lives, and to show Christ as the Shepherd toward their salvation.
Dr. King recognized and understood that Christ conquered pain, evil and death through sacrificial love. Jesus lived for those who were oppressed. He was crucified by a government filled with systemic injustices. He rose again to save us. Christ is, and always will be, the shining example of God's grace for the world. In every waking moment that we have, Jesus tells us to love God, and love each other. Each of us has the capacity to follow this message, and to follow the example of our Savior. This was Dr King’s dream for this nation; that day by day we would have the courage to see each other as beloved children of God, and that God’s unconditional love is available to everyone. To this day, Dr. King's dream is alive, when we know that God is with us always. The dream lives through acts of radical love and simple forms of benevolence. The dream lives through standing up to acts of injustice or cruelty of any form. It lives through prayer, patience, and peace with those who reside in God’s kingdom.
Blessings,
Luke