Dear Saints,
This Sunday, we will celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day both in Sunday school and in worship. We will also gather together on Monday, January 16th to walk together in Austin’s MLK Celebration March (see below for details of this event.) Over a decade and a half have passed and Martin Luther King, Jr. Day has slipped into the rotation of routine events that shape our lives – between the NFL playoffs and Groundhog Day. But the celebration of MLK is not just a day off or another three-day holiday weekend. Dr. King has shown us many truths that are relevant to the way we live out our faith this very day.
Over and over and over again, Dr. King preached the message of Love and Justice that he witnessed in scripture. Neither the racist degradation of a Birmingham Jail, nor his bloody martyrdom in Memphis could shake his fidelity to Christ’s message of love. Dr. King’s immortal words inscribed on his memorial put a gentle message powerfully: Hatred paralyzes life; love releases it. Hatred confuses life; love harmonizes it. Hatred darkens life; love illuminates it…” This is his legacy. For 50 years it has guided our sense of civic justice. For love lived out in public often looks a lot like justice.
Thank you Dr. King! This weekend we will honor him and rejoice in him.
With much love,
Laura
