Monday, January 16, 2006
Martin Luther King Jr.
Yesterday our sermon was "Love one another", the one thing Jesus told the disciples would show the world you are a Christian. I think Dr. Martin Luther King Jr did. His goal was justice and equality based on human dignity, not skin color. He led a nonviolent struggle against racial discrimination and issued a plea for the civil rights of African-Americans. I believe to treat people with fairness and love in part of our responsibility. I attest to Dr. King's love for all of mankind regardless to their religion or racial persuasion. He was a great speaker and preacher. I enjoy listening to his sermons and reading some of his letter that he wrote to other pastors while in jail in Alabama.
If any of you are around when I have to meet my day, I don’t want a long funeral. And if you get somebody to deliver the eulogy, tell them not to talk too long. And every now and then I wonder what I want them to say. Tell them not to mention that I have a Nobel Peace Prize; that isn’t important.
Tell them not to mention that I have three or four hundred other awards; that’s not important. Tell them not to mention where I went to school.
I'd like somebody to mention that day that Martin Luther King Jr., tried to give his life serving others.
I'd like for somebody to say that day that Martin Luther King Jr., tried to love somebody.
I want you to say that day that I tried to be right on the war question.
I want you to be able to say that day that I did try to feed the hungry.
And I want you to be able to say that day that I did try in my life to clothe those who were naked.
I want you to say on that day that I did try in my life to visit those who were in prison.
I want you to say that I tried to love and serve humanity.
Yes, if you want to saythat I was a drum major, say that I was a drum major for justice. Say that I was a drum major for peace. I was a drum major for righteousness. And all of the other shallow things will not matter. I won't have any money to leave behind. I won't have the fine and luxurious things of life to leave behind. But I just want to leave a committed life behind. And that's all I want to say.
If I can help somebody as I pass along,
If I can cheer somebody with a word or song, If I can show somebody he's traveling wrong, Then my living will not be in vain.
If I can do my duty as a Christian ought, If I can bring salvation to a world once wrought, If I can spread the message as the master taught, Then my living will not be in vain.
Yes, Jesus, I want to be on your right or your left side, not for any selfish reason. I want to be on your right or your left side, not in terms of some political kingdom or ambition. But I just want to be there in love and in justice and in truth and in commitment to others, so that we can make of this old world a new world.
~excerpted from a sermon by Martin Luther King Jr., delivered at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Atlanta, Georgia, on February 4, 1968~
" Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend."
- Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
