The leadership of the NAACP New Bedford Branch has joined with SouthCoast Faith Leaders, UIA, and the ICC in supporting this reflection on Martin Luther King, Jr. Day.
As so many of us are still reeling from the spectacle of the shocking event that took place on January 6th in our nation’s capital — and its unfolding drama — it is easy to forget the annual observance of the national holiday on January 18, 2021 honoring the Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Many of our SouthCoast faith communities typically honor King’s life and legacy at this time of year, reflecting on Dr. King’s vision through speeches, sermons, and group-study of King’s writings. We sing anthems celebrating freedom, committing ourselves to the ideal of equality and of the oneness of humanity. All too quickly, however, we forget these moments of lofty commitments as we go about our daily routines.
This year we cannot allow ourselves to forget! Platitudes of unity and harmony ring hollow after the years of conspiracy-mongering, misrepresentations, lies and intentional stoking of divisions between Americans that led up to the assault on our democracy. Such incidents of rage and oppression were all too familiar to Dr. King and those with him, like the late Congressman John Lewis, as they strove for greater justice in America.
Now, more than ever, we need to heed the words of Dr. King, “Every man must decide whether he will walk in the light of creative altruism or in the darkness of destructive selfishness.”
We stand at a significant moment as a nation when each person needs to decide whether their heart is with truth, compassion, and justice — or with indifference to lies and oppression. Persons in places of authority have promoted “alternative facts,” half-truths and downright lies as the “honest truth.” Too many people have been led to believe that “alternative facts” are a true reality.
Yet our scriptures warn us, “Do not bear false witness.” We have forgotten the Golden Rule which almost all faiths share: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you.” In this fraught era of our nation’s history, we would do well to heed Dr. King’s words: “The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.”
We are being challenged to work together in truth and openness. We cannot allow darkness and hatred to win. Dr. King reminds us, “Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.” In his words, “Let no man pull you so low as to hate him.”
Now is the time for all of us to search our consciences, to turn from fear and hatred, to repent of “going along” with convenient deceptions and half-truths. Yet while it is important to hold accountable those who sow discord, we must remember King’s words: “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.” As hard as it may be, “Love is the only force capable of transforming an enemy into a friend.”
This year let us try to remember Dr. King’s words beyond the celebration of his birthday. Let us defeat darkness with light, replace greed with generosity, oppression with justice. We do not pretend that this is an easy task: “There comes a time when one must take a position that is neither safe nor politic nor popular, but he must take it because his conscience tells him it is right.”
Love demands we stand for what is right. To remain silent is to be complicit with the destruction of this great American experiment in democracy.
This Martin Luther King. Jr. Day, let us do what is right, honor our common humanity and truly honor the aspirational words of our Pledge of Allegiance which promises “liberty and justice for all,” regardless of our race, culture, national origin, beliefs, gender or personal persuasion. May God shed true grace on us all.
SouthCoast Faith Leaders, UIA, the ICC
