We gather this morning in the midst of impending war in Syria, economic injustice, skyrocketing rates of violence worldwide, and a relative state of injustice…yet still we gather. We gather because in this moment we choose to believe that God has created humanity for love and not for hate. We gather because over 50 years ago Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of his dream of beloved community – a world community united in love. This morning we gather because we carry the dream forward. We work for a world where injustice and oppression are no more. A world where love has truly opened the door. We believe, in the words of Dr. King,
Love is creative and redemptive. Love builds up and unites; hate tears down and destroys. The aftermath of the ‘fight with fire’ method which most suggest is bitterness and chaos, the aftermath of the love method is reconciliation and creation of the beloved community. Physical force can repress, restrain, coerce, destroy, but it cannot create and organize anything permanent; only love can do that. Yes, love-which means understanding, creative, redemptive goodwill, even for one’s enemies-is the solution.
So, yes we gather for love. We gather to exhibit our love for each other. We gather to exhibit our love for our community. We gather to exhibit our love for the world. We gather and march…because we are the beloved community. So on this day, be who God has created this community to be…a beloved creation of diverse people showing the world a better way. Amen.
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