MLK Day 2020

O sing to the Lord a new song;
   sing to the Lord, all the earth.
Sing to the Lord, bless his name;
   tell of his salvation from day to day.
Declare his glory among the nations,
   his marvelous works among all the peoples.
For great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised;
   he is to be revered above all gods.
For all the gods of the peoples are idols,
   but the Lord made the heavens.
Honor and majesty are before him;
   strength and beauty are in his sanctuary.

Ascribe to the Lord, O families of the peoples,
   ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
   bring an offering, and come into his courts.
Worship the Lord in holy splendor;
   tremble before him, all the earth.

Say among the nations, ‘The Lord is king!
   The world is firmly established; it shall never be moved.
   He will judge the peoples with equity.’
Let the heavens be glad, and let the earth rejoice;
   let the sea roar, and all that fills it;
   let the field exult, and everything in it.
Then shall all the trees of the forest sing for joy
   before the Lord; for he is coming,
   for he is coming to judge the earth.
He will judge the world with righteousness,
   and the peoples with his truth. Psalm 96

Today we celebrate Martin Luther King, Jr. who was gone too soon, but his message still rings out. I had the great blessing of meeting as a child and listening to his words and was swept up by his passion. I never knew how fortunate I was until later. He died because he fought for the truth and weak men didn't want to hear it. They still don't.

Dr. King was first and foremost a pastor, a follower of Jesus. His activity for civil rights came out of his commitment to following Jesus. The words that guided his life came from the heart of his savior. He spoke with his heart, full of hope that we would all catch his passion - justice, equality and freedom from all. More than fifty years after his death, we are witnessing the grip and power of racism, greed and inequity. We who would follow Jesus in our day must take of the banner of those who have gone before, like Dr. King. It is time to speak and lead and to march.

Today, I ask God to help me take up the banner and be a warrior for justice for all. May we all follow Jesus as we live to serve others.