Having Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s sermon as part of our readings, there’s so much pressure to preach! I almost feel like there’s no need to preach anything. I can just sit down and read his entire sermon “The Drum Major Instinct.” The only better thing, though I’m not sure if it’s better, is that my sermon will be much shorter than his!
Dr. King’s words in our time are still powerful and moving, and speak to our hearts. And I personally feel that his words speak much louder, harder, and stronger to my heart than last year. I believe it’s because we have a lot of work to do, especially during this time of a new presidential era. We all are very much aware of his legacy. His non-violent resistance and protest against social injustice, his refusal to stay quiet, and his courage to speak up and stand up for truth and peace… At the same time, I’m curious ‘what made him devote his entire life for that cause.’ Whatever prompted him to do so is also the spirit and legacy that Dr. King leaves behind, which we as fellow Christians would like to honor and continue. Before we tackle “what” made him so committed to the quest for justice and peace, I want us to think about “who” triggered him to speak up and take his words into action. And it’s not really an idea that motivated Dr. King. An idea doesn’t change us, but a person! So can you think of who would’ve done that? Yes, it was Ms. Rosa Parks. It was her who ignited the vocation of Dr. King, his Christian calling and witness to the injustice, oppression, and suffering African Americans were facing. Ms. Parks’ refusal to give up her seat to a white man on a bus in Alabama sparked the greatest phase of the civil rights movement. It was this one simple act. How was she able to stand up for injustice at that time? It wasn’t just her random courageous act. She wasn't just the ‘bus woman.’ Not many people know that she was a person of faith, deeply involved in the American Methodist Episcopal Church. She was to become a deaconess in the AME church. It was her deep Christian faith that called her to action. She said, “I learned people should stand up for their rights, just as the children of Israel stood up to the Pharaoh.” This faith-seeking-action of Ms. Parks must have stirred up the heart of Dr. King. It must’ve pointed Dr. King to look up to the object of Ms. Parks’ faith as well as his own faith. Her faith-seeking-action pointed Dr. King to look at Jesus Christ who liberates all humanity from bondage and oppression! Her action would’ve invited Dr. King to encounter Jesus in the reality of injustice and suffering that African Americans were facing at that time. In today’s gospel reading, we see this ‘sacred act of pointing one to Jesus.’ This is nothing but the ‘sacred chain of the Jesus encounter which happens from person to person.’ Anyone who encounters Jesus personally becomes changed. First, let us look at John the baptizer. He repeats himself in the reading, “I myself did not know him.” He probably meant that he only knew him as his younger cousin, nothing more than that. But something changed in his personal encounter with Jesus. Jesus is the Lamb of God, the Son of God. This encounter changes him. And he directs his disciples to Jesus. As he sees Jesus walking by when he is with his two disciples, he shouts, “Here’s the Lamb of God!” Why would he shout such a thing in front of his disciples? It is to tell them to look at Jesus the Lamb of God, the Son of God, never John himself. John the baptizer let go of his disciples to Jesus. This is his way of pointing them to Jesus. Send them to Jesus. Don’t look at me. Don’t follow me, but Jesus. Then, these two disciples of John the baptizer, Andrew and the other disciple whom we suspect as John the beloved disciple, John the Evangelist, approach Jesus. They don’t ask, “Jesus, are you the Lamb of God? Are you the Son of God? Are you the Messiah?” They ask him, “Where are you staying?” It would’ve been quite humorous if Jesus gave them his home address, something like “456 Van Houten St, Paterson NJ 07501.” He answers them, “Come and see.” This encounter between the two disciples of John and Jesus is actually very eastern. It is an old-fashioned eastern way of learning. Often, in the Western culture, a master or a teacher has become someone who provides information and knowledge. It doesn’t matter how that teacher lives his or her life. In the ancient Eastern culture, however, a teacher’s role is not simply to give a didactic. A teacher is not only to provide certain wisdom and knowledge, but also to become an example to her students as living out her teachings. As a student, his role is not simply to memorize and understand lessons, but to observe and watch his teacher and live out the teaching of his teacher. So in this sense, Andrew and John must observe and watch how Jesus lives. Until then, they do not know who he is. This sacred chain of the Jesus encounter doesn’t stop at Andrew and John. It is contagious because it brings joy and liberation of one’s soul. It fills one’s heart with love which shares itself over and over. Andrew brings his brother Simon to Jesus. In Simon’s personal encounter with Jesus, Simon becomes truly who he is. He becomes Peter the rock. Today we celebrate this sacred chain of the Jesus encounter which still continues from Ms. Rosa Parks to Dr. King, from John the baptizer to Andrew and John, and from Andrew to Simon Peter. In the heart of this sacred chain stands Jesus, the Son of God, the Lamb of God, the Prince of Peace. In this personal encounter with Jesus, he asks “What are you looking for?” What do you truly seek? I think our answers may vary, but based on Jesus’ naming of Simon as Peter, what we are truly seeking for is our true selves. We look for ourselves, and none can find us, but God in Jesus Christ. In her encounter with Jesus, Ms. Rosa Parks truly becomes who she is. In his encounter with Jesus, Dr. King becomes truly who he is. In his encounter with Jesus, Simon becomes Peter. And in our encounter with Jesus, we become truly who we are as the baptized ones. Our lesson for today, as we celebrate and remember how Jesus worked in the life of Dr. King, is nothing but to continue this sacred chain of the Jesus encounter. There is no Dr. King without Ms. Rosa Parks. There’s no Peter without Andrew. And there’s no Blessed Oscar Romero without Fr. Rutilio Grande. There’s no me without you. Help each other become truly oneself in Christ as we point each other to look at Jesus the Lamb of God. Don’t talk about it. Don’t preach at each other. Simply act in love and kindness. Carry the radiance of Christ’s light to others. Show Jesus who you’ve encountered. And finally let the words of Dr. King be part of your confession. “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.” In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. |
Paul"...life up your love to that cloud [of unknowing]...let God draw your love up to that cloud...through the help of his grace, to forget every other thing." Archives
January 2025
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