Gospel of Christ was the 'motivation and the driving force' behind civil rights leader's discipleship, Archbishop Weisenburger says
DETROIT — Detroit's faithful gathered Jan. 19 at the Cathedral of the Most Blessed Sacrament to remember and celebrate the life of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. and his message of self-sacrificing love that transcended racial boundaries.
The annual celebration is a time to reflect upon the life and words of King, a Southern Baptist minister and leader in the U.S. civil rights movement whose message of racial reconciliation and equality was rooted in the Christian faith.
Celebrating the annual Mass of Justice and Peace, Detroit Archbishop Edward J. Weisenburger reminded the assembly that, as a disciple of Jesus Christ, King's words and example echoed the teachings of Jesus.
In the Gospel reading for the Mass (John 14:23-29), Jesus gives some of his final instructions to the apostles before his ascension into heaven, a fitting passage to remember King's own witness, the archbishop said.
“The passage you just heard is known as something of a farewell discourse,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “It’s a little bit like when you’re saying those last words to those you love — those sometimes are the most important.”
In the passage, Jesus reassures the disciples that whoever loves him will keep his Father’s word; that the presence of the Holy Spirit will be with them; and finally, not to be afraid.
“What a perfect text for today,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “There’s a wealth of treasures, but I’ll note a couple of things. First, note that Jesus establishes the priority of love. Love alone is the motivation. He says, 'It is the one who loves me who keeps my word.' He does not say, 'It’s the one who fears me who keeps my word,' or, 'The one who wants something from me or a blessing keeps my word.' The focus is on sacrificial love.”
Jesus' example of self-sacrificial love — agape love — aims both to do the will of God and to pour oneself out for others, the archbishop said.
It's the same kind of love that motivated King — a love that's still present when his example is remembered and emulated today, he added.
“With Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., we remember his absolute unyielding commitment to the Gospel of Jesus Christ,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “It was his motivation and the driving force of his discipleship, and in remembering that, I think he is present to us. We remember his commitment to nonviolent activism, and in remembering it, its wisdom for today is truly present.
“We remember his belief in and commitment to the dignity of every human being,” Archbishop Weisenburger continued, “a dignity that continues to be under attack for so many around the world and even right here in our communities. In remembering that teaching, is it not more powerful in our minds?”
Just as the faithful are called to remember Christ’s presence when they celebrate the Eucharist, so do the faithful call to mind the witness of others when they are remembered, the archbishop said.
“Today, we remember (Martin Luther King Jr.’s) bravery, and I suspect in remembering it, its presence to us helps us to be brave,” Archbishop Weisenburger said. “He would have been the first to assert (Jesus' words), ‘Do not be afraid, for I will be with you always.’ And lastly, we remember (Jesus') sacrifice, a sacrifice that remains for all times a perfect expression of agape — of that love willing to set aside my own safety, my own happiness, and allow myself to be poured out as an oblation for others.”
Vickie Figueroa, associate director for cultural ministries and coordinator for Black Catholic ministry for the Archdiocese of Detroit, said the annual Mass for Justice and Peace grounds King’s message of equality and justice in his vocation as a Christian preacher.
Figueroa said it's important for the Church to remember the witness of King's message and work, which align with the Church's own vision of pursuing justice, dignity and service to others.
“The Church’s mission is making sure that people get their dignity, making sure there’s racial, ethnic and social justice throughout the world," Figueroa told Detroit Catholic. “So being here at the cathedral, we want to make sure people know Dr. King was a reverend. He was about the Gospel.”
King's example continues to inspire acts of generosity and service, Figueroa added.
“I think one of the things we can do is have the courage to love one another — and when I say love one another, to will the good and think of what is best for others,” Figueroa said. “Get to know your neighbors. Make sure you give charitably to others. Love each other and fight for racial justice, fight for economic justice, and fight for the world Dr. King believed in.”
On Jan. 17, hundreds of young people gathered at Sacred Heart Parish in Detroit’s Eastern Market neighborhood for the YFACT Martin Luther King Jr. Day of Service.
YFACT (Young Faith Activators of Christ’s Teachings), is a collaborative project between the archdiocese's Office of Black Catholic Ministry and the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance, which supports Catholic parishes and mission in Detroit.
During the day of service, teams of young people fanned out to different service sites, helping sort food pantries and clothing closets, handing out bottles of water and sandwiches, and visiting and serving homeless young people staying at Detroit's Covenant House.
Ricardo Grant, 16, of St. Moses the Black Parish in Detroit was part of a team of 15 people who handed out scarves and water bottles next to the Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries on the corner of Martin Luther King Boulevard and Third Street.
“Just giving back to people makes it special,” Grant said. “We were there for an hour or so. We got to meet a lot of people, and they were grateful we were out there.”
Yvonne Graves of the Detroit Catholic Pastoral Alliance said it was inspiring seeing so many young people gathered to make a difference.
“It’s the camaraderie of the day that I love,” Graves said. “We started off the day with all the kids from all corners of the Archdiocese of Detroit, from St. Hugo of the Hills (in Bloomfield Hills) and National Shrine of the Little Flower (in Royal Oak), to St. Mary’s in Wayne, and St. Moses the Black and St. Augustine and St. Monica (in Detroit), all there for a common purpose.
“We had the kids making goodie bags, getting ready to visit people at Covenant House who are trying to turn around their lives, people getting ready to hand out sandwiches,” Graves added. “We went out for two hours, then came back to Sacred Heart to share what we did and what we learned.”
The service opportunity allows young people to make direct impact on creating a more just world, Graves said, the kind of world King envisioned in caring for those less fortunate.
“Days like today show the children how blessed they are, and then they see all the things that they can do,” Graves said. “They might not be able to go over and see the kids in Ecuador (and other parts of the world), but they can come and feed people here.”
