SUNDAY MORNING PRAYER: MARTIN LUTHER KING JR.

SOME OF US ARE OLD ENOUGH TO REMEMBER
          THE BALCONY IN MEMPHIS,
          THE SANITATION WORKERS' STRIKE,
          THE SHOT THAT BROKE FLESH,
          THE LOSS OF MARTIN,
                  AND THE MULE DRAWN WAGON,
                             AND THE FUNERAL,
                  AND THE RIOTS, THE VIOLENCE, THE FEAR,
                             AND THE FAILURE.

ALL OF US KNOW THE CROWD IN D.C.  
     AND "I HAVE A DREAM,"
     THE BIRMINGHAM JAIL,
     THE BROAD STREAM OF VIOLENCE,
          AND HIS STEADFAST NONVIOLENCE
                    IN ALBANY AND
                    IN SKOKIE AND
                    IN SELMA.

ALL OF US KNOW HIS AWESOME, DARING SPEECH,
      HIS BRAVERY, HIS HOPE, AND HIS GENERATIVE WORD.
AND WE KNOW THE RELENTLESSNESS OF OUR GOVERNMENT
      IN PURSUIT OF HIM
      AND THE ENDLESS SURVEILLANCE AND HARASSMENT
                                      OF THIS DRUM MAJOR FOR JUSTICE.

AT HIS DISTANCE, WE HAVE LITTLE ACCESS
   TO HOW IT WAS THEN CONCERNING AMBIGUITY
                      AND FEAR
                      AND RELUCTANCE
                      AND VIOLENCE
                      AND INJUSTICE.

WE DO NOT DOUBT THAT YOU HAVE PERSISTED
          EVEN BEYOND MARTIN'S PASSION,
          EVEN BEYOND MARTIN'S BRILLIANCE,
          EVEN BEYOND MARTIN'S FIDELITY, AND
                     HIS LOSS.

WE DO NOT DOUBT THAT THROUGH HIM AND BEYOND HIM,
          YOU, HOLY GOD OF THE PROPHETS,
                 ARE STILL PLEDGED TO JUSTICE AND
                                                                PEACE AND
                                                                LIBERTY FOR ALL.

WE REMEMBER MARTIN IN GRATITUDE....
                           AND CHAGRIN.
AND WE PLEDGE, AMID OUR STRESSED AMBIGUITIES,
                   TO DREAM AS HE DID,
                   TO WALK THE WALK,
                    AND TO TALK THE TALK.

WE PLEDGE, SO SURE THAT YOUR TRUTH
        WILL NOT STOP ITS MARCH
             UNTIL YOUR WILL IS DONE ON EARTH AS IT IS IN HEAVEN.

Walter Brueggemann-Prayers for a Privileged People