Some Seed Fell…column:
While many people today rightly embrace the values of the Civil Rights Movement, they often fall slightly short of recognizing the fundamental stimulus that motivated the first Christian ministers and civil leaders. These zealous men and women knew that equality of persons does not rest on humanity itself, but on an acknowledgement that there is one God and we are His children.
Last Saturday I was reminded of this at the Marin Luther King Jr. breakfast, held at the Cathedral of Saint Paul. Listening to the uplifting performance of the Voices of the New Testament as they sang, the powerful message of Father Manuel Williams, C.R. as he preached, I recollected back about eleven years to the time that I taught social issues to high school students at Jesuit High School in Tampa, Florida. Already back then, the horrific memories of racial inequality in our land were waning. Students were incredulous of the miracles that had taken place through the non-violent protest and the strong belief in God which ultimately aroused lethargic disciples of Jesus Christ from stupor to recognize their brothers and sisters in the Mystical Body of Christ.
Today, however, we live in a different age and face new challenges. Just yesterday while driving into work, I heard a sports announcer complain because the quarterback for the University of Florida, Tim Tebow, gave thanks to God while thanking his teammates, coaches and fans. It keenly disturbed this sports broadcaster. Several other sports outlets, when replaying Tebow’s announcement that he intended to return for his senior season at UF, deleted his tribute to God. Why?
In a sense God has taken the place of the marginalized in our modern world. It is God now Who is segregated and refused admittance into our public schools. He is unwelcome in public eating areas, so that one seldom sees “Grace” prayed before or after a meal. It is God Who is rebuffed on the sporting field. If mankind needs a scapegoat upon which to place all its sins and send into exile, then surely God has assumed this role for Himself in our time.
But alas, without God, we fall back into familiar patterns of abusing one another. Our Lord narrated the parable of a master who departed on a trip and whose servants began mistreating each other because they believed their master would not return. Eventually, however, the master did return. God, too, will come again and assume His rightful place in our lives. When He comes, how will He find us? Will we be the ones defending out brothers and sisters from the moment of conception to natural death?
This week the Civil Rights Movement of the 1950’s and 1960’s will see a crowning achievement with the swearing in of President Barack Obama as the nation’s first African-American president. Several days after the new President’s inauguration, a significant event will take place in Washington, D.C. – the annual March for Life. May God continue to work miracles of justice for all—and may we who march for life one day sing in victory that this battle has been won!
Filed under: Catholic
Thank you for expressing what I’ve been thinking all day. We have not overcome injustice for all in our society as long as an unborn child can be crushed on the way out of the womb.
That an African American man has been elected president may show that we have progressed in overcoming racisim in our country, but we have much work to do to remember Who created and rules this world and turn to Him.
We have lost the spirit of Martin Luther King, Jr, and the many men and women who prayed and fought to bring about justice for all people.