A responsive reading based on the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
“They said to one another: Behold, here comes the dreamer; let us slay him, and we shall see what will become of his dreams.”
We are here today to affirm that Martin Luther King, Jr., and his dreams have not be removed from our hearts and his words continue to inspire and motivate us:
Like anyone else I would like to live a long life; longevity have its grace. But I’m not concerned about that now. I just want to do God’s will and He has allowed me to go up to the mountain.
I’ve looked over, and I’ve seen the Promised Land. I may not get there with you, but I want you to know … that we as a people will get to the promised land.
A person dies when he refuses to stand up for that which is right. A person dies when he refuses to take a stand for that which is true. So we are going to stand up right here … letting the world know we are determined to be free.
I am happy … that I am not worried about anything. I’m not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord.
Now is the time to male real the promises of democracy. Now is the time to lift our nation from the quicksands of racial injustice to the solid rock of brotherhood. Now is the time to make justice a reality for all of God’s children…
There are those who are asking the devotees of civil rights, “When will you be satisfied?” We are not satisfied and we will not be satisfied until justice rolls down like water and righteousness like a might stream…
I say to you today, my friends, that in spite of the difficulties and frustrations of the moment, I still have a dream. It is a dream deeply rooted in the American dream.
I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: “We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all mean are created equal.”
I have a dream that my four little children will one day live in a nation where they will not be judged by the color of their skins but by the content of their character. I have a dream today…
I have a dream today. I have a dream that one day every valley shall be exalted, every hill and mountain will be made low, the rough places will be made plains, and the crooked places will be made straight, and the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see it together…
Indeed, the dream of Martin Luther King, Jr., lives. It is a dream we shall struggle on together to realize. It is a dream that can and must become a reality.
Freedom — Justice — Righteousness — The Promised Land — in our own days and for all God’s children.
Amen
