When we find encouragement in the Scriptures, like “Here I am Lord, I come to do your will,” we still have to realize that discipleship is more than just following, more than just “coming and seeing.” It requires surrender. And sacrifice. And work — the great work of continuing what Christ began by carrying the Gospel to others and living it in the world. None of this is easy. And one of the tragedies of this moment in our history is realizing, with a devastating urgency, that we have so much of His work left to do. The dream of Dr. King is so far from being realized.
With regard to discipleship, there can be no more important mission in our time. Our great call as Catholic Christians is to work to heal what is wounded, to mend what is torn, and to fix what is broken. We need to get down on our knees and begin the slow hard work of cleaning up the rubble — not just around us, but within us. Because there is where the most important work has to begin. With prayer, with resolution, and with humility. We need to be better than we are, each of us. We are asked to become more forgiving, more patient, and more prayerful. We are invited to be more like Christ!
Let us use this holiday, honoring Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. to carefully examine our gifts and also our shortcomings. Let us serve the Lord by serving one another. Please join today in praying a prayer written by Dr. King:
“Eternal God, out of whose absolute power the whole universe has come into being, we humbly confess that we have not loved thee with our hearts, souls, and minds, and we have not loved our neighbors as Christ loved us. We have all too often lived by our own selfish impulses rather than by the life of sacrificial love as revealed by Christ. We often give in order to receive. We love our friends and hate our enemies. We go the first mile but dare not travel the second. We forgive but dare not forget. And so as we look within ourselves, we are confronted with the appalling fact that the history of our lives is the history of an eternal revolt against you. But thou, O God, have mercy upon us. Forgive us for what we could have been, but failed to be. Give us the grace to know your will. Give us the devotion to love your will. Give us the courage to do your will. In the name and spirit of Jesus, we pray. Amen.”
