Up on the Mountain

This weekend we will be centering our worship around the baptism of Jesus in the gospel of John and the work of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

In terms of John's gospel, it is quite different and quite often misunderstood. It is usually seen as the most spiritual, when, in fact, it is in many ways the most enfleshed. More importantly, how clearly God has come to earth in flesh. And as Jesus calls the first disciples, they use extremely human terms to describe this chosen One - Rabbi, Messiah, Lamb - all references to a human, Jewish, embodiment.

There are even more things that most choose to forget about Dr. King from his lifetime. We like to whitewash the prophet and martyr so that we may lift him up as a holy example and feel better about ourselves. He was one of the most hated men in America. The FBI tried to destroy him because he was considered so highly dangerous. He was assasinated because of how hard he fought injustice and for his stance that it was acceptable to break immoral laws. And the majority of the quotes that are used now are taken out of context - the bulk of his words are ignored because they are far too controversial.

Yet we Presbyterians had members of our leadership marching arm and arm with him on Washington. We affirmed Barmen at the same time that we brought the Confession of 1967 into the fold. From the time he lived onward we have known that our work would be challenging and long, but we were in it for the long haul.

Because, as Dr. King said himself, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere. We are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly affects all indirectly. Never again can we afford to live with the narrow, provincial "outside agitator" idea. Anyone who lives inside the United States can never be considered an outsider."

The future is inescapable, as is the fact that it will be found together. With all of us.

May God give us wisdom for the journey.

Blessings,

Rev. Janie