ARCHDIOCESE OF PHILADELPHIA

Dear Friends,
We gather this afternoon in this beautiful Church of Saint Malachy to remember the life of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I thank all of you for being here and I offer special greetings to the Religious Leaders, who join us. I also thank Monsignor Kevin Lawrence, the Pastor of this Church and the good people of Saint Malachy for their hospitality, as they serve as our host today.

This Prayer Service, sponsored by our Archdiocese since 1983, gives us an opportunity to gather as people from different races, cultures and Faith Traditions to pray. This Church, like any House of Worship is fundamentally a place for prayer. What is prayer but simply, “the elevation of the mind and heart to God in praise of His glory” (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 2559).

Dr. King was a Christian and a man of prayer. He was schooled in prayer as a son of a Baptist Minister. He heard the Scared Scriptures and the teachings of Jesus at home and in church. But Dr. King also knew that prayer must always lead to action. Indeed, prayer leads us “to go in peace to love and serve the Lord.” That is precisely why Dr. King went from the pulpit of his Baptist Church in Atlanta to the mountain top of our nation to challenge us to live what we profess.

In our very City of Philadelphia, these words written: “We hold these truths to be self-evident that all men and created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with some unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” Yet, words must lead to action.

In the Gospel proclaimed today, we heard Jesus say: “‘For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?' And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me’” (Matthew 25: 31ff).

Our Lord vests Himself in the poor, the broken, the vulnerable and that is precisely where we are called to seek and serve Him. Whether they are sick and elderly, or the unborn child or the person in prison, all have human dignity and deserve our service and love.

Dr. King once said: “Everybody can be great... because anybody can serve. You don't have to have a college degree to serve. You don't have to make your subject and verb agree to serve. You only need a heart full of grace and a soul generated by love.”

This Prayer Service is a wonderful opportunity to come together. It must however lead us and inspire us to be better people, kinder people, most compassionate and more committed to building a “Beloved Community.” We don’t need more words, we need more witness! Yes, we can say that racism and bigotry are wrong, but we must act with justice and fairness to all people. For we dare not call God our Father, if we do not act like brothers and sisters.

I am so grateful that our Archdiocese will sponsor a Day of Community Service tomorrow on the National Holiday for Dr. King. For we know that his holiday is not a day off, but a “day on”. A day to put our words into action. Our young people and many adult volunteers will gather tomorrow at Saint Peter Claver Center for Evangelization. After prayer, they will then go forth to offer themselves in service to the needy. Young and old, black and white, male and female, all working together to serve others. Isn’t that what Dr. King wanted? More importantly, is that not the message of Jesus?

As we pray this afternoon, as we “lift every voice and sing”, may our words draw us closer to each other and to God who loves us all. Amen.