Today, we honor the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by remembering his lessons of peace and non-violence, and his call for racial equality and justice for all. His message is rooted in the Gospel passage of the Golden Rule: “Do unto others as you would have them do unto you” (Mt 7:12).
As we commemorate this day, let us reflect on Dr. King’s life and legacy. Let us recommit ourselves to the Gospel message of love, mutual respect and the dignity of all human life. We live in a world where social injustice, division and conflict are common, and it is now more important than ever to love all people as we want to be loved and work to eradicate the sin of racism. As Pope Leo said in his address at the Jubilee of Justice last fall, “Justice becomes concrete when it reaches out to others, when each person is given their due, until equality in dignity and opportunity among human beings is achieved.”
Let us pray for the inspiration and the will to live the Gospel, so that we draw everyone closer to Christ our Lord and to our Heavenly Father. Let us work for the justice that will bring us lasting peace. And may we never forget the courage and sacrifice of Dr. King, sharing in his dream of building a community of unity and peace with a deep respect for all our brothers and sisters, each created in the image and likeness of God.