Sunday, February 1, we celebrated both the Gospel lesson on the Beatitudes, and the life and service of Martin Luther King Jr.  The word “meek” starts one of those memorable phrases, but seldom are we told what it really meant to the farming communities Jesus spoke it to.  Jesus was relating it to an animal that had been gently trained to understand their master’s directions, and willingly comply.

So when we are told “Blessed are the meek”, Jesus is asking us to partner with him in the tasks of his kingdom.  He’s the one in charge, and we are the ones that learn his ways, and participate in the results.  Are any of us perfect in doing so?  No.  But there is forgiveness, and grace, and the Holy Spirit who keeps nudging us, sometimes in directions we don’t understand until we can work to discern it.

Don’t be uncomfortable here- it’s not the only place in our liturgy that a word or phrase has a different meaning than it sounds.  In the Lord’s Prayer, for example, we have always said. “…and lead us not into temptation”, when it should say, “…guide me away from temptation”, which is theologically more accurate.

Anyway, as I dug into today’s readings, I felt a sense of loss that we were not here together last Sunday.  It was the right thing to do to cancel service.  But we lost the opportunity to hear about MLK Jr., and his life of service.  So as I dug deeper into The Beatitudes, I searched for examples of folks who actually lived out the Beatitudes in a world that didn’t want to hear it, and fought against them.  That’s what countercultural means.  One name stood out- Martin Luther King Jr.

So Martin Luther King Jr. is often described as a "man of the Beatitudes," reflecting his commitment to living by the principles outlined in the Sermon on the Mount.  He emphasized virtues such as humility, mercy, and peace, which are central to the Beatitudes, and applied these principles to his civil rights movement, advocating for justice and equality.  King's nonviolent approach and dedication to the teachings of the Beatitudes have inspired generations, showcasing how they can guide moral and spiritual conduct in society.

But over the decades since his death, some people have criticized him because of what he said, and use his words against him.  So let’s not focus so much on what MLK Jr. said, but rather what he accomplished regarding the Beatitudes.  King lived at a time when Black Americans in many parts of the U.S. couldn’t vote, didn’t have access to quality education, couldn’t run for or hold public office, couldn’t serve on juries, and couldn’t use the same public bathrooms and drinking fountains as whites.  And King made a huge difference.

Few of us are prepared to sacrifice the way King was.  And while he spoke for that huge cause, he didn’t expect every person to give up their life in the cause.  He suggested that we come to know ourselves, our capabilities, and also know the opportunities that the Hold Spirit throws our way, so that, when those opportunities come along, we can accept them, and act on them. 

Here’s how he said it: “If you can't fly then run, if you can't run then walk, if you can't walk then crawl, but whatever you do, you have to keep moving forward.”  That’s the importance of keeping our hearts focused on the goal of the Beatitudes, then keeping at it in the face of challenges, through the Holy Spirit.  As a well-trained, powerful horse for Christ.

So may it be for all of us.  God loves you, and so do I.  AMEN.