On Monday we are going to remember the memory of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Dr. King is best known for advancing civil rights through nonviolence.  In his famous speech “I Have a Dream,” Dr. King said: “This is our hope…with faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brother-hood.  With this faith we will be able to work together, to pray together, to struggle together, to stand up for freedom together….” I believe Dr. King’s dream continues to be our hope as a nation today.

Our nation suffers from so much division and we have seen that in the recent events at the Capitol Hill.  Dr. King spoke words that rightly called a nation to repent of racism and embrace a new day of equality.  As we celebrate the life of Dr. King, we should remember his words and actions by living them out.  His voice is heard once again crying out that we work together as one nation towards unity and reconciliation.

We are in the midst of a very difficult pandemic. The number of cases are rising and many are dying because of this virus.   Our nation needs us to be united to combat the virus.  We need to help each other in mitigating this pandemic.

Our scripture readings for this weekend remind us not only of the call of Samuel, Peter and Andrew, but also of our call.  God invites us to be His ministers- that is to be proclaimers of the presence of God’s Kingdom – a kingdom of peace, forgiveness, unity, and love.

During these very disturbing times in our nation, I encourage all of us to continue to pray for another.  Let us ask God, who gave one origin to all peoples and willed to gather from us one family to fill our hearts with the fire of His love.  May every division be removed, and equity and justice be established in our society.

Finally, I offer the words of the song of St. Francis for our prayer as well.  A prayer that I believe speaks of our nation’s needs and hopes:

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace: where there is hatred, let me sow love; where there is injury, pardon; where there is doubt, faith; where there is despair, hope; where there is darkness, light; where there is sadness, joy. 

Oh Mary, Our Lady of Guadalupe, the Patroness of the Americas, Queen of Peace, Health of the Sick, pray for us.