Many people know that today is an important day not only for the United States but also our world, since it is President Obama’s second inauguration in Washington DC.
Many people know that today is an important day not only for the United States but also our world, since it is President Obama’s second inauguration in Washington DC.
But this weekend is also Martin Luther Kind Jr. Day in the USA (http://www.timeanddate.com/holidays/us/martin-luther-king-day). And, in one sense, I believe that Dr King would have been delighted to learn that a black person has been elected and re-elected as president in the USA.
On this occasion, and to underline the faith-centred and challenging impact of this occasion, I share with you simply a Sun Sash (MLK#3), posted by Fr Vazken Movsesian from a great man of faith: Yes, I see the Church as the body of Christ. But, oh! How we have blemished and scarred that body through social neglect and through fear of being nonconformists. – Martin Luther King Jr.
You can read much more from this Armenian American priest on the web-site http://InHisShoes.org Each year he organises a retreat to coincide with Martin Luther King Jr. day, incidentally.
His organisation “rallies support for those who suffer in the world”, and was created in response to the 1915 Armenian Genocide. Fr Vazken says: “We believe those who have suffered evil have a unique responsibility to take action against injustice to others. Our actions are based on Christ’s principles of love, compassion and repaying evil with good.”
Dr King also once said: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is: ‘What are you doing for others?'” So good wishes to President Obama as he re-enters a very dangerous role, and a thought to Martin Luther King Jr. for his bold dream that is still being incarnated slowly – but hopefully surely – in our uncertain world.
* See also: ‘The use of Martin Luther King Jr.’s Bible by Barack Obama’ – http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/node/17838
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© Harry Hagopian is an international lawyer, ecumenist and EU political consultant. He also acts as a Middle East and inter-faith advisor to the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of England & Wales and as Middle East consultant to ACEP (Christians in Politics) in Paris. He is an Ekklesia associate and regular contributor (http://www.ekklesia.co.uk/HarryHagopian). Formerly an Executive Secretary of the Jerusalem Inter-Church Committee and Executive Director of the Middle East Council of Churches, he is now an international fellow, Sorbonne III University, Paris, consultant to the Campaign for Recognition of the Armenian Genocide (UK), Ecumenical consultant to the Primate of Armenian Church in UK & Ireland, and author of The Armenian Church in the Holy Land. Dr Hagopian’s own website is www.epektasis.net Follow him on Twitter here: @harryhagopian