Soon afterwards he went on through cities and villages, proclaiming and bringing the good news of the kingdom of God. The twelve were with him, 2as well as some women who had been cured of evil spirits and infirmities: Mary, called Magdalene, from whom seven demons had gone out, 3and Joanna, the wife of Herod’s steward Chuza, and Susanna, and many others, who provided for them out of their resources.
Luke 8:3
During the Lenten Season there have been discussion groups. This holy time is making space in the day to day grind for learning and exploring about a topic. When the series of White Privilege was announced last year, it peaked my interest. We shared personal experiences pertaining to race issues. The topic is complex. After the six-week curriculum completed the group decided to continue discussions. The holy spirit has brought us to articles about the ways our black brothers and sisters have been and continue to be treated unfairly. This safe space for sacred conversation allowed us to listen, learn, and perhaps answer a call to respond. I came to realize growing up without the Internet did not bring this news into my daily life the way news spreads today. Cell phones and apps for the most up to date news are at your fingertips. Watching the nightly news or listening to the radio were the means of information when the Civil Rights Movement was gaining momentum.
I wanted to read about the Civil Rights Movement. Making space to learn more, I discovered a book written about Coretta Scott King, “My Life, My love, My Story”. It is fascinating to learn how she was so involved in the movement. She organized Freedom Concerts. Using her classical training, Coretta performed concerts to assist in the fundraising efforts. She marched in Selma and Washington D.C I drew analogies between Coretta and Mary Magdalene. Mary was part of the Christian movement, though she is not really mentioned until Easter morning. She is considered one of the faithful and part of Jesus’ inner circle.
This space for reflection brought to light for me unnamed heroes, like Coretta, that walked beside Martin Luther King to bring about the Civil Rights Act. Martin followed Jesus’ path of non-violence with so many other leaders and women, who supported him. The similarities of Jesus’ walk to Jerusalem and Martin’s walk for justice are strikingly similar.
Prayers of gratitude for all who have pursued peace, justice, and the realm of God, who may have not named in history. Amen