Thought for the Day-The March for Freedom

Soldiers and Students, 1962, Jacob Lawrence

A Thought for the Day given at the lunchtime service of Holy Communion (BCP) at St Giles-in-the-Fields on Wednesday 28th August 2024 based on the text of 2 Thessalonians 3.6–10, 16–end and drawing on the anniversary of Martin Luther King's 'I have a dream' speach.

On this day in 1963, Martin Luther King stood on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in Washington DC and gave his now famous “I have a dream” speech.

Dr King spoke at the end of what was called The March for Jobs and Freedom - which was joined by over a quarter of a million people. King set out the urgent work needed to realise the dream of freedom and justice for all God’s children. He called on those who continued to suffer most from the policies of racist segregation to continue to endure “with the faith that unearned suffering is redemptive”. 

And he cautioned the whole of society against indifference in matters of racial justice:

“This is no time to engage in the luxury of cooling off or to take the tranquilizing drug of gradualism.” He said. 

The march and the speech changed attitudes. Within a year, President Johnson signed the Civil Rights Act which banned discrimination in public services and employment.

Written two thousand years earlier - and also addressing a persecuted minority - St Paul’s letters to the early church in Thessalonica bear a striking similarity to King’s speech; with their appeal against apathy and the urgent need to work to realise the promise of a fairer, more just future for all. 

We’ve just heard passages from what we call the second letter - the date of which is unclear. But what is not in doubt is that the oppression endured by the small Christian community was intensifying. 

At the start of the letter, Paul, like King, urges members of the church to remain steadfast and endure this suffering faithfully - as Jesus suffered for us. 

He then turns to address growing rumours that Christ had already returned. 

The reaction to this hearsay amongst members of the church seems to have depended on whether they were glass half full or glass half empty people. The half-fulls seem to have given up their jobs and begun living as though the Kingdom was here - because this is as good as it gets. The half-empty’s, in view of the violent persecution they faced, were despondent - convinced that they had been passed over by Christ’s second coming, destined to suffer in this way for eternity.

In either case, the response was the same - one of apathy. A relinquishing of hope. 

In both surviving letters, Paul emphasises the need for Christians to be known for their hard work and generosity - to earn money that can be used to support those without. To work towards justice and freedom to all. 

Paul challenges the indifference of those Christians who had given up their jobs - and relinquished their hope - by reminding them of the urgency and necessity of their task - just as King did in his speech.

It is perhaps in this context that the challenging line “if any would not work, neither should he eat” ought to be read. 

As we prepare to eat at the Lord’s Table, the words of St Paul and of Martin Luther King call us to set aside our apathy, so that our lives may be filled with renewed hope and purpose to do all such good works as our Father has prepared for us to walk in. 

To keep working until the day that Dr King dreamed of is here - when the glory of the Lord shall be revealed once more and all flesh shall see it together.

To keep walking that March for Freedom. 

Image : Soldiers and Students, 1962, Jacob Lawrence (TheJacob and Gwendolyn Lawrence Foundation)