News and Views

In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s birthday observance, Bishop LaTrelle Easterling preached at American University. We share some small excerpts from her sermon, The Journey Continues, as people of faith observe the inauguration of America’s 45 president, Donald Trump, in Washington, D.C. on Jan. 20. 

Martin had a dream. That dream has not yet been realized. The journey toward that dream continues. The journey toward justice continues. The journey toward freedom is still not over. This is our collective journey -- demanding that the country lives up to her creed that all men and all women are in fact created equal.

Until we see in each other the Imago Dei, until we mirror the reflection of the divine to each other, until we believe that all – all – are of inherent dignity and worth, we are simply mere wayfarers on the road.

We must reclaim our voice of advocacy, agitation and affirmation. We have the responsibility, it’s really the duty, to reclaim the prophet’s voice for preaching the Good News of Jesus Christ.

We must continue to stand on the Gospel: not be afraid, not succumb, not accommodate. We must stand on the Gospel truth. And this is why we cannot get into the business of naming each other as evil. Of naming persons and attacking them. Instead, we should speak to the condition, speak to the impediment. Speak to the sin. Speak to the actions that stand in direct contradiction to the Gospel. Speak to it. 

Our hope is in God as the journey continues. God calls us back to God’s own self – the only place where good, true and full freedom can be found. When we find ourselves at the foot of the cross, where the ground for everyone is level; and when we are willing to stand up as one united body; if we are willing to understand that we really are all God’s children; then and only then, will be really be able to proclaim, ‘Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we’re all free at last.’