I Have a(n American) Dream

Summary of a Fr. Gerry Creedon homily from January 15, 2006

"Here I am Lord, I come to do your will" Ps 40:2

I USUALLY DO NOT REMEMBER my dreams. I took some time off last week and awoke most mornings with vivid recall. I dreamed of one of my brothers. He suffers from severe and progressive schizophrenia, and lives in a reclusive world of his own. In my dream he appeared in the full vibrancy of his teenage years, a strong, sensitive, charming young man. His hair was slicked back, shining with the hair oil of that era. I wondered why I had such a strange recollection. Perhaps, I thought, I may not be able to fix my brother in ways I would wish, yet I may be able to reach out in this new year and touch another brother or sister though my ministry to bring some measure of healing.

Tomorrow we honor a dreamer -- Martin Luther King. "I have a dream, I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed -- we hold these truths to be self-evident that all men are created equal. And when this happens, when we allow freedom to ring, when we let it ring from every tenement and every hamlet, from every state and every city, we will be able to speed up that day when all of God's children, black men and white men, Jews and Gentiles, Protestants and Catholics will be able to join hands and sing in the words of the old-- "Free at last, free at last, God Almighty, I am free at last."

I have been reading "Bearing the Cross" by David Garrow. He recounts the witness of Rosa Parks. One of her friends called Martin Luther King to seek his support and a meeting in his church. "Brother Nixon," he said, "let me think about it awhile, and call me back." He had a new-born daughter and a large church to attend to. On the third call, he said yes.

All though his life M. L. King struggled. He knew his own personal infidelities. He felt that his public profile and his own perception of himself did not match. He feared for his personal safety. Yet he persevered in the pursuit of a vision of justice, equality, and non-violent struggle.

The evening of his assassination he shared a prophecy and a premonition. He had been told about a bomb threat in Memphis and other rumors. "Well, I don't know what will happen to me now. We've got some difficult days ahead. But it really does not matter with me now, because I have been to the mountaintop. And I don't mind. Like everybody, I would like to live a long life. Longevity has its place. But I am not concerned about that now. I just want to do God's will. And He's allowed me to go up to the mountain, and I've looked over, and I've seen the promised land. I may not get there with you. But I want you to know tonight, that we, as a people will get to the promised land. And so, I'm happy tonight. I'm not worried about anything. I'm not fearing any man. Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord."

His dream has become part of the American dream. Its consequences are felt throughout the world. It helped banish discrimination here and apartheid in Africa.

At the heart of the Christian Gospel is the dream of the Kingdom of love and justice. That dream calls to every one of us. We may hesitate because of our inner or external constraints. Martin received three calls. Samuel was called three times before he recognized God's voice.

Today let us consider in this first month of the new year what significant difference each of us will make in the months ahead. Let us lay aside our doubts as we say our 'Amen'.

Here am I, Lord, I come to do your will.

 

"Dreams" - Poem by Langston Hughes used for post communion reflection:

Hold fast on dreams
for if dreams die,
life is a broken winged bird
that cannot fly.

Hold fast on dreams.
For if dreams go,
life is a barren field
frozen with snow..