MESSAGE OF PEACE
Legislator speaks on eve of Martin Luther King Jr. holiday
“The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to pro claim good news to the poor. He has sent me to pro claim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to set the oppressed free, to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor.” — Luke 4:18-19.
—
An Oklahoma legislator and retired Baptist minis te rs hared a message of hope Sunday on the eve of the Martin Luther King Jr. national holiday.
Sen. George Young, D-Oklahoma City, spoke at St. John Missionary Baptist Church' s virtual worship service.
For several decades, the northeast Oklahoma City church has held an annual citywide Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Church Service on the afternoon of the Sunday before the national holiday honoring King. However, this year's service was canceled due to COVID-19 and the predominantly Black church, led by the Rev. Major J em is on, invited Young, of House District 48, to be guest speaker instead at a King-focused morning service.
Young's sermon was titled “Let Freedom Ring,” tying in scripture from the Book of Luke with words that King spoke during his i conic “I Have a Dream” speech in 1963.
The legislator preached from Luke 4: 16- 20, a passage of scripture where Jesus returns to the synagogue and reads from the Book of Isaiah. Young said Jesus reading that particular biblical passage represented a message of hope because Jesus had come as the fulfillment of the Prophet Isaiah's prophecy of a messiah.
Young said Jesus, in his resurrection, brought freedom to those who believed in Him during his lifetime and to those who believe in Him today.
This, Young said, includes Christians who are leaning on Him for help with modern-day struggles.
“Today this scripture has been fulfilled. It was empowered by Calvary,” the senator said. “He got up with all power so that we could manage any difficulties.”
Young acknowledged many present-day concerns, including a looming presidential inauguration be set with threats of violence, the
idea that rhetoric incited the Jan. 6 Capitol riot, urgent need for food and other aid for families in the COVID era, disturbing encounters between l aw enforcement
and people of color, and the disproportionate percentage of people of color in Oklahoma prisons.
Jesus, he said, came to comfort and bring good news
for those worried about such things as he is“always on time.”
“He came ready to do what needs to be done. He came the right way. He came to do the right thing. He came for the poor — He came for socioeconomic reform. He came for those imprisoned. He came for criminal justice reform. He came for law enforcement reform. ... When leaders of this country lie and incite riots, let not your hearts be troubled.”
Faith Editor Carla Hinton edits The Oklahoman's Spiritual Life section, and covers faith and spirituality, and related topics for the newspaper and Oklahoman.com. Contact her at chinton@oklahoman.com. Please support her work and that of other Oklahoman journalists by purchasing a subscription today at oklahoman.com/subscribe.