Page 19 - Florida Sentinel 1-18-19

Tribute To Dr. King
Loving Your Enemies
Many of the speeches by
Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., have served as the basis for his power as an orator. One of Dr. King’s lesser known speeches offered a preview of his path of non-violence.
In December 1957, Dr. King delivered the speech “Love Your Enemies,” from the pulpit of Dexter Avenue Baptist Church, in Montgomery, Alabama.
Excerpts of that speech fol- lows.
“...So I want to turn your at- tention to this subject: “Loving Your Enemies.” It’s so basic to me because it is a part of my basic philosophical and theolog- ical orientation the whole idea of love, the whole philosophy of love. In the fifth chapter of the gospel as recorded by Saint Matthew, we read from the lips of our Lord and Master: “Ye have heard that it has been said, ‘Thou shall love thy neighbor, and hate thine enemy.
“But I say unto you, Love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them that de- spitefully use you; that ye may be the children of your Father which is in heaven.”
“... We have the Christian and moral responsibility to seek to discover the meaning of these words, and to discover how we can live out this command, and why we should live by this com- mand.
“...In the final analysis, love is not this sentimental some- thing that we talk about. It’s not merely an emotional something. Love is creative, understanding goodwill for all men. It is the re- fusal to defeat any individual. When you rise to the level of love, of its great beauty and power, you seek only to defeat evil systems.
“It is a love that seeks noth- ing in return. It is an overflow- ing love; it’s what theologians would call the love of God work- ing in the lives of men.
“...Now there is a final rea- son I think that Jesus says, “Love your enemies.” It is this: that love has within it a redemp- tive power. And there is a power there that eventually transforms individuals. ...If you love your enemies, you will discover that at the very root of love is the power of redemption.
“There is a power in love that our world has not discov- ered yet. Jesus discovered it cen- turies ago. Mahatma Gandhi of India discovered it a few years ago, but most men and most women never discover it....”
The following year, Ms. Izola Ware Curry stabbed Dr. King in the chest with a 7” letter opener. Instead of having her arrested, Dr. King re- quested that she be treated at a mental institution.
FRIDAY, JANUARY 18, 2019 FLORIDA SENTINEL BULLETIN PUBLISHED EVERY TUESDAY AND FRIDAY PAGE 7-B