The Mass on the Feast of the Baptism of
the Lord opened with the classic spiritual “Wade in the Water” sung by the St. Joseph
Gospel Choir. It was a fitting start to the Mass in Recognition of Martin Luther
King Jr. Day, celebrated at the Cathedral of St. Thomas More in Arlington Jan.
12, said Bishop Michael F. Burbidge.
“What I love about the music we are
singing today — gospel music and spirituals — they have such a powerful way of
acknowledging injustice and oppression, but at the same time delivering a
message of hope and freedom,” Bishop Burbidge said in his homily. “We yearn for
the end of all oppression and the gift of true freedom for all of God’s people.
That’s why we follow Jesus — we follow
him to the waters of baptism where we die to ourselves and rise with him.”
Sadly, the world is filled with darkness
because so many reject Jesus and his message, said Bishop Burbidge, including his
message of love for all peoples. “We cannot shy away from acknowledging how the
evils of racial discrimination and bigotry and hatred and prejudice continue to
infect our society,” he said. “But as we acknowledge such evil, we always do so
with hope. Because what we celebrate at this and every Mass is that by his own
death and resurrection, Jesus accomplished once and for all victory over sin
and suffering and even death.”
Many black Catholics played a role in
the liturgy, including Deacons Al Anderson and Gerard Marie Anthony, reader
Beverly Carroll and members of the Knights of Peter Claver and Ladies Auxiliary
Court of St. Joseph Church in Alexandria, who brought up the offertory gifts.
Grand Lady Beverly Thornton leads the
sororal organization, which performs acts of service for the parish and
community, such as volunteering with Meals on Wheels and assisting at parish
funerals. They also work closely with the Oblate Sisters of Providence, a religious
order in Baltimore founded by Mother Mary Lange. The order originally staffed
the now-closed parish school. “This Christmas we each adopted a nun,” said Thornton.
“There are about 50-some nuns and 51 of us, so we asked for their wish list and
we were able to fulfil that.”
Both Thornton and Grand Knight Joseph Brooks
were pleased by the turnout and diversity of attendees at the annual Mass. “It’s
a good Mass to have to bring people together, which is what Dr. King really
wanted,” said Brooks.
“We’re living his dream,” said Thornton.
“Working on his dream.”
