Black Lives Matter

I’m wearing black to church today. I learned on Friday that today, nationwide, black churches are observing Black Solidarity Day or Black Lives Matter Sunday and wearing black to church.

At the Black Lives Matter prayer service in The Upper Room chapel, my colleague and friend, Candace, gently explained: Of course, all lives matter. They do! But we want to say that Black Lives Matter. It is Black children being killed in our streets, not all children.

I want to affirm that Black Lives Matter. Today, on this Gaudete Sunday in Advent, Black Lives Matter. Every day, Black lives matter.

Remember that Mary sang:

“My soul magnifies the Lord,
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant.
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed;
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.
50 His mercy is for those who fear him
from generation to generation.
51 He has shown strength with his arm;
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts.
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones,
and lifted up the lowly;
53 he has filled the hungry with good things,
and sent the rich away empty.
54 He has helped his servant Israel,
in remembrance of his mercy,
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”