Of Bears and Penguins

Not going lie, I was not prepared for this speech, rather I wasn't prepared to be a little humbled by this speech.
There I was yesterday, knowing it was by Cesar Chavez, and thinking "Not another organizing speech."
And so knowing I needed to listen yesterday, I got through my day, and then as though careening through the closing auditorium door, sat down to read the speech, ready to hurry through and onto the next thing.
Then I started to read. Sometimes you get to church just barely on time and thinking about 100 other things, and all the sudden it's like someone pours water over you and you have to be still, and you realize that you're hearing big Truths and that you've got to put your business aside.
So it was when I read this speech.
Especially when he started to speak of the church as a powerful institution - I don't think he meant powerful in our earthly terms of wealth and influence, I think he meant powerful in that it is the province of a king not of this earth.
He spoke of the protestants, and the corners of my heart turned up a little - I knew ones such as these he was talking about.
I love that he indicates that beyond the every-day-close-to-the-dirt needs of people, there's a spirtual need to be fed as well.
Daily bread, and daily word, both are neccessary.
And how gentle he is in admonishing the church to help the poor - he could be much harsher. Indeed, I have been much harsher. But he simply and eloquently says "We ask for Christ among us," which is precisely what the church should be.
I'm heartened that there is an increasing number of churches that I hear about who are embracing this exhortation, and are actively working in social justice areas. I attend a church whose love for the city, and committment to serving her are part of what drew me to make a home there.
Furthermore, I think that for me and others who grew up in an "evangelical" environ were exposed to the concept that the only "real" ministry was explicitly sharing the gospel complete with invitation, salvation and ushering into heaven.
Now there's nothing wrong with sharing that message, in fact it should be shared. But to confine the work of the gospel to that act alone, would create an awfully narrow field in which to work.
It's my belief from my time in Baltimore, from my work here, from reading about the work of Mother Theresa, from observing ministries like Church on the Lot in Dallas, and the Hinde Street Mission in London, that the gospel is much broader than words. That it begins with bread, and shelter, and continues in love to the rest of it.
It is absolutely about serving as "Christ with us," even unto the ones that society forgets about each day.