On Saturday morning, Bishop Michael Curry, the Episcopal Church's first African American leader, delivered a moving sermon during Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding - held at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle.
In front of 600 guests and millions of viewers, Curry opened his sermon with a Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. quote to discuss the "power of love." He said: "The late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. once said... 'We must discover the power of love, the redemptive power of love. And when we discover that, we will be able to make of this old world a new world. Love is the only way.'"
The 65-year-old Chicago native went on to discuss the religious roots of love and the legacy of slavery when he referenced "There is a Balm in Gilead." The traditional African American spiritual was sung by slaves who were in contraband camps helping the Union during the Civil War to work themselves out of bondage.
"I am talking about some power. Real power. Power to change the world, Curry explained." If you don’t believe me, well, there were some old slaves in America’s Antebellum South who explained the dynamic power of love, and why it has the power to transform. They explained it this way, they sang a spiritual, even in the midst of their captivity. It’s one that says 'There’s a balm in Gilead…' a healing balm, something that can make things right."
Curry closed his sermon the same way he opened it, with a reference to the late Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. After watching, Dr. King's youngest child, Reverend Bernice King, tweeted: "#MLK quote at the #RoyalWedding. Your life, teachings and words still matter so much, Daddy. Congrats, Harry and Meghan!"
#MLK quote at the #RoyalWedding. Your life, teachings and words still matter so much, Daddy. Congrats, Harry and Meghan!
— Be A King (@BerniceKing) May 19, 2018
Watch the video above and see Bishop Michael Curry take us all to church.