“When an affluent society could coax us to believe that happiness consists in the size of our automobiles, the impressiveness of our houses, and the expensiveness of our clothes, Jesus reminds us ‘a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things which he possesseth.’

When we would yield to the temptation of a world rife with sexual promiscuity and gone wild with a philosophy of self -expression, Jesus tells us that ‘whosoever looketh up on a woman to lust after her had committed adultery with her already in his heart.’

When we refuse to suffer for righteousness and choose to follow the path of comfort rather than conviction, we hear Jesus say ‘blessed are they which are persecuted for righteousness sake; for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.’

When in spiritual pride we boast of having reached the peak of moral excellence, Jesus warns ‘the publicans and harlots go into the Kingdom of God before you.’

When we, through compassionless detachment and arrogant individualism fail to respond to the needs of the underprivileged, the Master says, ‘inasmuch as you have done it unto one of the least of these my brethren, you have done it unto me.’

When we allow the spark of revenge in our souls to flame up in hate towards our enemies, Jesus teaches ‘love your enemies, bless them that curse you, do good to them that hate you, and pray for them which despitefully use you and persecute you.’

Everywhere and at all times the love ethic of Jesus is a radiant light revealing the ugliness of our stale conformity.” (Martin Luther King, Strength to Love, 1963, p.18,19