Let freedom in!

One year, while on holiday, I had the opportunity to stand at the spot where Martin Luther King Jr. delivered his iconic “I Have a Dream” speech. I’m not going to bore you with holiday stories, but I do want to reflect on that speech this morning - and how it connects with our gospel reading from Luke ( 17:11–19 ) . King’s speech is often remembered for the repeated phrase “I have a dream.” He says it nine times, painting a vision of a better, more equal, more just society. But there’s another phrase he uses just as often: “Let freedom ring.” And I want to suggest that perhaps this speech should be known not as the “I Have a Dream” speech, but the “Let Freedom Ring” speech. Because while dreams speak of the future, freedom speaks of the present. “Let freedom ring” is a call to action, a cry of victory, a declaration that transformation is possible now - not just someday. In our gospel reading, we see a story of healing and freedom. Ten le...