After a year of increased murders in the City of Chicago and in the wake of the U.S. Department of Justice announcing a probe into the use of force and accountability in the Chicago Police Department, Rev. B. Herbert Martin told interfaith leaders gathered at Holy Name Cathedral on Dec. 8, “I believe we can heal the heart of the city of Chicago.”

Referencing the spiritual “This Little Light of Mine” and waving a flashlight, he called on the “people of the light” to “shine this little light of mine” on the West Side, the South Side, in the Loop, the Gold Coast and all Chicago neighborhoods. “Let it shine,” he exclaimed, to a round of applause and a standing ovation.

Martin, who is pastor of Progressive Community Church, preached the sermon at an interfaith prayer service organized by the Council of Religious Leaders of Metropolitan Chicago in a show of solidarity against violence in the city and to pray for peace. 

Representatives from the city’s Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Jain, Baha’i, Hindu, Sikh and Zoroastrian faith traditions offered readings, prayers and songs during the service. 

As of Dec. 8, 458 homicides were reported in Chicago this year. There were 435 homicides reported in all of 2014.

The service was announced soon after the release of a dash-cam video showing Officer James Van Dyke shooting Laquan McDonald 16 times.

Martin used the Scripture passage Jeremiah 29:7 for the basis of his sermon: “Work for the peace and prosperity of the city,” he quoted, “for its welfare will determine your welfare.”

“I have good news to the bad news of this world,” he said. “The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof.”

The people of Chicago have become “disconnected,” which has led to the violence and oppression. It’s time for faith communities to reconnect and act, Martin said.

“After we pray it is time for action,” he said. “We must emerge from prayer with a holy dissatisfaction with this system as it is.”

Martin called for more reforms in the police department and more resources from federal, state and local governments for poor communities.

“We are the moral force to seek mercy and justice for such a time as this. We are a force for the good of our city,” he told the faith leaders.

In his closing remarks Archbishop Cupich spoke of Pope Francis crossing the threshold of the Holy Door in Rome earlier that day to open the Jubilee of Mercy.

“All of us who call Chicago home want to pass over this present threshold and step into a new space together,” the archbishop said.

“We long to dwell together in a space where God’s justice reigns and we are just when dealing with each other.”

To watch the service, visit youtu.be/lTo0rcAUbh8