For Cesar Chavez, he embraced the teachings of Jesus Christ in the same way as with the non-violence teachings of Mohandis Ghandi. For Cesar Chavez, the teachings and gospel of Jesus were not mere beautiful words to be proclaimed, studied and quoted. For him the teachings of Jesus had to become part of one’s innermost being so as to become real and effective in today’s world. By putting the words of Jesus in action, Cesar became the spiritual voice of millions of farmworkers throughout the country. His spirituality into action became a model for many of us who work with immigrant workers today. Cesar Chavez taught me and many others that by taking the teachings of Jesus and putting them into action, we are able to feel the pain, the cries and the suffering of people in ways that others ignore. Cesar Chavez’s spirituality connects with all of us regardless of The spiritual life of Cesar Chavez, like that of Jesus, was not an escape form the struggles of life, but rather a deeper insertion into human struggles between the evil forces of this world and the unlimited love of immigrant farmworkers as human beings. For Cesar Chavez, the struggle to unionize farm workers was not just another labor movement. It was above all the struggle to for society to accept them as human beings.

I practice the spirituality of Cesar Chavez in my work at the UCLA downtown labor center – a place where immigrant workers come together to prepare for the fight for dignity and respect as human beings. Next month through the help of the AFL-CIO and the Los Angeles Labor Movement, we will be embarking in one the biggest union organizing efforts of immigrant workers since the Justice for Janitors campaign of 2000. For the first time ever in this country we will be fighting side by side with car wash workers to create their own union. As a new member of this congregation, I am very fortunate to be part of a great committee called the Multi-Racial Development Committee. This committee will work to connect this congregation to this major struggle.

I light the chalice today for car wash workers everywhere and may we find the path to help them in their struggle to be recognized as human beings.