Some people see Martin Luther King Jr. Day as just a day off. A break from class. A pause from work. A moment on the calendar that passes quietly.
But the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. never lived quietly, and this day was never meant to be comfortable.
In his 1968 sermon, “The Drum Major Instinct,” Dr. King asked a question that continues to confront every generation: “Life’s most persistent and urgent question is, ‘What are you doing for others?’”
That question doesn’t belong only to this day; it belongs to how we live every day. Micah 6:8 frames this calling with simple clarity: “What does the Lord require of you? To act justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly.”
As I reflect on this day, I don’t just think about a day of service — I think about a life shaped by service. I think about what motivates us all year long, not just for a few hours in January. I think about the impact that remains when presence is gone. I think about legacy that continues to speak long after we leave the room.
Dr. King’s life reminds us that meaningful impact always costs something. It requires sacrifice. It demands discomfort. It invites criticism. He was talked about, lied on, threatened and, ultimately, killed — not because he sought recognition, but because he chose responsibility. He chose others over himself.
So, the question becomes personal.
What are we willing to sacrifice so someone else can move forward? What are we willing to endure to make room for justice, dignity and opportunity? How are we making people better, adding value to individuals, institutions, communities and a world that may not always recognize the value we are trying to bring?
At Marquette, we are shaped not only by what we learn, but by how we live through what we know. Education is preparation for impact. Mentoring is an investment in futures we may never fully see. Service is not a moment, it is a mindset.
This challenge is not just for students. It is for faculty, staff, alumni, neighbors, leaders and citizens of the world.
So today — and long after today — let Dr. King’s question guide us:
What are we doing for others?
As I reflect on this day, I’m reminded that honoring Dr. King is not about pausing our lives, but examining them. Reflection without action is incomplete. Remembrance without responsibility is unfinished. The truest way we honor this day is by choosing to live differently because of it.
Live in a way that leaves others better.
