Martin Luther King, Jr., Pastor and Martyr, 1968

The Collect:

Rite I:
Almighty God, who by the hand of Moses thy servant didst lead thy people out of slavery, and didst make them free at last: Grant that thy Church, following the example of thy prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of thy love, and may strive to secure for all thy children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Rite II:
Almighty God, by the hand of Moses your servant you led your people out of slavery, and made them free at last: Grant that your Church, following the example of your prophet Martin Luther King, may resist oppression in the name of your love, and may strive to secure for all your children the blessed liberty of the Gospel of Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

First Lesson: Exodus 3:7–12

⁷ Then the Lord said, ‘I have observed the misery of my people who are in Egypt; I have heard their cry on account of their taskmasters. Indeed, I know their sufferings, ⁸and I have come down to deliver them from the Egyptians, and to bring them up out of that land to a good and broad land, a land flowing with milk and honey, to the country of the Canaanites, the Hittites, the Amorites, the Perizzites, the Hivites, and the Jebusites. ⁹The cry of the Israelites has now come to me; I have also seen how the Egyptians oppress them. ¹⁰So come, I will send you to Pharaoh to bring my people, the Israelites, out of Egypt.’ ¹¹But Moses said to God, ‘Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh, and bring the Israelites out of Egypt?’ ¹²He said, ‘I will be with you; and this shall be the sign for you that it is I who sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall worship God on this mountain.’

Psalm: Psalm 77:11-20

¹¹ I will remember the works of the Lord, *
       and call to mind your wonders of old time.
¹² I will meditate on all your acts *
       and ponder your mighty deeds.
¹³ Your way, O God, is holy; *
       who is so great a god as our God?
¹⁴ You are the God who works wonders *
       and have declared your power among the peoples.
¹⁵ By your strength you have redeemed your people, *
       the children of Jacob and Joseph.
¹⁶ The waters saw you, O God;
   the waters saw you and trembled; *
       the very depths were shaken.
¹⁷ The clouds poured out water;
   the skies thundered; *
       your arrows flashed to and fro;
¹⁸ The sound of your thunder was in the whirlwind;
   your lightnings lit up the world; *
       the earth trembled and shook.
¹⁹ Your way was in the sea,
   and your paths in the great waters, *
       yet your footsteps were not seen.
²⁰ You led your people like a flock *
       by the hand of Moses and Aaron.

Gospel: Luke 6:27-36

²⁷ ‘But I say to you that listen, Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, ²⁸bless those who curse you, pray for those who abuse you. ²⁹If anyone strikes you on the cheek, offer the other also; and from anyone who takes away your coat do not withhold even your shirt. ³⁰Give to everyone who begs from you; and if anyone takes away your goods, do not ask for them again. ³¹Do to others as you would have them do to you.

³² ‘If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. ³³If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. ³⁴If you lend to those from whom you hope to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners, to receive as much again. ³⁵But love your enemies, do good, and lend, expecting nothing in return. Your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High; for he is kind to the ungrateful and the wicked. ³⁶Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

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