Thurgood Marshall, Public Servant, 1993.

The Collect:

Rite I:
Eternal and ever-gracious God, who didst bless thy servant Thurgood Marshall with grace and courage to discern and speak the truth: Grant that, following his example, we may know thee and recognize that we are all thy children, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Ghost, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Rite II:
Eternal and ever-gracious God, who blessed your servant Thurgood Marshall with grace and courage to discern and speak the truth: Grant that, following his example, we may know you and recognize that we are all your children, brothers and sisters of Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

First Lesson: Amos 5:10-15

¹⁰ They hate the one who reproves in the gate,
   and they abhor the one who speaks the truth.
¹¹ Therefore, because you trample on the poor
   and take from them levies of grain,
you have built houses of hewn stone,
   but you shall not live in them;
you have planted pleasant vineyards,
   but you shall not drink their wine.
¹² For I know how many are your transgressions,
   and how great are your sins—
you who afflict the righteous, who take a bribe,
   and push aside the needy in the gate.
¹³ Therefore the prudent will keep silent in such a time;
   for it is an evil time.

¹⁴ Seek good and not evil,
   that you may live;
and so the Lord, the God of hosts, will be with you,
   just as you have said.
¹⁵ Hate evil and love good,
   and establish justice in the gate;
it may be that the Lord, the God of hosts,
   will be gracious to the remnant of Joseph.

Psalm: Psalm 34:15-22

¹⁵ The eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous, *
       and his ears are open to their cry.
¹⁶ The face of the Lord is against those who do evil, *
       to root out the remembrance of them from the earth.
¹⁷ The righteous cry, and the Lord hears them *
       and delivers them from all their troubles.
¹⁸ The Lord is near to the brokenhearted *
       and will save those whose spirits are crushed.
¹⁹ Many are the troubles of the righteous, *
       but the Lord will deliver him out of them all.
²⁰ He will keep safe all his bones; *
       not one of them shall be broken.
²¹ Evil shall slay the wicked, *
       and those who hate the righteous will be punished.
²² The Lord ransoms the life of his servants, *
       and none will be punished who trust in him.

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

¹Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples, ²‘The scribes and the Pharisees sit on Moses’ seat; ³therefore, do whatever they teach you and follow it; but do not do as they do, for they do not practise what they teach. ⁴They tie up heavy burdens, hard to bear, and lay them on the shoulders of others; but they themselves are unwilling to lift a finger to move them. ⁵They do all their deeds to be seen by others; for they make their phylacteries broad and their fringes long. ⁶They love to have the place of honour at banquets and the best seats in the synagogues, ⁷and to be greeted with respect in the market-places, and to have people call them rabbi. ⁸But you are not to be called rabbi, for you have one teacher, and you are all students. ⁹And call no one your father on earth, for you have one Father—the one in heaven. ¹⁰Nor are you to be called instructors, for you have one instructor, the Messiah. ¹¹The greatest among you will be your servant. ¹²All who exalt themselves will be humbled, and all who humble themselves will be exalted.

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