MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR., DAY (Lectionary #882)
This year, the church celebrates the memorial of St. Agnes on January 21 (Lectionary #516). This is an obligatory observance. However, in Masses with special groups or in case of serious need or pastoral advantage, at the direction of the diocesan bishop or with his permission, a priest may choose other texts for special celebrations. Remember, if you celebrate a special Mass, that you do not need three readings; as for weekdays, you only need one reading, followed by the psalm or Gospel acclamation or both, plus the Gospel text.

Suggested prayer texts:
Sacramentary, Masses for Various Needs and Occasions #21, for the Progress of Peoples or
#22, for Peace and Justice. Preface #P83, Independence Day and Other Civic Observances II.

Suggested readings:
Lectionary #882-886: For the Country or a City or for Those in Public Office or . . . for the Progress of Peoples

Esther C:1-4, 8-10 (#882-6): The “Prayer of Mordecai” affirms faith in God and in God’s protection of the holy people but still asks for God to work to correct injustice.

Psalm (84) 85 (#884-3)
Come, O Lord, and Set Us Free (Lee) CH 108
Let Us See Your Kindness (MacAller) GP 225
Lord, Let Us See Your Kindness, refrain 2 (Bogdan) WC 415
Lord, Let Us See Your Kindness, refrain 2 (Balhoff et al.)  GC 80/GP 224/RS 114
Lord, Let Us See Your Kindness (Haugen)  GC 79/GC2 48/RS 112
Lord, Show Us Your Mercy (Alstott) JS 60
Muéstranos, Señor (Rubalcava) Cantos 68
Muéstranos, Señor/Show Us, O Lord (Cortez) FYC 225/GP 223/JS 61
O Lord, Let Us See Your Kindness (Harbor) LMGM 501
Show Us Your Kindness (Hurd) JS 62
The Lord Speaks of Peace, refrain 2 (Proulx) RS 113

Colossians 3:9b-17 (#883-7): Christ overcomes all divisions, but we must put on Christ’s way of life in order to make that victory incarnate in our time.

John 15:9-12 (#886-12): This is my commandment: Love one another.

Songs for the Liturgy

For the Healing of the Nations  JS 866/RS 823/WC 926/WOR 643
Free at Last  GC 717/GP 562/LMGM 293
Freedom Is Coming  GC 723/GC2 707/RS 821
God, Who Stretched the Spangled Heavens  CH 604/RS 819/WC 694/WOR 648
Let Justice Roll Like a River GC 716/GC2 709
Lift Every Voice and Sing  GP 561/LMGM 291/PMB 162/WC 909/WOR 641
Lord of All Nations, Grant Me Grace  CH 612/RS 751/WC 764
Martin’s Dream for Us All  LMGM 295
O Freedom  RS 821
O God, Empower Us  WOR 642
O Jesus Christ, May Grateful Hymns  CH 611
The Harvest of Justice GC 711/GC2 716
The Voice of God Speaks But of Peace (Ps) CH 616
Voices That Challenge  GC 721/GC2 702
We Are Marching  GC 512/GC2 516/RS 648/WC 789
We Shall Not Be Silent  GP 559/JS 65
We Shall Overcome GC 724/GC2 711/GP 556/JS 842/LMGM 297
Whatsoever You Do  CH 609/GP 558/PMB 160/WC 934