Scriptures for January 21

Here are the scripture readings for this upcoming Sunday.

Suggestion: Print this and read a different passage each day and think about it
(some questions are offered to help stimulate your reflection).

You'll find your experience of worship on Sunday will be intensified.

If you would like to comment on these scriptures or have some on-line conversation about them, please go to sundayscriptures@blogspot.com and click the "comments" button at the bottom.

(St. Paul's uses the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary readings which are a little different from the Prayer Book Lections. The recent General Convention authorized the RCL as our official lectionary.)

January 21, 2007
3rd Sunday after Epiphany, Year C
Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary

The Collect
Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our
Savior Jesus Christ and proclaim to all people the Good News
of his salvation, that we and the whole world may perceive
the glory of his marvelous works; who lives and reigns with
you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Scriptures
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
Luke 4:14-21

Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
All the people gathered together into the square before the Water
Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of
Moses, which the Lord had given to Israel. Accordingly, the
priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and
women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the
first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square
before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the
presence of the men and the women and those who could understand;
and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the
law. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he
was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the
people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and
all the people answered, "Amen, Amen," lifting up their hands.
Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their
faces to the ground. So they read from the book, from the law of
God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people
understood the reading.

And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and
scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people,
"This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep."
For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then
he said to them, "Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and
send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for
this day is holy to our Lord and do not be grieved, for the joy of
the Lord is your strength."
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The book of the law was probably Deuteronomy, which had been lost for generations and rediscovered in the restoration of the Temple. Imagine how it felt to reconnect with such a significant piece of their community history which they had never known before.
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Psalm 19:1-14
1 The heavens declare the glory of God, *
and the firmament shows his handiwork.
2 One day tells its tale to another, *
and one night imparts knowledge to another.
3 Although they have no words or language, *
and their voices are not heard,
4 Their sound has gone out into all lands, *
and their message to the ends of the world.
5 In the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
it comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
it rejoices like a champion to run its course.
6 It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens
and runs about to the end of it again; *
nothing is hidden from its burning heat.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect and revives the soul; *
the testimony of the Lord is sure and gives wisdom to the innocent.
8 The statutes of the Lord are just and rejoice the heart; *
the commandment of the Lord is clear and gives light to the eyes.
9 The fear of the Lord is clean and endures for ever; *
the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether.
10 More to be desired are they than gold, more than much fine gold, *
sweeter far than honey, than honey in the comb.
11 By them also is your servant enlightened, *
and in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who can tell how often he offends? *
cleanse me from my secret faults.
13 Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins;
let them not get dominion over me; *
then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a great offense.
14 Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable in your sight, *
O Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
_______________________

This psalm moves from a cosmic vision of God's glory to the praise of God in the law and finally to a very personal prayer.
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1 Corinthians 12:12-31
For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the
members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with
Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one
body--Jews or Greeks, slaves or free--and we were all made to
drink of one Spirit.

Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many.
If the foot would say, "Because I am not a hand, I do not belong
to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the body.
And if the ear would say, "Because I am not an eye, I do not
belong to the body," that would not make it any less a part of the
body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing
be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of
smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body,
each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where
would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one
body. The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you,"
nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." On the
contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less
honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable
members are treated with greater respect; whereas our more
respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged
the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, that
there may be no dissension within the body, but the members
may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers,
all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice
together with it.

Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it.
And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second
prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing,
forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues.
Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues?
Do all interpret? But strive for the greater gifts.
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What are some of the implications of Paul's metaphor of the Body as a model for the life of the Church?
What gifts, what part in the church's Body do you exercise?
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Luke 4:14-21
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to
Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the
surrounding country. He began to teach in their synagogues
and was praised by everyone.

When he came to Nazareth, where he had
been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day,
as was his custom. He stood up to read, and the scroll of the
prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found
the place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon
me, because he has anointed me to bring good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery
of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, to proclaim the
year of the Lord's favor." And he rolled up the scroll, gave it
back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the
synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to say to them,
"Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
________________

What do you think about the way Jesus defined his mission?
Why do you think some took offense?
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Lowell

The Rev. Lowell Grisham
St. Paul's Episcopal Church
Fayetteville, AR