Job
Description
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."
Luke 4:14-21
Christ Preaching in the Temple
POLACK,
Jan
1500
Los
Angeles County Museum of Art
Los
Angeles, California
United
States
If wrinkles must be written upon our brows,
let them not be written upon the heart.
The spirit should not grow old. *
~
James Garfield
You rarely have time
for everything you want in this life,
so you need to make
choices.
And hopefully your
choices can come from
a deep sense of who
you are.
~ Fred Rogers
Carolyn
Alexander and Anna Marie Nelson at Keys on the Green,
JAK
was all clean before we went out in the snow.
Two
neighbor girls and JAK had fun rolling in the snow together!
Go placidly, amid the
noise and haste,
remember what peace
there may be in silence.
~ Max Ehrmann
January 23, 2022 Third Sunday after Epiphany - Year C
Previous OPQs may be found at:
* From Destiny of the
Republic by Candice Millard, a fascinating story of James Garfield, 20th U.S.
President.
Agnus Day, by James Wetzstein
Agnus Day appears with the permission of www.agnusday.org
(From
Facebook)
Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10
Psalm 19
1 Corinthians 12:12–31a
Luke 4:14–21
Luke, the author of this year’s cycle of Gospel readings, is a
“second generation” Christian. Greek by birth and physician by
profession, he was a traveling companion of Paul, through whom he met Mark and
perhaps Peter himself. He writes his Gospel mainly for Gentiles like
himself: for Luke, this Jesus fulfills not only Jewish dreams but every people's
hopes for wholeness and holiness.
Luke’s Gospel reflects a scientist’s precision in locating dates, places and
people; but Luke's Gospel also exhibits an interest in people rather than
ideas. His account celebrates the compassion of Jesus for the outcasts
and “second class citizens” of Jewish society, including and especially women.
Luke begins his Gospel in the classic Greek historical style by personally (he
is the only one of the four evangelists who ever refers to himself in the first
person) assuring his readers (addressed in the singular “Theophilus,” Greek for
“friend of God”) of the historical accuracy and theological authenticity of the
research he has gathered to assemble this story.
According to Luke’s account, Jesus begins his teaching ministry in
Galilee. Galilee – a name which comes from the Hebrew word for circle –
was a great agricultural region encircled by non-Jewish nations and cultures,
thereby earning a reputation for being the most progressive and least
conservative area of Palestine. A teacher with a “new” message such as
this Rabbi Jesus would be expected to receive a favorable hearing in the
openness of Galilean society.
Jesus returns to his hometown, the Galilean city of Nazareth. Nazareth
was a city of great importance in Israel’s history and economy, located on the
major routes to Jerusalem, Alexandria and Damascus. In the Nazareth
synagogue (the places where local Jewish communities outside of Jerusalem would
gather for teaching and prayer), Jesus announces, using the words of the
prophet Isaiah, the fulfillment of God's promise of a Messiah for Israel.
First Reading Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
1all 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. 2Accordingly,
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. 3He 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.
5And 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. 6Then 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.
8So they read
from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense,
so that the people understood the reading.
9And
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. 10Then 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."
1The heavens are telling the
glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.
2Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.
3There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
4yet their voice goes out through all the earth,
and their words to the end of the world.
In the heavens he has set a tent for the sun,
5which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.
6Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hidden from its heat.
7The law of the LORD is
perfect
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are
sure,
making wise the simple;
8the precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD
is clear,
enlightening the eyes;
9the fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring for ever;
the ordinances of the LORD
are true
and righteous altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.
11Moreover by them is your
servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
12But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.
13Keep back your servant also from the insolent;
do not let them have dominion over me.
Then I shall be blameless,
and innocent of great transgression.
14Let the words of my mouth and
the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to you,
O LORD, my rock and my redeemer.
Second Reading 1 Corinthians
12:12-31a
12For 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. 13For 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.
14Indeed, the body does not
consist of one member but of many. 15If 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. 16And 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. 17If the whole body were an
eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would
the sense of smell be? 18But as it is, God arranged
the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21The 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." 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker
are indispensable, 23and 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; 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God
has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members
may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all
suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with
it.
27Now you are the body of
Christ and individually members of it. 28And 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. 29Are all apostles? Are all
prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of
healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But strive for the greater gifts.
14Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to
Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15He began to teach in their
synagogues and was praised by everyone.
16When 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, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah
was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was
written: 18"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, 19to proclaim
the year of the Lord's favor." 20And 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. 21Then he
began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your
hearing."