Daily Readings - Sun Jan 27 2019

²So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women and all who were able to understand.³He read it aloud from daybreak till noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.⁴Ezra the scribe stood on a high wooden platform built for the occasion. Beside him on his right stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah and Maaseiah; and on his left were Pedaiah, Mishael, Malkijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah and Meshullam.⁵Ezra opened the book. All the people could see him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood up.⁶Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands and responded, "Amen! Amen!" Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground.⁸They read from the Book of the Law of God, making it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was being read.⁹Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, "This day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep." For all the people had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.¹⁰Nehemiah said, "Go and enjoy choice food and sweet drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

1 Corinthians

Chapter 12

¹²The body is a unit, though it is made up of many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is with Christ.¹³For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body--whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free--and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.¹⁴Now the body is not made up of one part but of many.²⁷Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of you is a part of it.

Luke

Chapter 1

¹Many have undertaken to draw up an account of the things that have been fulfilled among us,²just as they were handed down to us by those who from the first were eyewitnesses and servants of the word.³Therefore, since I myself have carefully investigated everything from the beginning, it seemed good also to me to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus,⁴so that you may know the certainty of the things you have been taught.

Chapter 4

¹⁴Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside.¹⁵He taught in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.¹⁶He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And he stood up to read.¹⁷The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling it, he found the place where it is written:¹⁸"The Spirit of the Lord is on me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release the oppressed,¹⁹to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."²⁰Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on him,²¹and he began by saying to them, "Today this scripture is fulfilled in your hearing."

Sermon

In today’s readings, we encounter powerful moments of communal gathering, the proclamation of God’s Word, and the call to live as one body united in Christ. The first reading from Nehemiah describes a scene where Ezra reads the law to the assembled people, who are deeply moved to tears by the Word of God. Yet, they are reminded that this is a day of holy joy, not sorrow, and they are encouraged to share in the feast and celebrate the Lord’s presence. The second reading from 1 Corinthians emphasizes the unity of the body of Christ, where each part is essential and connected through the Spirit. Finally, in the Gospel, Jesus returns to Nazareth, reads from Isaiah, and declares that the prophecy is fulfilled in him, announcing his mission to bring Good News to the poor and freedom to the oppressed. These readings are deeply connected. In Nehemiah, the people gather to hear the Word of God, and their response is one of repentance and joy. Similarly, in Luke, Jesus stands in the synagogue and proclaims that he is the fulfillment of God’s promises. Both scenes highlight the transformative power of God’s Word when it is proclaimed and received with faith. In 1 Corinthians, Paul reminds us that we are all part of the same body, united in Christ, and that our unity is a reflection of God’s presence among us. Together, these readings call us to recognize that we, too, are part of a larger story—a story of God’s love and redemption. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we respond to God’s Word in our own lives? Do we allow it to move us to repentance, to inspire us to joy, and to send us forth in mission? Like the people in Nehemiah, we are called to gather, to listen, and to celebrate the Lord’s presence in our midst. Like the body of Christ in Corinthians, we are called to recognize our interconnectedness and to use our gifts for the good of all. And like Jesus in Luke, we are called to bring Good News to those around us, especially to those who are marginalized or forgotten. May we embrace our role in this great story, living with joy, unity, and a deep commitment to sharing God’s love with the world.