For Sunday, January
23, 2022; Readings: Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10;
Psalm 19, 1 Corinthians 12:12-31a,
Luke 4:14-21
Accordingly, the priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. [Nehemiah 8:2a]
By [the statutes of the LORD] also is your servant enlightened...cleanse me from my secret faults...O LORD my strength and my redeemer. [Ps 19: 8a, 11 a, 12 b, 14b]
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 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. [1 Cor 12:12-13]
[Jesus,
filled with the power of the Spirit,] stood up to read, and the scroll of the
Prophet Isaiah was given to him. He and unrolled the scroll and found the
place where it was written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me...he
has anointed me to bring good news to the poor...proclaim release to
the captives and recovery of sight to the blind..." [Luke
4:14a, 16b, 17-18a]
This week the prophet Nehemiah tells us
that the people of Israel were gathered together to hear a long
reading of the law of Moses which God had given. The assembled were people who had
forgotten or had even become contemptuous of God’s Covenant and for 3
generations, 70 years, they and their descendants had been exiled to captivity
in Babylonia. Now returned home at last, Ezra read the law of God, with
interpretation and the sense of it given so the people understood. The people
listened and then bowed their heads in worship with their faces to the ground as
an act of recognizing their own failings; yet the Levites tell them it is a day
holy to the Lord and they
are not to mourn or weep. God has not forgotten them and it is God who has
brought them home. They then went on their way, with the joy of the Lord as your strength and told to
send portions of their feast to those for whom nothing is prepared.
Comforted and bolstered by the knowledge of the Lord's presence within us, we can imagine the members of the Church in Corinth gathering to listen to Paul's letter. He begins with the reminder that we were all baptized into one body...and made to drink of one spirit.
Continuing on from last week's reading of the gifts of the Spirit, Paul takes us further into the anatomy of the Body of Christ as created by God. He dissects our non-hierarchical arrangement of parts, well, except for God giving the greater honor to the inferior member. So very many members ~ digits, organs, and limbs ~ all created in the image of God, and all one body ~ all ordinarily the same and each extraordinarily different. ALL parts of the body ~ individually and corporately, locally and planetarily ~ are created and arranged by God, the ultimate and pre-eminent Architect, Electrical, Chemical, Plumbing, and Systems Engineer. We are endowed from before birth with different gifts that are not our own, but in our human lives are to be given out to and received from each other, so as to have the same care for another...if one member suffers, all suffer...if one member is honored, all rejoice together in it.
And then, in the Gospel, we move to the gathering in the Synagogue as Jesus returns to his home town, to his home congregation, and was asked to read the words of Isaiah [61:1-2a+] that were, interestingly and coincidentally (?!), appointed for that day. Quite an honor? Perhaps a test? In those days, as now, the synagogues in Palestine were not staffed by professional rabbis. Members, men, of the congregation read the Scripture lesson and were perhaps asked to explain them or apply them to everyday life. It was not uncommon to ask a visitor, who seemed knowledgeable, to read as a new voice and who might have a fresh understanding of the reading to share.
As we gather together to listen to God's Law and Word, let us who hear with understanding be conscious of the Spirit within us. Let us seek the gifts that are unique to us as individuals and honor the gifts of others. The waters of Baptism flow in a variety of ways and directions and the entire Body has been given the waters of the Spirit to hydrate our souls, to cleanse our hearts even of its secret faults, and to purify our intentions whether known or unknown to the other members. Each time we provide hope for the dispossessed, or offer help to those in need or trouble, we are making a day that is holy to our Lord and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor. Let us gather often to drink deeply of one Spirit, experience the Good News and strive for the greater gifts as living members of the Body of Christ. Let this and every year be proclaimed and dedicated to the Lord’s Favor.
Comforted and bolstered by the knowledge of the Lord's presence within us, we can imagine the members of the Church in Corinth gathering to listen to Paul's letter. He begins with the reminder that we were all baptized into one body...and made to drink of one spirit.
Continuing on from last week's reading of the gifts of the Spirit, Paul takes us further into the anatomy of the Body of Christ as created by God. He dissects our non-hierarchical arrangement of parts, well, except for God giving the greater honor to the inferior member. So very many members ~ digits, organs, and limbs ~ all created in the image of God, and all one body ~ all ordinarily the same and each extraordinarily different. ALL parts of the body ~ individually and corporately, locally and planetarily ~ are created and arranged by God, the ultimate and pre-eminent Architect, Electrical, Chemical, Plumbing, and Systems Engineer. We are endowed from before birth with different gifts that are not our own, but in our human lives are to be given out to and received from each other, so as to have the same care for another...if one member suffers, all suffer...if one member is honored, all rejoice together in it.
And then, in the Gospel, we move to the gathering in the Synagogue as Jesus returns to his home town, to his home congregation, and was asked to read the words of Isaiah [61:1-2a+] that were, interestingly and coincidentally (?!), appointed for that day. Quite an honor? Perhaps a test? In those days, as now, the synagogues in Palestine were not staffed by professional rabbis. Members, men, of the congregation read the Scripture lesson and were perhaps asked to explain them or apply them to everyday life. It was not uncommon to ask a visitor, who seemed knowledgeable, to read as a new voice and who might have a fresh understanding of the reading to share.
As we gather together to listen to God's Law and Word, let us who hear with understanding be conscious of the Spirit within us. Let us seek the gifts that are unique to us as individuals and honor the gifts of others. The waters of Baptism flow in a variety of ways and directions and the entire Body has been given the waters of the Spirit to hydrate our souls, to cleanse our hearts even of its secret faults, and to purify our intentions whether known or unknown to the other members. Each time we provide hope for the dispossessed, or offer help to those in need or trouble, we are making a day that is holy to our Lord and proclaiming the year of the Lord’s favor. Let us gather often to drink deeply of one Spirit, experience the Good News and strive for the greater gifts as living members of the Body of Christ. Let this and every year be proclaimed and dedicated to the Lord’s Favor.
LET
US, GOD’S PEOPLE, PRAY
Leader: ~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, revive our souls with the power of Your Good News, as we carry it to all we meet and live it through our words and actions. Enlighten and cleanse us from our secret faults and engage the workings of our bodies, minds, and souls as mindful instruments of Your honor and love.
O Christ, our Teacher
RESPONSE: We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, grant us words so effective that they move the hearts and minds of all who govern the countries of our world, our nation, and our community. Endow those in seats of power and judgement with the compassion and courage to act now on behalf of the poor, the blind, the sick, and free those who are oppressed and held captive by misguided aims, debt-slavery, and so much more. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, relieve the pain of those who suffer from chronic illness, anxiety, or depression, and refresh all who provide care and comfort. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, lift the heavy weight of mourning, as those who have now left us in this life, rejoice and dance in Your everlasting light. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, we give You thanks and praise for all who are anointed to guide our lives and souls by Your Church, opening the scrolls of Your Word, and journeying with us toward the fulfillment of Your purpose. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
The Celebrant adds: O Lord our Strength and our Redeemer, overflow us with the desire to drink deeply of the Spirit, as we strive to find even greater gifts within us to use for Your purpose. Teach our hearts, again, to care for and honor each other as the Body of Christ as we proclaim and dedicate this year, and every year, to Your favor. We ask through Jesus, Prince of Peace; and the Holy Spirit, the Fount of our Wisdom; who together with You are One God, forever, and ever. Amen.
Leader: ~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, revive our souls with the power of Your Good News, as we carry it to all we meet and live it through our words and actions. Enlighten and cleanse us from our secret faults and engage the workings of our bodies, minds, and souls as mindful instruments of Your honor and love.
O Christ, our Teacher
RESPONSE: We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, grant us words so effective that they move the hearts and minds of all who govern the countries of our world, our nation, and our community. Endow those in seats of power and judgement with the compassion and courage to act now on behalf of the poor, the blind, the sick, and free those who are oppressed and held captive by misguided aims, debt-slavery, and so much more. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, relieve the pain of those who suffer from chronic illness, anxiety, or depression, and refresh all who provide care and comfort. We now join our voices to pray aloud for those in need…add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, lift the heavy weight of mourning, as those who have now left us in this life, rejoice and dance in Your everlasting light. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, we pause in this moment to offer You our other heartfelt thanksgivings, intercessions, petitions, and memorials, aloud or silently…add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
~ O Lord of Joy and Glory, we give You thanks and praise for all who are anointed to guide our lives and souls by Your Church, opening the scrolls of Your Word, and journeying with us toward the fulfillment of Your purpose. We pray especially for: add your own petitions
O Christ, our Teacher
We are Your Hands, Your Feet, and Your Voice
The Celebrant adds: O Lord our Strength and our Redeemer, overflow us with the desire to drink deeply of the Spirit, as we strive to find even greater gifts within us to use for Your purpose. Teach our hearts, again, to care for and honor each other as the Body of Christ as we proclaim and dedicate this year, and every year, to Your favor. We ask through Jesus, Prince of Peace; and the Holy Spirit, the Fount of our Wisdom; who together with You are One God, forever, and ever. Amen.
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