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

Reflection and Response
Prayer Starter

Today’s readings address us as a community rather than a group of individuals. In Nehemiah, we hear the heartfelt response of God’s people as God’s word is read aloud to the community restored from exile. Paul compares the community of the Church to a body, each individual member necessary to the body as a whole. Luke shows Jesus as he begins his ministry by proclaiming God’s word to his hometown community gathered at a synagogue.

First Reading: Nehemiah 8:1-10
The books of Ezra, the priest, and Nehemiah, the provincial governor, tell of those who returned from exile after 539 B.C. In a ceremony of recommitment to God’s instructions for covenant life, Ezra reads aloud the “book of the law of Moses” (v. 1), probably an early version of the Pentateuch, the first five books of the Old Testament.

The Torah was not only the story of God’s revelation in history but also the source of divine legislation. After the exile, the Jewish community emphasized that only through more careful obedience to the law would they live sinlessly before God and so prevent another catastrophe like the exile, which they interpreted as God’s judgment on their sinful ways.
Nehemiah 8:1-10
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.
The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform
that had been made for the purpose;
and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah,
Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand;
and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah,
Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah,
and Meshullam on his left hand.
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.
Also Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin,
Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah,
Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, the Levites,
helped the people to understand the law,
while the people remained in their places.

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.”

Psalm: Psalm 113 (BCP)
This psalm is one of the Hallel Psalms (113–118), from the shout of Hallelujah (“Praise the Lord”) with which it begins. Psalm 113 links God’s greatness with God’s care for the poor and weak.
Psalm 113 (BCP)
Praise the LORD! Praise, O servants of the LORD;
praise the name of the LORD.

Blessed be the name of the LORD
from this time on and forevermore.

From the rising of the sun to its setting
the name of the LORD is to be praised.

The LORD is high above all nations,
and his glory above the heavens.

Who is like the LORD our God,
who is seated on high,
who looks far down on the heavens and the earth?

He raises the poor from the dust,
and lifts the needy from the ash heap,
to make them sit with princes,
with the princes of his people.

He gives the barren woman a home,
making her the joyous mother of children.

Praise the LORD!

Psalm: Psalm 19 (RCL)
The psalm celebrates God’s revelation, expressed generally in creation and specially in the Jewish law. Pagans acclaimed the divinity of some elements in nature (sun, moon, fire, etc.). The psalmist, however, claims that all of nature declares the glory of Israel’s God, the only Creator. Then the psalmist extols Yahweh’s perfect law. Five synonyms for law call attention to the many-faceted virtues of God’s calling.
Psalm 19 (RCL)
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament proclaims his handiwork.

Day to day pours forth speech,
and night to night declares knowledge.

There is no speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not heard;
yet 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,
which comes out like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong man runs its course with joy.

Its rising is from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to the end of them;
and nothing is hid from its heat.

The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the LORD are sure,
making wise the simple.

The precepts of the LORD are right,
rejoicing the heart;
the commandment of the LORD is clear,
enlightening the eyes.

The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of the LORD are true
and righteous altogether.

More to be desired are they than gold,
even much fine gold;
sweeter also than honey,
and drippings of the honeycomb.

Moreover by them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.

But who can detect their errors?
Clear me from hidden faults.

Keep 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.

Let 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
The image of the community as a body was a common one in Paul’s day. The Romans used it as a metaphor for the state. Paul uses the image to show that every Christian is necessary to the body and needs the help of others.

Just as people take greater care to cover their “unpresentable parts” (12:23) and treat them with more honor, so Christians are to give particular respect to those they may think are less important members of the community. Paul calls, not for compromise, but for mutual loving concern (12:25) and cooperation for the good of the whole
body.
1 Corinthians 12:12-31a
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.

Gospel: Luke 4:14-21
For Luke, Jesus’ ministry begins at the direction of the Spirit (4:14). Jesus’ inaugural sermon in his hometown synagogue sets forth the whole meaning of Jesus’ preaching and life. The account is set within the typical synagogue service of the time: recitation of the Shema (“Hear, O Israel...”), prayers, a reading from the Torah, a reading from the prophets, a sermon and a blessing.

Jesus announces himself as the fulfillment of the prophecy in Isaiah, as the “anointed one,” that is, the expected Messiah or Christ. The liberation he brings is an actual physical liberation as well as one of spiritual forgiveness. He proclaims the “acceptable year of the Lord” (v. 19), the Jubilee year of liberation from debt and slavery and of return to the family. This passage stands as a link between the Old Testament and the work of Christ and the Church.
Luke 4:14-21
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.”

Reflection and Response
Imagine that you’ve dragged yourself to church again for the umpteenth time, plodding doggedly along the familiar rut, because it’s the way you always spend Sunday morning. You slip into a groggy stupor, daydreaming about the exciting ways you’ll spend the rest of the day, as soon as this deadening service sputters to a close.

Then you sense a sudden electricity in the room. A speaker has begun to talk with an energy that galvanizes his audience. He doesn’t seem much concerned about the trivial stuff of religion—tithing, rule-keeping, committee meetings. Instead, he speaks to the deepest longings of your heart, looking into your soul and finding the part of your personality that grieves. He also has the mysterious power to see you at your finest, and savors the little kindnesses you had forgotten yourself. Not only does he know your past; he also invites you to an amazing future.

In that scenario, you are freed from agonizing bonds as well as irritating details. Your blind spots vanish in a new and penetrating vision. All the places you feel poor or sad or ashamed seem transformed because you are filled with the best news you have ever heard. You feel as though you were anointed with a fragrant balm. Everything you ever waited for has finally arrived.

What actually happened when Jesus spoke in a Galilean synagogue that day can only be imagined. But if we had been in the audience that day, we would have heard Jesus give what Jim Dunning calls “his first homily, his inaugural address, his state of the new union with God, his first toast at the banquet called by his Father.” Here, “Jesus proclaims what his whole life will be about.”

Now for the test: we hear Christ’s words today. How do we respond?

Quietly consider:
How have I heard Christ’s words to me today?
How do I want to respond?

Prayer Starter
Dear God, thank you for rescuing me from my poverties, releasing me from my oppression, giving me new sight...