Third Sunday after the Epiphany

1Verse 1. At that time all the people gathered together in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel. 2Verse 2. On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly of men and women and all who could listen and understand. 3Verse 3. So Ezra read it aloud from daybreak until noon as he faced the square before the Water Gate, in front of the men and women and those who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law. 5Verse 5. Ezra opened the book in full view of all the people, since he was standing above them all, and as he opened it, all the people stood up. 6Verse 6. Then Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God, and with their hands uplifted, all the people said, “Amen, Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with their faces to the ground. 8Verse 8. So they read from the Book of the Law of God, explaining it and giving insight, so that the people could understand what was being read. 9Verse 9. Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all of them, “This day is holy to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the Law. 10Verse 10. Then Nehemiah told them, “Go and eat what is rich, drink what is sweet, and send out portions to those who have nothing prepared, since today is holy to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”

12Verse 12. The body is a unit, though it is composed of many parts. And although its parts are many, they all form one body. So it is with Christ. 13Verse 13. For in one Spirit we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Greeks, slave or free, and we were all given one Spirit to drink. 14Verse 14. For the body does not consist of one part, but of many. 15Verse 15. If the foot should 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. 16Verse 16. And if the ear should 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. 17Verse 17. If the whole body were an eye, where would the sense of hearing be? If the whole body were an ear, where would the sense of smell be? 18Verse 18. But in fact, God has arranged the members of the body, every one of them, according to His design. 19Verse 19. If they were all one part, where would the body be? 20Verse 20. As it is, there are many parts, but one body. 21Verse 21. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I do not need you.” Nor can the head say to the feet, “I do not need you.” 22Verse 22. On the contrary, the parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23Verse 23. and the parts we consider less honorable, we treat with greater honor. And our unpresentable parts are treated with special modesty, 24Verse 24. whereas our presentable parts have no such need. But God has composed the body and has given greater honor to the parts that lacked it, 25Verse 25. so that there should be no division in the body, but that its members should have mutual concern for one another. 26Verse 26. If one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part rejoices with it. 27Verse 27. Now you are the body of Christ, and each of you is a member of it. 28Verse 28. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, and those with gifts of healing, helping, administration, and various tongues. 29Verse 29. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Verse 30. Do all have gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31Verse 31. But eagerly desire the greater gifts.

14Verse 14. Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit, and the news about Him spread throughout the surrounding region. 15Verse 15. He taught in their synagogues and was glorified by everyone. 16Verse 16. Then Jesus came to Nazareth, where He had been brought up. As was His custom, He entered the synagogue on the Sabbath. And when He stood up to read, 17Verse 17. the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to Him. Unrolling it, He found the place where it was written: 18Verse 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 liberty to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to release the oppressed, 19Verse 19. to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.” 20Verse 20. Then He rolled up the scroll, returned it to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on Him, 21Verse 21. and He began by saying, “Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing.”