26th January: Epiphany 3
online Morning Prayer.
Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10a
Nehemiah was sent back to Jerusalem from exile in Babylon as governor to oversee the rebuilding of the walls and the Temple. Ezra the priest and scribe gathered the people to listen to the Torah, God’s Law. When they heard the words, they wept, knowing they had not obeyed. Ezra told them they must now rejoice.
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. 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 worshipped the Lord with their faces to the ground. 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.’
Luke 4:14-21
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 favour.’
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.’
Something to think about
After his temptations, Jesus returned to his home town of Nazareth. On the sabbath day, he was invited to read and interpret the scriptures. After quoting two passages from the scroll of Isaiah, he made the astonishing claim that in him, those words were now fulfilled.
Collect
God of all mercy, your Son proclaimed good news to the poor,
release to the captives, and freedom to the oppressed:
anoint us with your Holy Spirit and set all your people free
to praise you in Christ our Lord.
Post Communion
Almighty Father,
whose Son our Saviour Jesus Christ is the light of the world:
may your people, illumined by your word and sacraments,
shine with the radiance of his glory, that he may be known,
worshipped, and obeyed to the ends of the earth;
for he is alive and reigns, now and for ever.
Next Sunday’s (2nd) Readings:
Malachi 3:1-5
Luke 2:22-40
Please remember in your prayers this week:
Those who are sick or suffering, including Tim Sadler, Linda Torr, Margaret Marsden and Nadia, or very elderly, especially Stella Young, Gerald Humphries and Arthur Williams.
The recently bereaved, especially the friends and relatives of Ivy Topliffe, Rachel Chipchase, Una Ratcliff, Sheila Bull and Stanley Hodge.
Areas of conflict: the Ukraine, the Middle East and too many others.
Our local churches, as they face up to the problems of the future, such as the interregnum.
Our Ministry Team: Maggie, Nigel & Lynda and her support: Simon.