Consider the Word, January 20, 2022

Consider the Word, January 20, 2022
3^rd Sunday after the Epiphany
Email stpauls@pei.aibn.com for the link to the Bible Study.
 
Readings for January 23:

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

 
Collect

Almighty God,

by grace alone you call us

and accept us in your service.

Strengthen us by your Spirit,

and make us worthy of your call;

through Jesus Christ our Lord,

who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, now and for ever. Amen.

 
Reading: 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."

 
Reflection Questions

1. What is this good news? It is news that this is the “year of God’s favor.”
2. How do you think your community would have responded to Jesus’ hometown visit?
3. What do you “take to be the heart of the gospel”?

 
Closing Prayer

In you, O Lord our God,

we find our joy,

for through your law and your prophets

you formed a people in mercy and freedom,

in justice and righteousness.

Pour your Spirit on us today,

that we who are Christ's body

may bear the good news of your ancient promises

to all who seek you. Amen.

 
The Message: Luke 4:14-21

^14-15 Jesus returned to Galilee powerful in the Spirit. News that he was back spread through the countryside. He taught in their meeting places to everyone’s acclaim and pleasure.

^16-21 He came to Nazareth where he had been raised. As he always did on the Sabbath, he went to the meeting place. When he stood up to read, he was handed the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll, he found the place where it was written,

God’s Spirit is on me;

    he’s chosen me to preach the Message of good news to the poor,

Sent me to announce pardon to prisoners and

    recovery of sight to the blind,

To set the burdened and battered free,

    to announce, “This is God’s time to shine!”

He rolled up the scroll, handed it back to the assistant, and sat down. Every eye in the place was on him, intent. Then he started in, “You’ve just heard Scripture make history. It came true just now in this place.”

The Message (MSG)
Copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson