Scripture Readings

The Third Sunday after Epiphany
For Year A

Scripture readings are taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® NIV® ©1973, 1978, 1984 by the International Bible Society, used by permission of Zondervan Bible Publishers. All rights reserved.

Old Testament
Psalm
Epistle Reading
Gospel Reading

Old Testament

     Nevertheless, there will be no more gloom for those who were in distress. In the past he humbled the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the future he will honor Galilee of the Gentiles, by the way of the sea, along the Jordan—
The people walking in darkness
     have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
     a light has dawned.
You have enlarged the nation
     and increased their joy;
they rejoice before you
     as people rejoice at the harvest,
as men rejoice
     when dividing the plunder.
For as in the day of Midian’s defeat,
     you have shattered
the yoke that burdens them,
     the bar across their shoulders,
     the rod of their oppressor.
—Isaiah 9:1-4, NIV

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Psalm

     The LORD is my light and my salvation—
     whom shall I fear?
The LORD is the stronghold of my life—
     of whom shall I be afraid?
One thing I ask of the LORD,
     this is what I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
     all the days of my life,
to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD
     and to seek him in his temple.
For in the day of trouble
     he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his tabernacle
     and set me high upon a rock.
Then my head will be exalted
     above the enemies who surround me;
at his tabernacle will I sacrifice with shouts of joy;
     I will sing and make music to the LORD.
Hear my voice when I call, O LORD;
     be merciful to me and answer me.
My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
     Your face, LORD, I will seek.
Do not hide your face from me,
     do not turn your servant away in anger;
—Psalm 27:1, 4-9, NIV

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Epistle

     I appeal to you, brothers, in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you agree with one another so that there may be no divisions among you and that you may be perfectly united in mind and thought. My brothers, some from Chloe’s household have informed me that there are quarrels among you. What I mean is this: One of you says, “I follow Paul”; another, “I follow Apollos”; another, “I follow Cephas”; still another, “I follow Christ.”
     Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Were you baptized into the name of Paul? I am thankful that I did not baptize any of you except Crispus and Gaius, so no one can say that you were baptized into my name. (Yes, I also baptized the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I don’t remember if I baptized anyone else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize, but to preach the gospel—not with words of human wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
     For the message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
—1 Corinthians 1:10-18, NIV

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Gospel

     When Jesus heard that John had been put in prison, he returned to Galilee. Leaving Nazareth, he went and lived in Capernaum, which was by the lake in the area of Zebulun and Naphtali—to fulfill what was said through the prophet Isaiah:
“Land of Zebulun and land of Naphtali,
     the way to the sea, along the Jordan,
     Galilee of the Gentiles—
the people living in darkness
     have seen a great light;
on those living in the land of the shadow of death
     a light has dawned.”
     From that time on Jesus began to preach, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is near.”
     As Jesus was walking beside the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon called Peter and his brother Andrew. They were casting a net into the lake, for they were fishermen. “Come, follow me,” Jesus said, “and I will make you fishers of men.” At once they left their nets and followed him.
     Going on from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John. They were in a boat with their father Zebedee, preparing their nets. Jesus called them, and immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.
     Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues, preaching the good news of the kingdom, and healing every disease and sickness among the people.
—Matthew 4:12-23, NIV

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