Scripture Readings
The Third Sunday after the Epiphany
For Year C
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
All the people assembled as one man in the
square before the Water Gate. They told Ezra the scribe to bring out the Book
of the Law of Moses, which the LORD had commanded for Israel.
So on the first day of the seventh month Ezra the
priest brought the Law before the assembly, which was made up of men and women
and all who were able to understand. He read it aloud from daybreak till noon
as he faced the square before the Water Gate in the presence of the men, women
and others who could understand. And all the people listened attentively to the
Book of the Law.
Ezra opened the book. All the people could see
him because he was standing above them; and as he opened it, the people all stood
up. Ezra praised the LORD, the great God; and all the people lifted their hands
and responded, “Amen! Amen!” Then they bowed down and worshiped the LORD with
their faces to the ground.
They read from the Book of the Law of God, making
it clear and giving the meaning so that the people could understand what was
being read.
Then Nehemiah the governor, Ezra the priest and
scribe, and the Levites who were instructing the people said to them all, “This
day is sacred to the LORD your God. Do not mourn or weep.” For all the people
had been weeping as they listened to the words of the Law.
Nehemiah said, “Go and enjoy choice food and sweet
drinks, and send some to those who have nothing prepared. This day is sacred
to our Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the LORD is your strength.”
—Nehemiah 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10, NIV
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to the top of this pagePsalm
The heavens declare the glory of God;
the skies proclaim the work of his hands.
Day after day they pour forth speech;
night after night they display knowledge.
There is no speech or language
where their voice is not heard.
Their voice
goes out into all the earth,
their words to the ends of the world.
In the heavens he has pitched a tent for the sun,
which is like a bridegroom coming forth from his
pavilion,
like a champion rejoicing to run his course.
It rises at one end of the heavens
and makes its circuit to the other;
nothing is hidden from its heat.
The law of the LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul.
The statutes of the LORD are trustworthy,
making wise the simple.
The precepts of the LORD are right,
giving joy to the heart.
The commands of the LORD are radiant,
giving light to the eyes.
The fear of the LORD is pure,
enduring forever.
The ordinances of the LORD are sure
and altogether righteous.
They are more precious than gold,
than much pure gold;
they are sweeter than honey,
than honey from the comb.
By them is your servant warned;
in keeping them there is great reward.
Who can discern his errors?
Forgive my hidden faults.
Keep your servant also from willful sins;
may they not rule over me.
Then will I be blameless,
innocent of great transgression.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be pleasing in your sight,
O LORD, my Rock and my Redeemer.
—Psalm 19, NIV
Epistle
The body is a unit, though it is made up of
many parts; and though all its parts are many, they form one body. So it is
with Christ. For we were all baptized by one Spirit into one body—whether Jews
or Greeks, slave or free—and we were all given the one Spirit to drink.
Now the body is not made up of one part but of
many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the
body,” it would not for that reason cease to be part of the body. And if the
ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” it would
not for that reason cease to be part of the body. 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? But in fact God has arranged the parts in the body, every
one of them, just as he wanted them to be. If they were all one part, where would
the body be? As it is, there are many parts, but one body.
The eye cannot say to the hand, “I don’t need you!”
And the head cannot say to the feet, “I don’t need you!” On the contrary, those
parts of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and the parts that
we think are less honorable we treat with special honor. And the parts that are
unpresentable are treated with special modesty, while our presentable parts need
no special treatment. But God has combined the members of the body and has given
greater honor to the parts that lacked it, so that there should be no division
in the body, but that its parts should have equal concern for each other. If
one part suffers, every part suffers with it; if one part is honored, every part
rejoices with it.
Now you are the body of Christ, and each one of
you is a part of it. And in the church God has appointed first of all apostles,
second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, also those having
gifts of healing, those able to help others, those with gifts of administration,
and those speaking in different kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets?
Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all have gifts of healing? Do all
speak in tongues? Do all interpret? But eagerly desire the greater gifts.
—1 Corinthians 12:12-31a, NIV
Gospel
Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of
the Spirit, and news about him spread through the whole countryside. He taught
in their synagogues, and everyone praised him.
He went to Nazareth, where he had been brought
up, and on the Sabbath day he went into the synagogue, as was his custom. And
he stood up to read. The scroll of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. Unrolling
it, he found the place where it is written: “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 freedom for the prisoners and recovery of sight for the blind, to release
the oppressed, to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor.”
Then he rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the
attendant and sat down. The eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fastened on
him, and he began by saying to them, “Today this scripture is fulfilled in your
hearing.”
—Luke 4:14-21, NIV
