The Third Sunday after the Epiphany, Jan. 25, 2004
Neh. 8:2-10; Psalm 113; 1 Cor. 12:12-27; Luke 4:14-21
The lessons appointed by the lectionary for Year C for this week provide an excellent opportunity for emphasizing the importance of that part of our Christian worship typically referred to as “the Liturgy of the Word.”
Both the Old Testament lesson and the gospel reading portray occasions of the reading of holy scripture in the assembly of the people of God that are similar to what we experience in worship each Sunday. On both occasions, the reading of the written word of God calls forth attentive response within the hearers.
The setting of the passage from Nehemiah is the gathering of the people of Israel after their return from the Babylonian exile in the fifth century B.C. The verses tell of Ezra the priest, accompanied by other religious leaders, bringing the book of the law to the assembly, and reading aloud to “all who could hear with understanding.” Hearing the text inspired in the people the spirit of worship. “They bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.” That this worship was more than mere formality is indicated by the description of their emotional response, “all the people wept when they heard the words of the law.”
In the Gospel of Luke, Jesus is described as being “in the power of the Spirit” when “he taught in their synagogues,” the place wherein the public reading of scripture took place. In the passage from the fourth chapter that is read on this Sunday, Jesus himself was the reader, and he found within the ancient text from the prophet Isaiah that he read, the scriptural foundation for his own ministry: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news.” Though from the verses provided, the exact nature of the response of the people to hearing Jesus read these powerful words is not indicated, the passage makes clear that the text demanded attentiveness, “the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.” So many centuries later, the reading of scripture still calls us who are followers of Christ to attentive response, fixing the eyes of our faith on him.
Each week, as the people of God assemble in worship, holy scripture speaks to us “in the power of the Spirit,” calling us to attend to the word of God revealed therein. As did our Lord Jesus, we may find in the sacred texts the foundation for our faithful ministries, whereby we upbuild one another in “the body of Christ” of which, St. Paul reminds us in the First Letter to the Corinthians, we are all members.
Look It Up
Read articles VI and VII of the Articles of Religion (BCP, p. 868-9) and compare with the section “The Holy Scriptures” in the Catechism (BCP, p. 853).
Think About It
Consider reading one of the lessons from this Sunday aloud each day of the following week. Might this be an effective daily discipline for inspiring the living of your faith?
Next Sunday
The Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany, Feb. 1, 2004
Jer. 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-17 or 71:1-6,15-17; 1 Cor. 14:12b-20; Luke 4:21-32
