Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden dais erected for the purpose. In full view of all the people – since he stood higher than all the people – Ezra opened the book; and when he opened it all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people raised their hands and answered, ‘Amen! Amen!’; then they bowed down and, face to the ground, prostrated themselves before the Lord. And Ezra read from the Law of God, translating and giving the sense, so that the people understood what was read.
Then Nehemiah – His Excellency – and Ezra, priest and scribe and the Levites who were instructing the people said to all the people, ‘This day is sacred to the Lord your God. Do not be mournful, do not weep.’ For the people were all in tears as they listened to the words of the Law.
He then said, ‘Go, eat the fat, drink the sweet wine, and send a portion to the man who has nothing prepared ready. For this day is sacred to our Lord. Do not be sad: the joy of the Lord is your stronghold.’
Psalm Psalm 18:8-10,15
| Second reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-30 |
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Nor is the body to be identified with any one of its many parts. If the foot were to say, ‘I am not a hand and so I do not belong to the body’, would that mean that it stopped being part of the body? If the ear were to say, ‘I am not an eye, and so I do not belong to the body’, would that mean that it was not a part of the body? If your whole body was just one eye, how would you hear anything? If it was just one ear, how would you smell anything?
Instead of that, God put all the separate parts into the body on purpose. If all the parts were the same, how could it be a body? As it is, the parts are many but the body is one. The eye cannot say to the hand, ‘I do not need you’, nor can the head say to the feet, ‘I do not need you.’
What is more, it is precisely the parts of the body that seem to be the weakest which are the indispensable ones; and it is the least honourable parts of the body that we clothe with the greatest care. So our more improper parts get decorated in a way that our more proper parts do not need. God has arranged the body so that more dignity is given to the parts which are without it, and that there may not be disagreements inside the body, but that each part may be equally concerned for all the others. If one part is hurt, all parts are hurt with it. If one part is given special honour, all parts enjoy it.
Now you together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it. In the Church, God has given the first place to apostles, the second to prophets, the third to teachers; after them, miracles, and after them the gift of healing; helpers, good leaders, those with many languages. Are all of them apostles, or all of them prophets, or all of them teachers? Do they all have the gift of miracles, or all have the gift of healing? Do all speak strange languages, and all interpret them?
Seeing that many others have undertaken to draw up accounts of the events that have taken place among us, exactly as these were handed down to us by those who from the outset were eyewitnesses and ministers of the word, I in my turn, after carefully going over the whole story from the beginning, have decided to write an ordered account for you, Theophilus, so that your Excellency may learn how well founded the teaching is that you have received.
Jesus, with the power of the Spirit in him, returned to Galilee; and his reputation spread throughout the countryside. He taught in their synagogues and everyone praised him.
He came to Nazara, where he had been brought up, and went into the synagogue on the sabbath day as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the scroll of the prophet Isaiah. Unrolling the scroll he found the place where it is written:
The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,for he has anointed me.He has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,to proclaim liberty to captivesand to the blind new sight,to set the downtrodden free,to proclaim the Lord’s year of favour.
He then rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the assistant and sat down. And all eyes in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he began to speak to them, ‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen.’
Reflection
By Anabelle Payod-Balla
Scroll (from the Old French escroe orescroue), is a roll of papyrus parchment,or paper containing writing.
I love reading and sharing inspirational books, quotations and prayers. I regularly feed my Facebook page with positive posts, mostly prayers. I want to proclaim God's love for all of us through this channel, hoping I can inspire at least one soul a day to praise His name, to come near Him.
My posts are mostly coming from other people, from other sources. I only have few of my own. I could have more if only I can spend more time reflecting and listening to God's messages to me.
The prophets and disciples have written their stories, lessons, and visions on scrolls. Jesus has read and taught using the scroll that contains passages from prophet Isaiah. Scrolls carry important information, valuable teachings and lessons from different people in early days.
We all have our own scrolls, our very own stories and visions. Some may have physical scrolls that they share to others, some may have it only in their minds, unorganized and unshared. Where is your scroll? If Jesus will read and teach from your very own scroll, what important information or valuable passage He can find there?
It is time to let others know God's loving messages to you. Share your lessons and visions! They might heal a soul, inspire someone to be better or even save a life, a relationship. Others may echo your message, multiply it and may reach many more souls.
Prayer
Father, please allow me to be Your pen and Your scroll. Use me to send Your love letter to the world. In Jesus name, we pray. Amen.
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