The priest Ezra brought the law before the assembly, both men and women and all who could hear with understanding. This was on the first day of the seventh month. He read from it facing the square before the Water Gate from early morning until midday, in the presence of the men and the women and those who could understand; and the ears of all the people were attentive to the book of the law. The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden platform that had been made for the purpose; and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah on his right hand; and Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hash-baddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam on his left hand. And Ezra opened the book in the sight of all the people, for he was standing above all the people; and when he opened it, all the people stood up. Then Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. Then they bowed their heads and worshiped the Lord with their faces to the ground.
So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Second reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-30
So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading. And Nehemiah, who was the governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Lord your God; do not mourn or weep.” For all the people wept when they heard the words of the law. Then he said to them, “Go your way, eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions of them to those for whom nothing is prepared, for this day is holy to our Lord; and do not be grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.”
Second reading 1 Corinthians 12:12-30
For the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot should say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear should say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would be the hearing? If the whole body were an ear, where would be the sense of smell? But as it is, God arranged the organs in the body, each one of them, as he chose.
If all were a single organ, where would the body be? As it is, there are many parts, yet one body. The eye cannot say to he hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the parts of the body which seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those parts of the body which we think less honourable we invest with the greater honour, and our unpresentable parts are treated with greater modesty, which our more presentable parts do not require. But God has so composed the body, giving the greater honour to the inferior part, that there may be no discord in the body, but that the members may have the same care for one another. If one member suffers, all suffer together; if one member is honoured, all rejoice together.
Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers, then workers of miracles, then healers, helpers, administrators, speakers in various kinds of tongues. Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak with tongues? Do all interpret? But earnestly desire the higher gifts.
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that have been fulfilled among us, just as they were handed on to us by those who from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, I too decided, after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an orderly account for you, most excellent Theophilus, so that you may know the truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
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 procaim 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.”
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 procaim 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
By Gary Tulabut
Last week, I shared with you that among the many reasons why our charismatic community remained small four years was our disobedience.
And because of our slow growth, we became impatient. Then we became passive—passive in inviting, passive in evangelization and discipleship. I, for one, even gave up my leadership position.
And while we were stuck in the rut because of our passiveness, we saw different other small Feasts sprouting one by one under the leadership of our then district head. Because of their obedience, we saw them succeed faster than we did.
Sometime last year, our current head became busy with her studies that she had to step down as our leader. Nobody wanted to step up that I volunteered to lead them again. Then in September last year, I attended the annual gathering of all small Feasts (Feast Light) in the Philippines. In that conference, I witnessed the passion and enthusiasm of hundred other emissaries like me. I heard their stories of failures and success. Because of their obedience, they were able to be guided by the wisdom of our elders. The more I realized why our group was not flourishing. Needless to say, I was inspired to do more.
And in one of the group discussion sharings, I declared that from that day on I’ll start to be active again. I accepted the challenge of leading our group again and lead them to the fulfillment of our dream of becoming a live Feast.
And in March this year, we are going live (meaning live talks rather than using videos.) And yes, I am one of the speakers. (The rest of this story was shared on my Jan. 1 reflection.)
Today, in the Gospel, Jesus read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah proclaiming a year acceptable to God being fulfilled.
Well, I guess my proclamation last September was acceptable to God. And now it is being fulfilled.
And because of our slow growth, we became impatient. Then we became passive—passive in inviting, passive in evangelization and discipleship. I, for one, even gave up my leadership position.
And while we were stuck in the rut because of our passiveness, we saw different other small Feasts sprouting one by one under the leadership of our then district head. Because of their obedience, we saw them succeed faster than we did.
Sometime last year, our current head became busy with her studies that she had to step down as our leader. Nobody wanted to step up that I volunteered to lead them again. Then in September last year, I attended the annual gathering of all small Feasts (Feast Light) in the Philippines. In that conference, I witnessed the passion and enthusiasm of hundred other emissaries like me. I heard their stories of failures and success. Because of their obedience, they were able to be guided by the wisdom of our elders. The more I realized why our group was not flourishing. Needless to say, I was inspired to do more.
And in one of the group discussion sharings, I declared that from that day on I’ll start to be active again. I accepted the challenge of leading our group again and lead them to the fulfillment of our dream of becoming a live Feast.
And in March this year, we are going live (meaning live talks rather than using videos.) And yes, I am one of the speakers. (The rest of this story was shared on my Jan. 1 reflection.)
Today, in the Gospel, Jesus read from the scroll of the prophet Isaiah proclaiming a year acceptable to God being fulfilled.
Well, I guess my proclamation last September was acceptable to God. And now it is being fulfilled.
Prayer
Thank You God! Thank You! Amen.
Thank You God! Thank You! Amen.
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