Musings for Epiphany 3

Sunday, January 24, 2010
Third Sunday after Epiphany / Lectionary 3
Musings by Karen Grover

INTRODUCTION
The glory of the Lord is revealed in the reading of scripture. People stand at attention. People weep. People prostrate themselves in prayer. The unity of the church is another reflection of the glory of God. Most gloriously, the promises of God are fulfilled in the person of Jesus Christ. Gather round. Listen up. Glimpse the glory of God.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)
Blessed Lord God, you have caused the holy scriptures to be written for the nourishment of your people. Grant that we may hear them, read, mark, learn, and inwardly digest them, that, comforted by your promises, we may embrace and forever hold fast to the hope of eternal life, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

First Reading Nehemiah 8:1–3, 5–6, 8–10
The exiles have returned and rebuilt Jerusalem. Now Ezra, the priest, reads the law of Moses to them in the public square. When they hear it, they weep for their sins and for the long years in exile, but Ezra reminds them that the joy of the Lord is their strength.

all the people gathered together into the square before the Water Gate. They told the scribe Ezra to bring the book of the law of Moses, which the LORD had given to Israel. 2Accordingly, 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. 3He 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. 5And 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. 6Then 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. 8So they read from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense, so that the people understood the reading.
9And 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. 10Then 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 grieved, for the joy of the LORD is your strength."

Psalm (ELW) Psalm 19
The teaching of the LORD revives the soul. (Ps. 19:7)
1The heavens declare the glo- | ry of God,
and the sky proclaims its | maker's handiwork.
2One day tells its tale | to another,
and one night imparts knowledge | to another.
3Although they have no | words or language,
and their voices | are not heard,
4their sound has gone out into all lands, and their message to the ends | of the world,
where God has pitched a tent | for the sun.
5It comes forth like a bridegroom out | of his chamber;
it rejoices like a champion to | run its course.
6It goes forth from the uttermost edge of the heavens and runs about to the end of | it again;
nothing is hidden from its | burning heat.
7The teaching of the LORD is perfect and re- | vives the soul;
the testimony of the LORD is sure and gives wisdom | to the simple.
8The statutes of the LORD are just and re- | joice the heart;
he commandment of the LORD is clear and gives light | to the eyes.
9The fear of the LORD is clean and en- | dures forever;
the judgments of the LORD are true and righteous | altogether.
10More to be desired are they than gold, more than | much fine gold,
sweeter far than honey, than honey | in the comb.
11By them also is your ser- | vant enlightened,
and in keeping them there is | great reward.
12Who can detect one's | own offenses?
Cleanse me from my | secret faults.
13Above all, keep your servant from presumptuous sins; let them not get dominion | over me;
then shall I be whole and sound, and innocent of a | great offense.
14Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable | in your sight,
O LORD, my strength and | my redeemer.

Second Reading 1 Corinthians 12:12–31a
The apostle and pastor Paul uses the metaphor of the human body to describe how intimately connected we are in the church. For this struggling congregation in Corinth, Paul delivers a vital message of unity that is a mark of the church today.

12For just as the body is one and has many members, and all the members of the body, though many, are one body, so it is with Christ. 13For in the one Spirit we were all baptized into one body — Jews or Greeks, slaves or free — and we were all made to drink of one Spirit.
14Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. 15If the foot would 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. 16And if the ear would 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. 17If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19If all were a single member, where would the body be? 20As it is, there are many members, yet one body. 21The eye cannot say to the hand, "I have no need of you," nor again the head to the feet, "I have no need of you." 22On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect; 24whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25that there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same care for one another. 26If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.
27Now you are the body of Christ and individually members of it. 28And God has appointed in the church first apostles, second prophets, third teachers; then deeds of power, then gifts of healing, forms of assistance, forms of leadership, various kinds of tongues. 29Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work miracles? 30Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? 31But strive for the greater gifts.

Gospel Luke 4:14–21
Near the beginning of Jesus' public ministry, he visits his hometown of Nazareth. In the words of Isaiah, he states and claims his identity, purpose, and mission.

14Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
16When 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, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written:
18"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,
19to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."
20And 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. 21Then he began to say to them, "Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."

REFLECTION:
In verse 14 we are told that Jesus is filled with the power of the Spirit when he returned to Galilee. I particularly keyed into this because I was a part of a group of people who got together this past Thursday (we are all invited to explore this) to talk about what does it mean to be spiritual--what exactly is "spirituality," as related to our being spiritual beings. There were five of us discussing this subject, and, of course, we all had five or more different thoughts, questions, feelings, etc. on when it means to be a spiritual being. This gospel says that Jesus is "filled with the power of the Spirit" and that he was "praised by everyone." Everyone must have felt the Holy Spirit in him as he was teaching in the synagogues because they all praised him. He truly engaged with the audience--the poor. Does that mean the poor in spirit or in finances? As my heart and mind have been in Haiti of late, I couldn't help but think about how much they--the poor--are suffering right now. But yet their spirits are lifted to the positive--those who have survived in even the worst situations sing praises to the Lord for their being alive. They are empowered by their mere survival in what seems to be God's graces to rejoice for their good fortunes. They are filled with the Spirit. We are called to be filled with that Spirit--to reach out to those who are in need and to fulfill those needs. This is Jesus' Mission Statement in modern terms. The Spirit of the Lord has directed Him to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim release to the captives, to bring sight to the blind, and to let the oppressed go free. That is one ambitious Mission Statement. But Jesus reads it with assurance and proclamation! The people to whom he refers are in great need. He speaks to us with assurance that those needs will be met--"today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing." As "spiritual beings," we can all reach out to those in need--most especially right now to the people of Haiti, but moreover those who are in prison, in the grips of addiction, the abused and their abusers--all who are oppressed and cannot free themselves.

LET US PRAY FOR:

• delivery of the necessary food and supplies to the suffering in Haiti
• the many in Haiti who have been pulled to safety that they receive treatment
• those who have given of their time and livlihood to assist in Haiti
• the imprisoned and the released who have no hope
• the Spirit to move us to reach out to those in need
• all children of God
• those who provide care at the Crisis Nursery of Greater Rochester

QUOTE:
Every passing day is one that is gone forever. Make sure it is one in which you have done something for others, especially those who cannot do for themselves.