READINGS

FIRST READING Nehemiah 8:2-6,8-10

All the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law
Ezra the priest brought the Law before the assembly, consisting of men, women,
and children old enough to understand. This was the first day of the seventh
month. On the square before the Water Gate, in the presence of the men and
women, and children old enough to understand, he read from the book from early
morning till noon; all the people listened attentively to the Book of the Law.
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.’
The Word of the Lord.

RESPONSORIAL PSALM Psalm 18(19):8-10,15

Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.
The law of the Lord is perfect,
it revives the soul.
The rule of the Lord is to be trusted,
it gives wisdom to the simple.
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.
The precepts of the Lord are right,
they gladden the heart.
The command of the Lord is clear,
it gives light to the eyes.
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.
The fear of the Lord is holy,
abiding for ever.
The decrees of the Lord are truth
and all of them just.
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.
May the spoken words of my mouth,
the thoughts of my heart,
win favour in your sight, O Lord,
my rescuer, my rock!
Your words are spirit, Lord, and they are life.

SECOND READING 1 Corinthians 12:12-14,27

You together are Christ’s body, but each a different part of it
Just as a human body, though it is made up of many parts, is a single unit
because all these parts, though many, make one body, so it is with Christ.
In the one Spirit we were all baptised, Jews as well as Greeks, slaves as
well as citizens, and one Spirit was given to us all to drink.
Nor is the body to be identified with any one of its many parts. Now you
together are Christ’s body; but each of you is a different part of it.
The Word of the Lord

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION Luke 4:18

Alleluia, alleluia!
The Lord has sent me to bring the good news to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives.
Alleluia!

GOSPEL Luke 1:1-4,4:14-21

‘This text is being fulfilled today even as you listen’
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 captives
and 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.’
The Gospel of the Lord