·
28 Thomas Aquinas, Priest, Philosopher,
Teacher of the Faith, 1274 Dominican friar, Catholic priest, and Doctor
of the Church. He was an immensely influential philosopher, theologian, and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism, within which he is also known as the Doctor Angelicus and the Doctor Communis.[10] The name Aquinas identifies his ancestral origins in the county of
Aquino in present-day Lazio, Italy.
·
30 Charles, King and Martyr, 1649
·
31 John Bosco,
Priest, Founder of the Salesian Teaching Order, 1888
February[
·
1 Brigid of Kildare, Abbess of Kildare,
c.525 is one of Ireland's patron saints, along with Patrickand Columba. Irish hagiography makes her an early Irish Christian nun,[3]abbess, and foundress of several monasteries of nuns,
including that of Kildare in Ireland, which was famous and was revered
·
2 THE PRESENTATION OF CHRIST IN THE
TEMPLE (Candlemas) – may be celebrated on the Sunday
between 28 January and 3 February
·
3 Anskar, Archbishop of Bremen, Missionary in Denmark and Sweden,
865 was a Archbishop
of Hamburg-Bremen – a northern part of the Kingdom of the East Franks. The See of Hamburg was designated a mission to bring Christianity to
Northern Europe, and Ansgar became known as the "Apostle of the
North".[2][3]
·
4 Gilbert of Sempringham, Founder of the Gilbertine Order,
1189
·
6 The Martyrs of
Japan, 1597
OLD TESTAMENT: Nehemiah
8: 1 - 3, 5 - 6, 8 - 10 (RCL)
Nehemiah 8: 1 -
4a, 5 - 6, 8 - 10 (Roman Catholic)
Nehe 8:1 (NRSV)
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. 2 Accordingly, 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. 3 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. 4 The scribe Ezra stood on a wooden
platform that had been made for the purpose.
5 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. 6 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.
8 So they read
from the book, from the law of God, with interpretation. They gave the sense,
so that the people understood the reading. 9 And Nehemi'ah, who was the
governor, and Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Le'vites 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. 10 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 grieved, for the joy of the LORD is
your strength."
PSALM 19 (RCL)
Psalm 19: 7 - 9,
14 (Roman Catholic)
Psal 19:1 (NRSV)
The heavens are telling the glory of God;
and the firmament
proclaims his handiwork.
2 Day to day pours
forth speech,
and night to night
declares knowledge.
3 There is no
speech, nor are there words;
their voice is not
heard;
4 yet their voice
goes out through all the earth,
and their words to
the end of the world.
In the heavens he
has set a tent for the sun,
5 which comes out
like a bridegroom from his wedding canopy,
and like a strong
man runs its course with joy.
6 Its rising is
from the end of the heavens,
and its circuit to
the end of them;
and nothing is hid
from its heat.
7 The law of the
LORD is perfect,
reviving the soul;
the decrees of the
LORD are sure,
making wise the
simple;
8 the precepts of
the LORD are right,
rejoicing the
heart;
the commandment of
the LORD is clear,
enlightening the
eyes;
9 the fear of the
LORD is pure,
enduring forever;
the ordinances of
the LORD are true
and righteous
altogether.
10 More to be
desired are they than gold,
even much fine
gold;
sweeter also than
honey,
and drippings of
the honeycomb.
11 Moreover by
them is your servant warned;
in keeping them
there is great reward.
12 But who can
detect their errors?
Clear me from
hidden faults.
13 Keep back your
servant also from the insolent;
do not let them
have dominion over me.
Then I shall be
blameless,
and innocent of
great transgression.
14 Let the words
of my mouth and the meditation of my heart
be acceptable to
you,
O LORD, my rock
and my redeemer.
Note: Verse numbering
in Roman Catholic bibles is one higher than the above.
19 Caeli enarrant (ECUSA
BCP)
1 The
heavens declare the glory of God, *
and
the firmament shows his handiwork.
2 One
day tells its tale to another, *
and
one night imparts knowledge to another.
3 Although
they have no words or language, *
and
their voices are not heard,
4 Their
sound has gone out into all lands, *
and
their message to the ends of the world.
5 In
the deep has he set a pavilion for the sun; *
it
comes forth like a bridegroom out of his chamber;
it
rejoices like a champion to run its course.
6 It
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.
7 The
law of the Lord is perfect
and revives the soul; *
the
testimony of the Lord is sure
and gives wisdom to the
innocent.
8 The
statutes of the Lord are just
and rejoice the heart; *
the
commandment of the Lord is clear
and gives light to the
eyes.
9 The
fear of the Lord is clean
and endures for ever; *
the
judgments of the Lord are true
and righteous
altogether.
10 More
to be desired are they than gold,
more than much fine
gold, *
sweeter
far than honey,
than honey in the comb.
11 By
them also is your servant enlightened, *
and
in keeping them there is great reward.
12 Who
can tell how often he offends? *
cleanse
me from my secret faults.
13 Above
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.
14 Let
the words of my mouth and the meditation of my
heart be acceptable in
your sight, *
O
Lord, my strength and my redeemer.
NEW TESTAMENT: 1
Corinthians 12: 12 - 31a (RCL)
1 Corinthians 12:
12 - 14 (15 - 26) 27 (28 - 30) (Roman
Catholic)
1Cor 12:12 (NRSV)
For 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. 13 For 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. 14 Indeed, the body does not consist of one
member but of many. 15 If 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. 16 And 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.
17 If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body
were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? 18 But as it is, God arranged
the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. 19 If all were a single
member, where would the body be? 20 As it is, there are many members, yet one
body. 21 The 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." 22 On the
contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, 23
and 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; 24 whereas our more respectable members do not need this. But God has
so arranged the body, giving the greater honor to the inferior member, 25 that
there may be no dissension within the body, but the members may have the same
care for one another. 26 If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if
one member is honored, all rejoice together with it. 27 Now you are the body of
Christ and individually members of it. 28 And 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. 29 Are all apostles? Are all prophets? Are all teachers? Do all work
miracles? 30 Do all possess gifts of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all
interpret? 31 But strive for the greater gifts.
Paul has told the
Christians at Corinth that spiritual gifts come through the Holy Spirit and are
given by him, as he chooses, for the benefit of the whole community. Now he
turns to the nature of the Church – using the analogy of the human body.
Whatever our ethnic or social origins, “we were all baptised into one body”
(v. 13),
into the risen glorified body of Christ, and empowered by the same Holy Spirit
acting in the Church. V. 14 is
key: the body needs various members; so too the Church needs various spiritual
gifts, each making its own contribution. In vv. 15-20,
Paul makes the point that all members contribute in various ways to the welfare
of the whole. Diversity is rooted in, and contributes to, unity. In vv. 21-25,
he says that each member needs every other member, whether he or she be strong
or weak (v. 22).
Vv. 23-25 say
that the instinct of modesty reveals part of God’s plan, e.g. by respecting our
“less respectable members”, we make them equally respectable. This applies in
the community as it does in the body. In this way, the community is peaceable,
without “dissension”; each cares for others. When one suffers the whole
community does (v. 26).
In vv. 27-28,
Paul applies these principles: “you”, Corinthian Christians, are both one body
and individually its members. Three groups with God-given and -appointed
spiritual gifts are especially important:
·
“apostles” chosen to continue spreading the good news;
·
“prophets”, those with new insights into God’s plan; and
·
those who teach the faith.
He then lists some other
gifts: some help the poor and needy; others are leaders, managers, in church
affairs. The questions in vv. 29-30 must
surely be answered no. Perhaps v. 31a suggests
that all seek to grow in the use of the gifts, great or small, given to them.
12:1-14:40: “Now concerning ...”: As in 7:1; 7:25; 8:1 and 16:1,
Paul addresses an issue raised by the Corinthians in an earlier letter to him.
[ CAB]
12:12-31: Although widespread in the ancient world, the
idea of society as a body is unlikely to have been the source of Paul’s
analogy. He saw society as, above all, characterized by divisions (see
Galatians 3:28:
“There is no longer Jew or Greek ...”), and he predicated “body” of the
Christian community to emphasize its organic unity. [ NJBC]
12:13: The Church is the manifestation and extension
of the Lord’s body in this world. The Church is the body of Christ because it
is composed of members who share in the life of the Risen Lord. [ JBC]
12:13: “baptised into one body”: In Romans 12:4-5,
Paul writes: “For as in one body we have many members, and not all the members
have the same function, so we, who are many, are one body in Christ, and
individually we are members one of another”. See also Ephesians 4:14-16.
[ NOAB]
12:13: “made to drink of one Spirit”: In 3:16,
Paul asks, probably rhetorically: “Do you not know that you are God's temple
and that God's Spirit dwells in you?”. See also 6:19.
The tense of the verb mitigates against this being a reference to the Eucharist. [ NJBC]
12:23-25: In terms of clothing, the genitals receive
more attention than the ears or the nose. The instinct of modesty reveals the
divine plan to ensure that the eyes (for example) should not command all
consideration. [ NJBC]
12:27-30: An enumeration of the roles essential for the
ongoing life of the church and the range of tasks that they are empowered to
perform for the benefit of the whole. Each one has a role “appointed” by God. [ CAB]
12:28: “apostles ... prophets ... teachers”: These
constitute the fundamental three-fold ministry of the word by which the church
is founded and built up. [ NJBC]
For the one Church, God provides a variety of leadership. For another list of
gifts and of those who have particular functions as a result, see Romans 12:6-8.
12:28: “apostles”: See also 4:9 (“...
I think that God has exhibited us apostles as last of all ...”) and 9:5 (“Do
we not have the right to be accompanied by a believing wife, as do the other
apostles and the brothers of the Lord and Cephas?”). [ NOAB]
12:28: “prophets”: In 14:5,
Paul says “those who prophesy speak to other people for their upbuilding and
encouragement and consolation”. [ NOAB]
Prophecy is defined by its effect on the community. Revelation, in the sense of
a new insight into the mystery of salvation is actualized in pastoral guidance
and instruction.
12:28: “teachers”: These may have exercised ministry
outside the liturgical assembly, while “prophets” exercised it within. [NJBC]
12:28: “assistance ... leadership”: Only later linked
with deacons and bishops. [ NOAB]
12:28: “tongues”: Perhaps “tongues” are mentioned
last to counteract a tendency to overemphasize this gift in the Corinthian
church.
12:31a: “greater gifts”: Other interpretations:
- The first three mentioned in v. 28 –
if the verb strive is in the imperative
- Those gifts especially esteemed by the Corinthian
Christians – if the verb is in the indicative [ NJBC]
- Love: the “still more excellent way” (v. 31b; 13:1ff; 14:1).
[ NOAB]
GOSPEL: Luke 4: 14 - 21
(all but Roman Catholic)
Luke 1: 1 - 4, 4: 14 - 21
(Roman Catholic)
Luke 1:1 (NRSV)
Since many have undertaken to set down an orderly account of the events that
have been fulfilled among us, 2 just as they were handed on to us by those who
from the beginning were eyewitnesses and servants of the word, 3 I too decided,
after investigating everything carefully from the very first, to write an
orderly account for you, most excellent Theoph'ilus, 4 so that you may know the
truth concerning the things about which you have been instructed.
Luke 4:14 (NRSV)
Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a
report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15 He began to
teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone. 16 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, 17 and the scroll of the prophet
Isai'ah 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,
19 to proclaim the
year of the Lord's favor."
20 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. 21 Then he began to say to them, "Today
this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing."
© 1996-2019
Chris Haslam
The events and teachings in 4:14-9:50 are
all in Galilee. [ NOAB] Then,
in 9:51,
Jesus turns towards Jerusalem.
This passage gives us a glimpse of
synagogue worship in the first century, as does Acts 13:15 (in
Antioch in Pisidia). [NOAB]
Verse 14: “filled with the power of the Spirit”: The Spirit
descended on Jesus at his baptism: 3:21-22 tells
us: “Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been
baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, and the Holy Spirit descended
upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from heaven, ‘You are my
Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased’”. His proclamation in word and deed
stems from God’s creative Spirit. [ NJBC]
Verse 15: “teach”: The word in Greek is didaskein; it is
also used in 4:15; 5:3, 17; 6:6; 11:1; 13:10, 22, 26; 19:47; 20:1, 21; 21:37; 23:5:
14 times, in all. Luke also uses didaskale (teacher)
frequently. [ NJBC]
Verse 16: “sabbath”: For Jesus’ activities on the sabbath, see
also 4:31-37 (teaching
and casting out a demon ); 6:1-5 (his
disciples pluck some heads of grain), 6:6-11 (restores
a man’s withered hand); 13:10-17 (heals
a crippled woman); 14:1-6(heals
a man who had dropsy). [ NJBC]
Verse 16: “as was his custom”: Matthew 4:23 tells
us that Jesus taught in synagogues in Galilee. See also Matthew 9:35.
[NOAB]
Verse 17: “the scroll ... was given to him”: i.e. by “the attendant”
(v. 20)
or chazzan of the synagogue. [ NOAB]
Verses 18-19: This prophecy was fulfilled in Jesus’ ministry: see 13:10-17 (cures
a crippled woman) and 23:39-43.
(This is the only clear indication that Jesus knew how to read.) The quotation
is Isaiah 61:1-2 and 58:6.
“To bind up the broken-hearted” ( 61:1c)
and “(to announce) the day of vengeance [vindication], to comfort all who
mourn, to provide for those who mourn in Zion – to give them a garland instead
of ashes” ( 61:2b-3a)
are omitted – thus extending his mission beyond Israel. [ NJBC]
Verse 18: “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me”: The reader already
knows that Jesus has the Holy Spirit: in 1:35,
an angel tells Mary: “‘The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be holy; he
will be called Son of God’”. After Jesus is baptised, “the Holy Spirit
descended upon him in bodily form like a dove” (see 3:22).
[ NJBC]
Verse 18: “release”: The Greek word is aphesis. Aphesis appears
in the Septuagint translation
of Leviticus 25:10 as
the translation of the Hebrew for jubilee, and in the same
translation of Deuteronomy 15:1-11, aphesis is
used to refer to the sabbatical year. In literature roughly contemporary with
Luke, the Qumran community
associated Isaiah 61:1 with
Leviticus 25:10-13 and
Deuteronomy 15:1-11 in
a text reflecting on the end-time, and identified the “release” as being that
of debtors during a jubilee year. But Luke also uses aphesis for forgiveness in 24:47.
“Let go free” also translates aphesis. [ NJBC]
Verse 19: “proclaim”: In the then current Greek translation of
Isaiah (the Septuagint)
the word is call. It appears that Luke has changed this verb to
emphasize the proclamation that, in Jesus, God has fulfilled his promises of
old. [ NJBC]
Verse 20: “sat down”: The sermon was given sitting. It seems that
the first-century synagogue service consisted of: singing a psalm, reciting
the Shema and the Eighteen Benedictions,
a reading from the Torah, a reading from the prophets, a sermon on the meaning
of the readings, and the priestly blessing: see Numbers 6:22-27.
[ NJBC]
Verse 23: “‘cure yourself’”: The sense is: cure people in your own
home town.
Verses 25-27: Many ordinary people praise Jesus (v. 15)
but those present in the synagogue try to cause his death – for reminding them
that it was among non-Israelites that Elijah and Elisha were able to heal. [ CAB]
© 1996-2019
Chris Haslam
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