Thursday, January 8
Thursday after Epiphany – Year A
First Reading – 1 John 4:19-5:4
We love, because he first loved us. If any one says, “I love God,” and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen. And this commandment we have from him, that he who loves God should love his brother also. Every one who believes that Jesus is the Christ has been born of God, and every one who loves the parent loves the one begotten by him. By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments. For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments. And his commandments are not burdensome. For whatever is born of God overcomes the world; and this is the victory that overcomes the world, our faith.
Responsorial Psalm - Psalm 72:1-2, 14-15, 17
℟ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Give the king your justice, O God, and your righteousness to the royal son!
May he judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with justice!
℟ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
From oppression and violence he redeems their souls; and precious is their blood in his sight.
Long may he live, may gold of Sheba be given to him! May prayer be made for him continually, and blessings invoked for him all the day!
℟ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
May his name endure for ever, his fame continue as long as the sun! May men bless themselves by him, all nations call him blessed!
℟ Lord, every nation on earth will adore you.
Alleluia – Luke 4:18
℟ Alleluia!
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed.
℟ Alleluia!
Gospel – Luke 4:14-22
And Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit into Galilee, and a report concerning him went out through all the surrounding country. And he taught in their synagogues, being glorified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up; and he went to the synagogue, as was his custom, on the sabbath day. And he stood up to read; and there was given to him the book of the prophet Isaiah. He opened the book and found the place where it was written,
“The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovering of sight to the blind, to set at liberty those who are oppressed, to proclaim the acceptable year of the Lord.”
And he closed the book, and gave it back to the attendant, and sat down; and the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them, “Today this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” And all spoke well of him, and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth; and they said, “Is not this Joseph’s son?”
Revised Standard Version, Second Catholic Edition, Ignatius Press, Copyright ⓒ 2006.
