Sunday 26 January – Third Sunday of Epiphany
First Reading : A reading from Julian of Norwich
I know well that you want to live gladly and joyfully for the love of God. But do not be too downcast by the sin that overtakes you against your will. In God’s sight we do not fall; in our sight we do not stand. As I see it both of these are true. But the deeper insight belongs to God.
I understood that the Lord looks on us with pity and not with blame.
Gospel Reading: Luke 4. 14-21
14 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 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 favour.’
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.’