Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Sunday, February-03-2013 Fourth Sunday after Epiphany

The Collect

Fourth Sunday after the Epiphany
Almighty and everlasting God, who dost govern all things in heaven and earth: Mercifully hear the supplications of thy people, and in our time grant us thy peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen
Preface of the Epiphany, or of the Lord's Day

Old Testament Reading

Jeremiah 1:4-10
⁴Then the word of the LORD came to me, saying: ⁵" Before I formed you in the womb I knew you; Before you were born I sanctified you; I ordained you a prophet to the nations." ⁶Then said I: " Ah, Lord GOD! Behold, I cannot speak, for I am a youth." ⁷But the LORD said to me: " Do not say, 'I am a youth,' For you shall go to all to whom I send you, And whatever I command you, you shall speak. ⁸Do not be afraid of their faces, For I am with you to deliver you," says the LORD. ⁹Then the LORD put forth His hand and touched my mouth, and the LORD said to me: " Behold, I have put My words in your mouth. ¹⁰See, I have this day set you over the nations and over the kingdoms, To root out and to pull down, To destroy and to throw down, To build and to plant." -- NKJV

Psalm

Psalm 71:1-17

1In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; *
     let me never be ashamed.
2In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; *
     incline your ear to me and save me.
3Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *
     you are my crag and my stronghold.
4Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *
     from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
5For you are my hope, O LORD God, *
     my confidence since I was young.
6I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
     from my mother's womb you have been my strength; *
     my praise shall be always of you.
7I have become a portent to many; *
     but you are my refuge and my strength.
8Let my mouth be full of your praise *
     and your glory all the day long.
9Do not cast me off in my old age; *
     forsake me not when my strength fails.
10For my enemies are talking against me, *
     and those who lie in wait for my life take counsel together.
11They say, "God has forsaken him;
     go after him and seize him; *
     because there is none who will save."
12O God, be not far from me; *
     come quickly to help me, O my God.
13Let those who set themselves against me be put to shame and
     be disgraced; *
     let those who seek to do me evil be covered with scorn
     and reproach.
14But I shall always wait in patience, *
     and shall praise you more and more.
15My mouth shall recount your mighty acts
     and saving deeds all day long; *
     though I cannot know the number of them.
16I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord GOD; *
     I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
17O God, you have taught me since I was young, *
     and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.

- OR -

Psalm 71:1-6,15-17

1In you, O LORD, have I taken refuge; *
     let me never be ashamed.
2In your righteousness, deliver me and set me free; *
     incline your ear to me and save me.
3Be my strong rock, a castle to keep me safe; *
     you are my crag and my stronghold.
4Deliver me, my God, from the hand of the wicked, *
     from of the clutches of the evildoer and the oppressor.
5For you are my hope, O LORD God, *
     my confidence since I was young.
6I have been sustained by you ever since I was born;
     from my mother's womb you have been my strength; *
     my praise shall be always of you.
15My mouth shall recount your mighty acts
     and saving deeds all day long; *
     though I cannot know the number of them.
16I will begin with the mighty works of the Lord GOD; *
     I will recall your righteousness, yours alone.
17O God, you have taught me since I was young, *
     and to this day I tell of your wonderful works.

New Testament Reading

1 Corinthians 14:12-20
¹²Even so you, since you are zealous for spiritual gifts, let it be for the edification of the church that you seek to excel. ¹³Therefore let him who speaks in a tongue pray that he may interpret. ¹⁴For if I pray in a tongue, my spirit prays, but my understanding is unfruitful. ¹⁵What is the conclusion then? I will pray with the spirit, and I will also pray with the understanding. I will sing with the spirit, and I will also sing with the understanding. ¹⁶Otherwise, if you bless with the spirit, how will he who occupies the place of the uninformed say "Amen" at your giving of thanks, since he does not understand what you say? ¹⁷For you indeed give thanks well, but the other is not edified. ¹⁸I thank my God I speak with tongues more than you all; ¹⁹yet in the church I would rather speak five words with my understanding, that I may teach others also, than ten thousand words in a tongue. ²⁰Brethren, do not be children in understanding; however, in malice be babes, but in understanding be mature. -- NKJV

Gospel Reading

Luke 4:21-32
²¹And He began to say to them, "Today this Scripture is fulfilled in your hearing." ²²So all bore witness to Him, and marveled at the gracious words which proceeded out of His mouth. And they said, "Is this not Joseph's son?" ²³He said to them, "You will surely say this proverb to Me, 'Physician, heal yourself! Whatever we have heard done in Capernaum, do also here in Your country.'" ²⁴Then He said, "Assuredly, I say to you, no prophet is accepted in his own country. ²⁵But I tell you truly, many widows were in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heaven was shut up three years and six months, and there was a great famine throughout all the land; ²⁶but to none of them was Elijah sent except to Zarephath,in the region of Sidon, to a woman who was a widow. ²⁷And many lepers were in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet, and none of them was cleansed except Naaman the Syrian." ²⁸So all those in the synagogue, when they heard these things, were filled with wrath, ²⁹and rose up and thrust Him out of the city; and they led Him to the brow of the hill on which their city was built, that they might throw Him down over the cliff. ³⁰Then passing through the midst of them, He went His way. ³¹Then He went down to Capernaum, a city of Galilee, and was teaching them on the Sabbaths. ³²And they were astonished at His teaching, for His word was with authority. -- NKJV