Thursday after Epiphany

Official Translation

Reading 1 – 1 John 4.19–5.4

Beloved, we love him, because he first loved us.
If a human says, “I love God,” and hates their brother, they are a liar.
For if someone does not love their brother whom they have seen,
how can they love God whom they have not seen?
This commandment we have from him,
that anyone who loves God should also love their brother.

Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ has been begotten by God.
Whoever loves the Father also loves the one begotten of him.
By this we know that we love the children of God:
when we love God and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God, that we keep his commandments.
His commandments are not burdensome.
For whoever is begotten of God overcomes the world.
This is the victory that has overcome the world: your faith.

Responsorial – Psalm 72.1-2, 14+15bc, 17 Resp. 11

R. All nations shall serve the Lord.

God, give the king your justice;
your righteousness to the royal son.
He will judge your people with righteousness,
and your poor with justice.

R. All nations shall serve the Lord.

He will redeem their soul from oppression and violence.
Their blood will be precious in his sight.
May prayer be made for him continually
They shall bless him all day long.

R. All nations shall serve the Lord.

His name will endure forever.
His name will continue as long as the sun.
The people will be blessed in him.
All nations will call him blessed.

R. All nations shall serve the Lord.

Gospel – Luke 4.14-22

Jesus returned in the power of the Spirit to Galilee,
and news about him spread through all the surrounding area.
He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.
He came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up.
He entered, as was his custom, into the synagogue on the Sabbath day,
and stood up to read.
The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.
He opened the book and found the place where it was written:

“The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
because he has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim release to the captives,
recovering of sight to the blind,
to deliver those who are oppressed,
and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.”

He closed the book, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down.
The eyes of all in the synagogue were fastened on him.
He began to tell them,
“Today, this Scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
All witnessed to him
and wondered at the gracious words which proceeded out of his mouth.