Thursday after Epiphany (Jan. 7, 2016)

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/1john/4:19 1 JN 4:19–5and4 Beloved, we love God becausehe first loved us.If anyone says, I love God,”but hates his brother, he is a liarfor whoever does not love a brother whom he has seencannot love God whom he has not seen.This is the commandment we have from himandWhoever loves God must also love his brother.Everyone who believes that Jesus is the Christ is begotten by God,and everyone who loves the Fatherloves also the one begotten by him.In this way we know that we love the children of Godwhen we love God and obey his commandments.For the love of God is this,that we keep his commandments.And his commandments are not burdensome,for whoever is begotten by God conquers the world.And the victory that conquers the world is our faith. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/72and1 PS 72and1-2, 14 AND 15BC, 17 R. Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. O God, with your judgment endow the king,and with your justice, the king’s sonHe shall govern your people with justiceand your afflicted ones with judgment. R.Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. From fraud and violence he shall redeem them,and precious shall their blood be in his sight.May they be prayed for continuallyday by day shall they bless him. R.Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. May his name be blessed foreveras long as the sun his name shall remain.In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessedall the nations shall proclaim his happiness. R.Lord, every nation on earth will adore you. Alleluia and//usccb.org/bible/luke/4:18 LK 4:18 R.Alleluia, alleluia.The Lord has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poorand to proclaim liberty to captives.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/luke/4:14 LK 4:14-22 Jesus returned to Galilee in the power of the Spirit,and news of him spread throughout the whole region.He taught in their synagogues and was praised by all.He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up,and went according to his custominto the synagogue on the sabbath day.He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.He unrolled the scroll and found the passage where it was writtenandThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me,because he has anointed meto bring glad tidings to the poor.He has sent me to proclaim liberty to captivesand recovery of sight to the blind,to let the oppressed go free,and to proclaim a year acceptable to the Lord.Rolling up the scroll, he handed it back to the attendant and sat down,and the eyes of all in the synagogue looked intently at him.He said to them, Today this Scripture passage is fulfilled in your hearing.”And all spoke highly of himand were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.