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Third
Sunday after Epiphany |
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Give us grace, O Lord, to answer readily the call of our Savior Jesus Christ
and proclaim to all people the Good News of his salvation, that we and all
the whole world may perceive the glory of his marvelous works; who liveth
and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.
Amen. |
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Lesson |
Amos 3:1-8
Israel's Guilt and Punishment
Hear this word that the LORD has spoken against you, O people of Israel,
against the whole family which I brought up out of the land of Egypt: "You only have I known of all the families of the earth; therefore I will
punish you for all your iniquities. "Do two walk together, unless they have made an appointment? Does a lion roar in the forest, when he has no prey? Does a young lion
cry out from his den, if he has taken nothing? Does a bird fall in a snare on the earth, when there is no trap for it?
Does a snare spring up from the ground, when it has taken nothing? Is a trumpet blown in a city, and the people are not afraid? Does evil
befall a city, unless the LORD has done it? Surely the Lord GOD does nothing, without revealing his secret to his
servants the prophets. The lion has roared; who will not fear? The Lord GOD has spoken; who can
but prophesy?" |
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Epistle |
1 Corinthians 1:10-17
Divisions in the Church
I appeal to you, brethren, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that
all of you agree and that there be no dissensions among you, but that you be
united in the same mind and the same judgment. For it has been reported to me by Chlo'e's people that there is
quarreling among you, my brethren. What I mean is that each one of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I
belong to Apol'los," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." Is Christ divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in
the name of Paul? I am thankful that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Ga'ius; lest any one should say that you were baptized in my name. (I did baptize also the household of Steph'anas. Beyond that, I do not
know whether I baptized any one else.) For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not
with eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. |
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Gospel |
Matthew 4:12-23
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee
Now when he heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew into Galilee; and leaving Nazareth he went and dwelt in Caper'na-um by the sea, in the
territory of Zeb'ulun and Naph'tali, that what was spoken by the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: "The land of Zeb'ulun and the land of Naph'tali, toward the sea, across
the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles -- the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those
who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned." From that time Jesus began to preach, saying, "Repent, for the kingdom
of heaven is at hand." As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon who is
called Peter and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea; for they
were fishermen. And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men." Immediately they left their nets and followed him. And going on from there he saw two other brothers, James the son of Zeb'edee and John his brother, in the boat with Zeb'edee their father,
mending their nets, and he called them. Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him. And he went about all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and
preaching the gospel of the kingdom and healing every disease and every
infirmity among the people. |
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