Nehemiah 8: 2- 6, 8- 10
| 8:2 | Therefore, Ezra the priest brought the law before the multitude of men and women, and all those who were able to understand, on the first day of the seventh month. |
| 8:3 | And he read it openly in the street which was before the water gate, from morning even until midday, in the sight of the men and women, and those who understood. And the ears of all the people were attentive to the book. |
| 8:4 | Then Ezra the scribe stood upon a step of wood, which he had made for speaking. And standing beside him were Mattithiah, and Shemaiah, and Anaiah, and Uriah, and Hilkiah, and Maaseiah, on his right. And on the left were Pedaiah, Mishael, and Malchijah, and Hashum, and Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, and Meshullam. |
| 8:5 | And Ezra opened the book before all the people. For he stood out above all the people. And when he had opened it, all the people stood up. |
| 8:6 | And Ezra blessed the Lord, the great God. And all the people responded, “Amen, Amen,” lifting up their hands. And they bowed down, and they adored God, facing the ground. |
| 8:8 | And they read from the book of the law of God, distinctly and plainly, so as to be understood. And when it was read, they did understand. |
| 8:9 | Then Nehemiah (the same is the cupbearer) and Ezra, the priest and scribe, and the Levites, who were interpreting for all the people, said: “This day has been sanctified to the Lord our God. Do not mourn, and do not weep.” For all of the people were weeping, as they were listening to the words of the law. |
| 8:10 | And he said to them: “Go, eat fat foods and drink sweet drinks, and send portions to those who have not prepared for themselves. For it is the holy day of the Lord. And do not be sad. For the joy of the Lord is also our strength.” |
First Corinthians 12: 12- 30
| 12:12 | For just as the body is one, and yet has many parts, so all the parts of the body, though they are many, are only one body. So also is Christ. |
| 12:13 | And indeed, in one Spirit, we were all baptized into one body, whether Jews or Gentiles, whether servant or free. And we all drank in the one Spirit. |
| 12:14 | For the body, too, is not one part, but many. |
| 12:15 | If the foot were to say, “Because I am not the hand, I am not of the body,” would it then not be of the body? |
| 12:16 | And if the ear were to say, “Because I am not the eye, I am not of the body,” would it then not be of the body? |
| 12:17 | If the whole body were the eye, how would it hear? If the whole were hearing, how would it smell? |
| 12:18 | But instead, God has placed the parts, each one of them, in the body, just as it has pleased him. |
| 12:19 | So if they were all one part, how would it be a body? |
| 12:20 | But instead, there are many parts, indeed, yet one body. |
| 12:21 | And the eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need for your works.” And again, the head cannot say to the feet, “You are of no use to me.” |
| 12:22 | In fact, so much more necessary are those parts of the body which seem to be weaker. |
| 12:23 | And though we consider certain parts of the body to be less noble, we surround these with more abundant dignity, and so, those parts which are less presentable end up with more abundant respect. |
| 12:24 | However, our presentable parts have no such need, since God has tempered the body together, distributing the more abundant honor to that which has the need, |
| 12:25 | so that there might be no schism in the body, but instead the parts themselves might take care of one another. |
| 12:26 | And so, if one part suffers anything, all the parts suffer with it. Or, if one part finds glory, all the parts rejoice with it. |
| 12:27 | Now you are the body of Christ, and parts like any part. |
| 12:28 | And indeed, God has established a certain order in the Church: first Apostles, second Prophets, third Teachers, next miracle-workers, and then the grace of healing, of helping others, of governing, of different kinds of languages, and of the interpretation of words. |
| 12:29 | Are all Apostles? Are all Prophets? Are all Teachers? |
| 12:30 | Are all workers of miracles? Do all have the grace of healing? Do all speak in tongues? Do all interpret? |
Luke 1: 1- 4, 4: 14- 21
| 1:1 | Since, indeed, many have attempted to set in order a narrative of the things that have been completed among us, |
| 1:2 | just as they have been handed on to those of us who from the beginning saw the same and were ministers of the word, |
| 1:3 | so it seemed good to me also, having diligently followed everything from the beginning, to write to you, in an orderly manner, most excellent Theophilus, |
| 1:4 | so that you might know the truthfulness |
| 4:14 | And Jesus returned, in the power of the Spirit, into Galilee. And his fame spread throughout the entire region. |
| 4:15 | And he taught in their synagogues, and he was magnified by everyone. |
| 4:16 | And he went to Nazareth, where he had been raised. And he entered into the synagogue, according to his custom, on the Sabbath day. And he rose up to read. |
| 4:17 | And the book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him. And as he unrolled the book, he found the place where it was written: |
| 4:18 | “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me; because of this, he has anointed me. He has sent me to evangelize the poor, to heal the contrite of heart, |
| 4:19 | to preach forgiveness to captives and sight to the blind, to release the broken into forgiveness, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord and the day of retribution.” |
| 4:20 | And when he had rolled up the book, he returned it to the minister, and he sat down. And the eyes of everyone in the synagogue were fixed on him. |
| 4:21 | Then he began to say to them, “On this day, this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.” |