Sunday between 21 and 27 January
Third Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C)
First Reading - Nehemiah 8.1-4a, 7-10
A reading from the book of Nehemiah. On the first day of the seventh month, all the people gathered together in the public square next to the city’s main well. Ezra the priest stood on a wooden platform which had been built, specially for the day, and read from the book of the law of Moses, the law which the Lord had given to the people of Israel, from early morning, until midday. All the people gave their full attention to the reading of the book of the law. And the Levites gave the interpretation, and the meaning, so that the people could understand all that was being read. And the people wept when they heard and understood the words of the law. But Nehemiah the governor, and Ezra the priest, and the Levites who taught the people, said to the people, ‘Do not mourn or weep, for this day is holy to the Lord your God. Make a feast of the best food and wine, and send portions to any who have nothing to prepare, for this day is holy to the Lord. Do not grieve, for the joy of the Lord is your strength.’ This is the word of the Lord.Second Reading - 1 Corinthians 12.12-20,27-31
A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians. Just as the body is one body, with many parts, so we, though many, are one body, in Christ. For in the one Spirit we were all baptised into one body - whether Hebrews or Greeks, slaves or free. And we all receive the same Holy Spirit.And this body
does not consist of one part,
but of many.
The foot is no less
a part of the body
than the hand.
And the ear is no less
a part of the body
than the eye.
If the whole body were an eye,
it would not be able to hear.
And if the whole body were an ear,
it would have no sense of smell.
But God has arranged
that many parts make up
the whole body.
Now you are the body of Christ,
and each individually a part of it.
God has appointed in the church
apostles, prophets, and teachers;
then works of power, gifts of healing,
roles of support and leadership,
and different ways of speaking.
Not all are apostles, prophets, or teachers;
not all work miracles,
or have gifts of healing, speaking or interpretation.
But all should strive for the greater gifts -
and the greatest gift is love.
This is the word of the Lord.