Readings: Monday, August 31, 2020

First Reading: 1 Cor 2:1-5

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the
mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of
wisdom. For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you
except Jesus Christ, and him crucified. I came to you in
weakness and fear and much trembling, and my message and
my proclamation were not with persuasive words of wisdom,
but with a demonstration of spirit and power, so that your faith
might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Responsorial Psalm: Ps 119:97,98,99,100,101,102

R. Lord, I love your commands.

How I love your law, O LORD!
It is my meditation all the day.
R. Lord, I love your commands.

Your command has made me wiser than my enemies,
for it is ever with me.
R./ Lord, I love your commands.

I have more understanding than all my teachers
when your decrees are my meditation.
R./ Lord, I love your commands.

I have more discernment than the elders,
because I observe your precepts.
R./ Lord, I love your commands.

From every evil way I withhold my feet,
that I may keep your words.
R./ Lord, I love your commands.

From your ordinances I turn not away,
for you have instructed me.
R./ Lord, I love your commands.

Introduction to Gospel Reading
From now on until Advent begins, we shall read the gospel of Luke, the evangelist who pays special attention to the Holy Spirit, the mercy of God, Jesus' special concern for the poor, the role of women in the life of Jesus, and the liturgy. Luke presents his gospel in the form of a journey from Nazareth in Galilee to Jerusalem. Today we hear about the beginning of the so-called public life of Jesus, his program set for him by the Spirit. He announces salvation as starting "today" with his teaching and working among the people. For us too, the time of grace is today, in our time, with the Lord working and living among us now.

Gospel Reading: Luke 4:16-30

When Jesus came to Nazareth where he had been brought up, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath as he usually did. He stood up to read and they handed him the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Jesus then unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written: "The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. He has anointed me to bring good news to the poor, to proclaim liberty to captives and new sight to the blind; to free the oppressed and announce the Lord's year of mercy."

Jesus then rolled up the scroll, gave it to the attendant and sat down, while the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. Then he said to them, "Today these prophetic words come true even as you listen."

All agreed with him and were lost in wonder, while he kept on speaking of the grace of God. Nevertheless they asked, "Who is this but Joseph's son?" So he said, "Doubtless you will quote me the saying: Doctor, heal yourself! Do here in your town what they say you did in Capernaum."

Jesus added, "No prophet is honored in his own country. Truly, I say to you, there were many widows in Israel in the days of Elijah, when the heavens withheld rain for three years and six months and a great famine came over the whole land. Yet Elijah was not sent to any of them, but to a widow of Zarephath, in the country of Sidon. There were also many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha, the prophet, and no one was healed except Naaman, the Syrian."

On hearing these words, the whole assembly became indignant. They rose up and brought him out of the town, to the edge of the hill on which Nazareth is built, intending to throw him down the cliff. But he passed through their midst and went his way.