January 26, 2025

Our Lectionary texts for this Sunday, the Fourth Sunday after Epiphany, are Jeremiah 1:4-10; Psalm 71:1-6; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13; and Luke 4:21-30.

New Testament scholar Charles Cousar knows that Paul's account of love in 1 Corinthians 13 is intimidating. 

"How can one ever love in the way this passage describes? There is a clue tucked away in the contrast of 13:12. 'I will know fully even as I have been fully known . . . .' God is the unstated one, whose thorough knowledge of the community of faith now makes human love possible. The readers are not left as autonomous selves to love as best [we] can; [we] are reminded of God's gracious claim on [us]."

We look forward to observing the Sacrament of Holy Communion on the first Sunday of February.