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b'(Neh.8:2-4a,5-6,8-10;\\xa0\\xa0 Ps.19:8-10,15;\\xa0\\xa0 1Cor.12:12-30;\\xa0\\xa0 Lk.1:1-4,4:14-21)\\xa0 \\u201cHe opened the scroll so that all the people might see it.\\u201d These words are spoken of Ezra the scribe who \\u201cbrought the law before the assembly\\u201d of all Israel as he stood above them preparing to read the word of God, but it surely more distinctly refers to Jesus the Christ, the Incarnate Word of God, who reveals Himself to the souls in the Nazareth synagogue today.\\xa0 As \\u201cEzra read plainly from the book of the law of God, interpreting it so that all might understand,\\u201d so the Word is perfectly read and interpreted for us in the Person of Jesus Christ. Jesus came \\u201cinto the synagogue on the sabbath day.\\xa0 He stood up to read and was handed a scroll of the prophet Isaiah.\\xa0 He unrolled the scroll and found the passage\\u201d in Isaiah which speaks of Him: \\u201cThe Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because He has anointed me\\u2026\\u201d\\xa0 Thus is \\u201cfulfilled in [the people\\u2019s] hearing\\u201d the salvation promised from all time; the presence of the Word is with us in flesh and bone. Brothers and sisters, the eyes of all are filled with vision of His light, of His glorious being in our midst; all ears are filled with the sound of His voice, like gently rolling thunder soothing our hearts.\\xa0 And so we see.\\xa0 And so we hear.\\xa0 And so His Church has eyes and ears of the Lord, for we become \\u201cChrist\\u2019s body and individually parts of it.\\u201d\\xa0 Our feet now walk with Christ and our hands serve Him, and all for the blessing and honor and upbuilding of the whole.\\xa0 If I write this to you now and you hear, do I write for myself alone?\\xa0 Is it even I who write at all?\\xa0 Are not all things in the Body in the Lord, taking strength from Him and nourishing in turn all its parts?\\xa0 What are we apart from the Body \\u2013 we could not stand alone!\\xa0 Does the Lord not reveal these things to us in the opening of Scripture before our eyes?\\xa0 Is He not whole and one with all? In our first reading all wept at the words come from the mouth of Ezra, and all celebrated together this day of feasting.\\xa0 All stood as one when the book was raised, and all were prostrate as the name of the Lord was praised.\\xa0 The Body is one, as St. Paul tells us, and none go off on their own: \\u201cIf one part suffers, all the parts suffer with it; if one part is honored, all the parts share its joy.\\u201d Brothers and sisters, \\u201cthe ordinances of the Lord are true, and all of them just.\\u201d\\xa0 Let us live as one in the WORD of the Lord, \\u201cthe words of [our] mouth and the thoughts of [our] heart find[ing] favor before\\u201d our God, that the world might see the truth and the light of Christ alive in His Body. Written, read & chanted, and produced by James Kurt. Music: "Body of Christ" from The Whole Whale, eighth album of Songs for Children of Light, by James Kurt. ******* O LORD, your Spirit be upon us to accomplish your will in Jesus\\u2019 Name. \\xa0YHWH, your Law is perfect and is perfectly revealed in the presence of your Son.\\xa0 He it is who fulfills in our hearing, in our sight, the glory of your Word.\\xa0 Here is the Word made flesh for us to taste, and so to become as His Body. High above us Jesus stands to shine the light of your wisdom upon all souls.\\xa0 By His presence in our assembly all eyes are enlightened, for by Him your command is made clear.\\xa0 And what gifts are thus given to your Church, O LORD, by the Spirit upon us now. How shall our eyes take in the vision you share with us in Him?\\xa0 How shall we hear of the joy He proclaims?\\xa0 How shall we come out of our prisons and embrace the grace of His message, dear LORD, we who have dwelt so far from your will? Refresh our souls this day, dear God, with the flesh and blood of your Son.\\xa0 Let us become one with Him and declare your truth to the world.'