Readings for 4th Sunday after the Epiphany:
Readings for 5th Sunday after the Epiphany:
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Every so often we miss one of the readings for the Sundays after the Epiphany because of the Presentation of our Lord in the Temple which is always the Major Feast for the 2nd of February. Unfortunately this year that meant we missed the 4th Sunday after the Epiphany, which takes away a bit of the context for the readings this Sunday.
Today’s readings focus on God’s call of us, specifically with Isaiah, Paul, Simon Peter, and the Sons of Zebedee. But whereas we might be tempted to look at this solely with great joy, the readings for the previous Sunday give us a realistic sense of caution.
The 4th Sunday after the Epiphany in Year C reminds us of the difficulties in receiving a call. In Jeremiah, we see the prophet’s uncertainty and hesitation on hearing God’s words. It is a reminder that, at the end of Jeremiah, the prophet will be thrown into a well for his words of warning just before the Babylonians come in and exile the Southern Kingdom of Israel from the land God promised them.
Even Jesus faces trouble for proclaiming the Word of the Lord. In His own hometown, Jesus is chased to the edge of a cliff before escaping the people He grew up with who try to kill Him for declaring God’s words to them.
In both these instances Jeremiah and Jesus were protected. The same is true for us who truly declare the Gospel. Yet our Scripture warns us that sharing this Good News is never easy. We will face persecution from the world for it because the world does not want to hear what we have to say. We will suffer hardships too. Yet at the end there is no higher calling or any greater task than sharing the message our Lord has for us and for the world.