Epiphany, 5: He took her by the hand
A weekly Epiphany devotional post for these 5 weeks of witness. Join us!
You can read here for a brief description of the liturgical season of Epiphany, and see previous Epiphany daybook 2018 posts here.
Blessed Epiphany, friends!
*Note: If you're reading this in email, the formatting usually looks much better at the website. Just click the post title to get there.*
Christ Healing Peter's Mother-in-law, Rembrandt Harmenszoon van Rijn, 1606-1669 (source)
A playlist for the week on Spotify - Epiphany: Touch, anoint, & heal
Readings for today: Isaiah 40:21-31, Psalm 147:1-11, 20c, 1 Corinthians 9:16-23, Mark 1:29-39
the Gospel:
“And immediately he left the synagogue and entered the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. Now Simon’s mother-in-law lay ill with a fever, and immediately they told him about her. And he came and took her by the hand and lifted her up, and the fever left her, and she began to serve them.
That evening at sundown they brought to him all who were sick or oppressed by demons. And the whole city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many who were sick with various diseases, and cast out many demons. And he would not permit the demons to speak, because they knew him.
And rising very early in the morning, while it was still dark, he departed and went out to a desolate place, and there he prayed. And Simon and those who were with him searched for him, and they found him and said to him, “Everyone is looking for you.” And he said to them, “Let us go on to the next towns, that I may preach there also, for that is why I came out.” And he went throughout all Galilee, preaching in their synagogues and casting out demons.”
Daily office lectionary readings for this week:
Monday (January 29, 2018): Genesis 25:19-34, Psalm 80, Hebrews 13:1-16, John 7:37-52
Tuesday (January 30, 2018): Genesis 26:1-6, 12-33, Psalm 78:1-39, Hebrews 13:17-25, John 7:53--8:11
Wednesday (January 31, 2018): Genesis 27:1-29, Psalm 119:97-120, Romans 12:1-8, John 8:12-20
Thursday (February 1, 2018): Genesis 27:30-45, Psalm 83, Romans 12:9-21, John 8:21-32
Friday (February 2, 2018): Genesis 27:46--28:4, 10-22, Psalm 88, Romans 13:1-14, John 8:33-47
Saturday (February 3, 2018): Genesis 29:1-20, Psalm 88, Romans 14:1-23, John 8:47-59
* Sunday Scripture readings are taken from the Revised Common Lectionary (Year B). Daily Scripture readings are taken from the Book of Common Prayer (Year 2).
Prayer for this week:
“Set us free, O God, from the bondage of our sins, and give us the liberty of that abundant life which you have made known to us in your Son our Savior Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.”
This week walk through the neighborhood where you live, work or worship. Pray the collect for this week (above), and ask God to open your eyes to the people and places He's asking you to proclaim the Good News of His salvation. Ask a friend to pray for you to answer readily to what the Spirit reveals to you during your prayer.
Don't miss the special Epiphany blog series where friends of mine from around the world, take us on a virtual walk through their own neighborhoods.
(see all Epiphany posts from 2017 here)