Introit:Ps 36:5-9 (antiphon: Song 2:4)
Gradual: [Ps. 117:1-2a; 96:8]
Psalm: Ps 128 (antiphon: Ps 128:5)
OT: Is 62:1-5
Epistle:1 Cor 12:1-11
Proper Verse: Jn 2:11
Gospel: Jn 2:1-11

The Divine Glory Is Manifested in the Signs of Christ
When Jesus turned water into wine at the wedding in Cana, it was "the first of his signs," by which He "manifested his glory" (John 2:11). It pointed to His coming "hour," when He was lifted up on the cross for the forgiveness of sins and the life of the world (John 2:4; 12:23_32). The glory of the cross is incomprehensible apart from the Word and Spirit of God, but disciples of Jesus recognize that glory in the signs of His Gospel, and so they believe in Him. Jesus does not wait for His disciples to discover Him on their own, but He seeks out the forsaken and the desolate and unites them to Himself. He adorns them with His own beautiful righteousness and delights in them "as the bridegroom rejoices over the bride" (Is. 62:4_5). Purified by the washing of water with His Word in Holy Baptism, His disciples confess that "Jesus is Lord," and they return thanks to Him "in the Holy Spirit" (1 Cor. 12:3) as they drink the good wine that He pours out for them, which is the new testament in His blood.

Introit:Ps 102:18-22 (antiphon: Ps 102:13)
Gradual: [Ps. 117:1-2a; 96:8]
Psalm: Ps 19:(1-6) 7-14 (antiphon: Ps 19:14)
OT: Neh 8:1-3, 5-6, 8-10
Epistle:1 Cor 12:12-31a
Proper Verse: Luke 4:18a
Gospel: Luke 4:16-30

The Lord Is Manifested as Our Savior through the Preaching of the Gospel
When Jesus opens His mouth to preach, gracious words flow from His lips. The Scriptures are, indeed, fulfilled in your hearing (Luke 4:21_22). For Christ was anointed by the Spirit of the Lord "to proclaim good news to the poor," "to proclaim liberty to the captives" and "to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor" (Luke 4:18_19). By this proclamation, Christ releases His people from captivity and gathers them to Himself in His Church. So it was when the Lord released His people from Babylon and returned them to Jerusalem. "Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who taught the people," sanctified the whole congregation by the reading and preaching of the Law (Neh. 8:8_9). As the people then were urged to "eat the fat and drink sweet wine and send portions to anyone who has nothing ready" (Neh. 8:10), so are you anointed by the Spirit of the Lord Jesus Christ to share in His feast and to serve the fellow members of His Body with His good gifts, "giving greater honor to the part that lacked it" (1 Cor. 12:12, 24).

Introit:Ps 10:16-18 (antiphon: Ps 10:12)
Gradual: [Ps. 117:1-2a; 96:8]
Psalm: Ps 71:1-6 (7-11) (antiphon: Ps 71:12)
OT: Jer 1:4-10 (17-19)
Epistle:1 Cor 12:31b„13:13
Proper Verse: Luke 4:43b
Gospel: Luke 4:31-44

Jesus Has Authority to Forgive Your Sins and Give You Life
Jesus was sent to "preach the good news of the kingdom of God" (Luke 4:43). His preaching is an epiphany, or manifestation, of God because His Word reveals the authority of His cross and resurrection, by which He has atoned for the sins of the world. By the preaching of His Gospel in every place, He silences the unclean spirits and casts out demons, heals the diseases of body and soul, and restores life and health to His creation (Luke 4:40_41). For the sake of His divine love, He is "patient and kind" toward us; He "bears all things," "endures all things" and delivers up His body to save us (1 Cor. 13:3_4, 7). So also for the sake of His love, He calls and sends His prophets, as ministers of His Word, "to pluck up and to break down, to destroy and to overthrow, to build and to plant" (Jer. 1:10).

Introit:Ps 71:15-18 (antiphon: Ps 71:12)
Gradual: [Ps. 117:1-2a; 96:8]
Psalm: Ps 138 (antiphon: Ps 138:5)
OT: Is 6:1-8 (9-13)
Epistle:1 Cor 14:12b-20
Proper Verse: Luke 5:10b
Gospel: Luke 5:1-11

Jesus Comforts His People and Builds Up His Church by the Ministry of His Gospel
When Isaiah "saw the Lord sitting upon a throne, high and lifted up," he was overcome with an awareness of his sin and "unclean lips" (Isaiah 6:1, 5). But the Lord atoned for his sin, took away his guilt, and sanctified his lips with "a burning coal" from the altar (Isaiah 6:6_7). Not only was he rescued from death, but he was called and sent as a prophet of the Lord's Word (Isaiah 6:8_9). Similarly, when Simon Peter and his companions "enclosed a large number of fish" at the Word of Jesus, he humbled himself and said, "Depart from me, for I am a sinful man" (St. Luke 5:4_8). But Jesus comforted Simon, called him to discipleship, and declared that he would be "catching men" (St. Luke 5:10_11). So, in the office of the ministry, the Church remains the little boat from which Jesus teaches His people (St. Luke 5:3). Thus are we instructed in the faith, so that we say "Amen" and return thanks with heart, mind, tongue, and life. For the preaching of Christ Jesus is a manifestation of the Holy Spirit, by which He builds up His Church on earth (1 Cor. 14:12_19).