Second to Last Sunday after Epiphany

Isaiah 61:1-4

61:1   The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
    because the LORD has anointed me
  to bring good news to the poor;
    he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
  to proclaim liberty to the captives,
    and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2   to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor,
    and the day of vengeance of our God;
    to comfort all who mourn;
3   to grant to those who mourn in Zion—
    to give them a beautiful headdress instead of ashes,
  the oil of gladness instead of mourning,
    the garment of praise instead of a faint spirit;
  that they may be called oaks of righteousness,
    the planting of the LORD, that he may be glorified.
4   They shall build up the ancient ruins;
    they shall raise up the former devastations;
  they shall repair the ruined cities,
    the devastations of many generations.

Psalm 96

1 O sing unto the LORD a new song;*
  sing unto the LORD, all the whole earth.

2 Sing unto the LORD and praise his Name;*
  tell of his salvation from day to day.

3 Declare his honor to the nations,*
  and his wonders to all peoples.

4 For the LORD is great, and highly to be praised;*
  he is more to be feared than all gods.

5 As for all the gods of the nations, they are but idols;*
  but it is the LORD who made the heavens.

6 Glory and majesty are before him;*
  power and honor are in his sanctuary.

7 Ascribe unto the LORD, O you families of the peoples,*
  ascribe unto the LORD worship and power.

8 Ascribe unto the LORD the honor due unto his Name;*
  bring offerings and come into his courts.

9 O worship the LORD in the beauty of holiness;*
  let the whole earth stand in awe of him.

10 Tell it out among the nations, “The LORD is King;*
  it is he who has made the world so firm that it cannot be moved; he shall judge the peoples righteously.”

11 Let the heavens rejoice, and let the earth be glad;*
  let the sea make a noise, and all that is therein.

12 Let the field be joyful, and all that is in it;*
  then shall all the trees of the wood rejoice before the LORD.

13 For he comes, for he comes to judge the earth,*
  and with righteousness to judge the world, and the peoples with his truth.

Romans 10:9-17

9 because, if you confess with your mouth that Jesus is Lord and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. 10 For with the heart one believes and is justified, and with the mouth one confesses and is saved. 11 For the Scripture says, “Everyone who believes in him will not be put to shame.” 12 For there is no distinction between Jew and Greek; for the same Lord is Lord of all, bestowing his riches on all who call on him. 13 For “everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved.”

14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him of whom they have never heard? And how are they to hear without someone preaching? 15 And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!” 16 But they have not all obeyed the gospel. For Isaiah says, “Lord, who has believed what he has heard from us?” 17 So faith comes from hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ.

John 20:19-31

19 On the evening of that day, the first day of the week, the doors being locked where the disciples were for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood among them and said to them, “Peace be with you.” 20 When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord. 21 Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, even so I am sending you.” 22 And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. 23 If you forgive the sins of any, they are forgiven them; if you withhold forgiveness from any, it is withheld.”

24 Now Thomas, one of the twelve, called the Twin, was not with them when Jesus came. 25 So the other disciples told him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see in his hands the mark of the nails, and place my finger into the mark of the nails, and place my hand into his side, I will never believe.”

26 Eight days later, his disciples were inside again, and Thomas was with them. Although the doors were locked, Jesus came and stood among them and said, “Peace be with you.” 27 Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here, and see my hands; and put out your hand, and place it in my side. Do not disbelieve, but believe.” 28 Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!” 29 Jesus said to him, “Have you believed because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and yet have believed.”

30 Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples, which are not written in this book; 31 but these are written so that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.