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Gospel Reading – Luke 18:1-8

The Parable of the Widow and the Unjust Judge

18 Then Jesus[a] told them a parable about their need to pray always and not to lose heart. 2 He said, “In a certain city there was a judge who neither feared God nor had respect for people. 3 In that city there was a widow who kept coming to him and saying, ‘Grant me justice against my accuser.’ 4 For a while he refused, but later he said to himself, ‘Though I have no fear of God and no respect for anyone, 5 yet because this widow keeps bothering me, I will grant her justice, so that she may not wear me out by continually coming.’ ”[b] 6 And the Lord said, “Listen to what the unjust judge says. 7 And will not God grant justice to his chosen ones who cry to him day and night? Will he delay long in helping them? 8 I tell you, he will quickly grant justice to them. And yet, when the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on earth?”

Gospel Reading – Matthew 4:12-23
Jesus Begins His Ministry in Galilee 12  Now when Jesus [a]  heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee.  13  He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali,  14  so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled: 15  “Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,     on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the gentiles—16  the people who sat in darkness     have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned.” 17  From that time Jesus began to proclaim, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 

Jesus Calls the First Disciples
18  As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea—for they were fishers.  19  And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of people.”  20  Immediately they left their nets and followed him.  21  As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them.  22  Immediately they left the boat and their father and followed him.

Jesus Ministers to Crowds of People
23  Jesus [c]  went throughout all Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news [d]  of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Gospel Reading – Luke 2:21-35, 39-40

Jesus Is Named
21  When the eighth day came, it was time to circumcise the child, [a]  and he was called Jesus, the name given by the angel before he was conceived in the womb.

Jesus Is Presented in the Temple
22  When the time came for their purification according to the law of Moses, they brought him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord  23  (as it is written in the law of the Lord, “Every firstborn male shall be designated as holy to the Lord”),  24  and they offered a sacrifice according to what is stated in the law of the Lord, “a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons.” 25  Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon; this man was righteous and devout, looking forward to the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit rested on him.  26  It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he would not see death before he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. [b]   27  Guided by the Spirit, Simeon [c]  came into the temple, and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what was customary under the law,  28  Simeon [d]  took him in his arms and praised God, saying, 29  “Master, now you are dismissing your servant in peace, according to your word, 30  for my eyes have seen your salvation, 31 which you have prepared in the presence of all peoples, 32  a light for revelation to the gentiles and for glory to your people Israel.” 33  And the child’s father and mother were amazed at what was being said about him.  34  Then Simeon blessed them and said to his mother Mary, “This child is destined for the falling and the rising of many in Israel and to be a sign that will be opposed  35  so that the inner thoughts of many will be revealed—and a sword will pierce your own soul, too.”

The Return to Nazareth
39  When they had finished everything required by the law of the Lord, they returned to Galilee, to their own town of Nazareth.  40  The child grew and became strong, filled with wisdom, and the favor of God was upon him. Amen.