The entire people assembled as one human in the square before the Water Gate, and they asked Ezra the scribe to bring the scroll of the Teaching of Moses with which the Becoming One had charged Israel.
On the first day of the seventh month, Ezra the priest brought the Teaching before the congregation, people of many genders and all who could listen with understanding.
He read from it, facing the square before the Water Gate, from the first light until midday, to all the people and those who could understand; the ears of all the people were given to the scroll of the Teaching.
[Ezra the scribe stood upon a wooden tower made for the purpose, and beside him stood Mattithiah, Shema, Anaiah, Uriah, Hilkiah, and Maaseiah at his right, and at his left Pedaiah, Mishael, Malchijah, Hashum, Hashbaddanah, Zechariah, Meshullam.] Ezra opened the scroll in the sight of all the people, for he was above all the people; as he opened it, all the people stood up. Ezra blessed the Becoming One, the great God, and all the people answered, “Amen, Amen,” with hands upraised. Then they bowed their heads and prostrated themselves before the Becoming One with their faces to the ground.
[Jeshua, Bani, Sherebiah, Jamin, Akkub, Shabbethai, Hodiah, Maaseiah, Kelita, Azariah, Jozabad, Hanan, Pelaiah, and the Levites explained the Teaching to the people, while the people stood in their places.] They read from the scroll of the Teaching of God, translating it and giving the sense; so they understood the reading. Nehemiah the Tirshatha, Ezra the priest and scribe, and the Levites who were explaining to the people said to all the people, “This day is holy to the Becoming One your God: you must not mourn or weep,” for all the people were weeping as they listened to the words of the Teaching. He further said to them, “Go, eat choice foods and drink sweet drinks and send portions to whoever has nothing prepared, for the day is holy to our sovereign. Do not be sad, for your rejoicing in the Becoming One is the source of your strength.”
Queeries for the text:
Who interprets the texts today?
Who keeps people safe when reading the Teaching?
Why are we eating choice foods this week?
Why are Teachings good?
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Rev. Emily E. Ewing queeries the Gospel reading.
14Then Jesus, filled with the power of the Spirit, returned to Galilee, and a report about him spread through all the surrounding country. 15He began to teach in their synagogues and was praised by everyone.
16When Jesus came to Nazareth, where he had been brought up, he went to the synagogue on the sabbath day, as was his custom. He stood up to read, 17and the scroll of the prophet Isaiah was given to him. He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it was written: 18“The Spirit of God is upon me, because She has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. She has sent me to proclaim release to the captives and recovery of sight to the blind, to let the oppressed go free, 19to proclaim the year of God’s favor.”
20And Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant, and sat down. The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. 21Then Jesus began to say to them, “Today this scripture has been fulfilled in your hearing.”
Queeries for the text:
Where did Jesus return from?
How long did it take to unroll the scroll?
What is good news to the poor?
What can release to the captives look like?
What kind of sight do the blind have?
How do the oppressed go free?
What is the year of the God's favor?
What are your queeries?
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