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| "The Baptism of Jesus" -- by James Tissot |
FIRST
READING: Isaiah
42: 1 - 4, 6 - 7 OR
Isaiah 40:
1 - 5, 9 - 11
1
Behold my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul
delights; I have put my Spirit upon him, he will bring forth justice
to the nations.
2
He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street;
3
a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will
not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice.
4
He will not fail or be discouraged till he has established justice in
the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law.
6
"I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness, I have taken
you by the hand and kept you; I have given you as a covenant to the
people, a light to the nations,
7
to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the
dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness.
OR
1
Comfort, comfort my people, says your God.
2
Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to her that her warfare is
ended, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received from the
LORD's hand double for all her
sins.
3
A voice cries: "In the wilderness prepare the way of the LORD,
make straight in the desert a highway for our God.
4
Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made
low; the uneven ground shall become level, and the rough places a
plain.
5
And the glory of the LORD shall be revealed, and all flesh shall see
it together, for the mouth of the LORD has spoken."
9
Get you up to a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift
up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem, herald of good tidings,
lift it up, fear not; say to the cities
of
Judah, "Behold your God!"
10
Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and his arm rules for him;
behold, his reward is with him, and his recompense before him.
11
He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs in
his arms, he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that
are with young.
PSALM:
Psalms 29:
1 - 4, 3, 9 - 10 OR
Psalms 104:
1 - 4, 24 - 25, 27 - 30
1
Ascribe to the LORD, O heavenly beings, ascribe to the LORD glory and
strength.
2
Ascribe to the LORD the glory of his name; worship the LORD in holy
array.
3
The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of glory thunders,
the LORD, upon many waters.
4
The voice of the LORD is powerful, the voice of the LORD is full of
majesty.
9
The voice of the LORD makes the oaks to whirl, and strips the forests
bare; and in his temple all cry, "Glory!"
10
The LORD sits enthroned over the flood; the LORD sits enthroned as
king for ever.
OR
1
Bless the LORD, O my soul! O LORD my God, thou art very great! Thou
art clothed with honor and majesty,
2
who coverest thyself with light as with a garment, who hast stretched
out the heavens like a tent,
3
who hast laid the beams of thy chambers on the waters, who makest the
clouds thy chariot, who ridest on the wings of the wind,
4
who makest the winds thy messengers, fire and flame thy ministers.
24
O LORD, how manifold are thy works! In wisdom hast thou made them
all; the earth is full of thy creatures.
25
Yonder is the sea, great and wide, which teems with things
innumerable, living things both small and great.
27
These all look to thee, to give them their food in due season.
28
When thou givest to them, they gather it up; when thou openest thy
hand, they are filled with good things.
29
When thou hidest thy face, they are dismayed; when thou takest away
their breath, they die and return to their dust.
30
When thou sendest forth thy Spirit, they are created; and thou
renewest the face of the ground.
SECOND
READING: Acts 10:
34 - 38 OR Titus
2: 11 - 14; 3: 4 - 7
34
And Peter opened his mouth and said: "Truly I perceive that God
shows no partiality,
35
but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is
acceptable to him.
36
You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of
peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all),
37
the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from
Galilee after the baptism which John preached:
38
how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with
power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were
oppressed by the devil, for God
was
with him.
OR
11
For the grace of God has appeared for the salvation of all men,
12
training us to renounce irreligion and worldly passions, and to live
sober, upright, and godly lives in this world,
13
awaiting our blessed hope, the appearing of the glory of our great
God and Savior Jesus Christ,
14
who gave himself for us to redeem us from all iniquity and to purify
for himself a people of his own who are zealous for good deeds.
4
but when the goodness and loving kindness of God our Savior appeared,
5
he saved us, not because of deeds done by us in righteousness, but in
virtue of his own mercy, by the washing of regeneration and renewal
in the Holy Spirit,
6
which he poured out upon us richly through Jesus Christ our Savior,
7
so that we might be justified by his grace and become heirs in hope
of eternal life.
GOSPEL:
Luke 3:
15 - 16, 21 - 22
15
As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their
hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,
16
John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is
mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy
to untie; he will baptize you
with
the Holy Spirit and with fire.
21
Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been
baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened,
22
and the Holy Spirit descended upon him in bodily form, as a dove, and
a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I
am well pleased."
