The Baptism of the Lord

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 (Year A) (JB)

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

Here is my servant, my chosen one in whom I am well pleased.

Thus says the Lord:

Here is my servant whom I uphold,

my chosen one in whom my soul delights.

I have endowed him with my spirit

that he may bring true justice to the nations.

He does not cry out or shout aloud,

or make his voice heard in the streets.

He does not break the crushed reed,

nor quench the wavering flame.

Faithfully he brings true justice;

he will neither waver, nor be crushed

until true justice is established on earth,

for the islands are awaiting his law.

I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;

I have taken you by the hand and formed you;

I have appointed you as covenant of the people

and light of the nations,

to open the eyes of the blind,

to free captives from prison,

and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 ( Year A) (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

Thus says the Lord:

“Here is 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.

He will not cry or lift up his voice,

or make it heard in the street;

a bruised reed he will not break,

and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;

he will faithfully bring forth justice.

He will not grow faint or be crushed

until he has established justice in the earth;

and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

“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,

to open the eyes that are blind,

to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,

from the prison those who sit in darkness.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 28:1-4, 9-10 (Year A) (JB)

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

O give the Lord you sons of God,

give the Lord glory and power;

give the Lord the glory of his name.

Adore the Lord in his holy court. R.

The Lord’s voice resounding on the waters,

the Lord on the immensity of waters;

the voice of the Lord, full of power,

the voice of the Lord, full of splendour. R.

The God of glory thunders.

In his temple they all cry: ‘Glory!’

The Lord sat enthroned over the flood;

the Lord sits as king for ever. R.

Psalm 29.1-2, 3ac-4, 3b+9c-10 (R.11b) (NRSV)

R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

Ascribe to the Lord, O heavenly beings,

ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.

Ascribe to the Lord the glory of his name;

worship the Lord in holy splendour. R.

The voice of the Lord is over the waters;

the Lord, over mighty waters.

The voice of the Lord is powerful;

the voice of the Lord is full of majesty.. R.

The God of glory thunders,

and in his temple all say, “Glory!”

The Lord sits enthroned over the flood;

the Lord sits enthroned as king forever. R.

Acts 10:34-38 (Year A) (JB)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power.

Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.

‘It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ – but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Acts 10:34-38 (Year A ) (NRSV)

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Peter began to speak to those assembled

in the house of Cornelius.

“I truly understand that God shows no partiality,

but in every nation anyone who fears him

and does what is right is acceptable to him.

You know the message he sent to the people of Israel,

preaching peace by Jesus Christ-he is Lord of all.

That message spread throughout Judea,

beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced:

how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth

with the Holy Spirit and with power;

how he went about doing good

and healing all who were oppressed by the devil,

for God was with him.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

cf Mark 9:8 (Year A) (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

The heavens were opened and the Father’s voice was heard:

this is my beloved Son, hear him.

Alleluia!

Mark 9:7 (Year A) (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

The heavens were opened and the Father’s voice was heard:

this is my beloved Son, hear him.

Alleluia!

Matthew 3:13-17 (Year A) (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

When Jesus was baptised, the heavens were opened and the Spirit of God came upon him.

Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. ‘It is I who need baptism from you,’ he said ‘and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.’ At this, John gave in to him.

As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Matthew 3:13-17 (Year A) (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Matthew

Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan,

to be baptized by him.

John would have prevented him, saying,

“I need to be baptized by you,

and do you come to me?”

But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so for now;

for it is proper for us in this way to fulfil all righteousness.”

Then John consented.

And when Jesus had been baptized,

just as he came up from the water,

suddenly the heavens were opened to him

and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove

and alighting on him.

And a voice from heaven said,

“This is my Son, the Beloved,

with whom I am well pleased.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.