The Baptism of the Lord

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/42and1 IS 42and1-4, 6-7 Thus says the LORDandHere is my servant whom I uphold,my chosen one with whom I am pleased,upon whom I have put my spirithe shall bring forth justice to the nations,not crying out, not shouting,not making his voice heard in the street.a bruised reed he shall not break,and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,until he establishes justice on the earththe coastlands will wait for his teaching.I, the LORD, have called you for the victory of justice,I have grasped you by the handI formed you, and set youas a covenant of the people,a light for the nations,to open the eyes of the blind,to bring out prisoners from confinement,and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness. Or and//www.usccb.org/bible/isaiah/40and1 IS 40and1-5, 9-11 Comfort, give comfort to my people,says your God.Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to herthat her service is at an end,her guilt is expiatedindeed, she has received from the hand of the LORDdouble for all her sins.A voice cries outandIn the desert prepare the way of the LORD!Make straight in the wasteland a highway for our God!Every valley shall be filled in,every mountain and hill shall be made lowthe rugged land shall be made a plain,the rough country, a broad valley.Then the glory of the LORD shall be revealed,and all people shall see it togetherfor the mouth of the LORD has spoken.Go up on to a high mountain,Zion, herald of glad tidingscry out at the top of your voice,Jerusalem, herald of good news!Fear not to cry outand say to the cities of JudahandHere is your God!Here comes with powerthe Lord GOD,who rules by a strong armhere is his reward with him,his recompense before him.Like a shepherd he feeds his flockin his arms he gathers the lambs,carrying them in his bosom,and leading the ewes with care. Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/29and1 PS 29and1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10 R. (11b)The Lord will bless his people with peace. Give to the LORD, you sons of God,give to the LORD glory and praise,Give to the LORD the glory due his nameadore the LORD in holy attire. R.The Lord will bless his people with peace. The voice of the LORD is over the waters,the LORD, over vast waters.The voice of the LORD is mightythe voice of the LORD is majestic. R.The Lord will bless his people with peace. The God of glory thunders,and in his temple all say, Glory!”The LORD is enthroned above the floodthe LORD is enthroned as king forever. R.The Lord will bless his people with peace. Reading 2 and//www.usccb.org/bible/acts/10:34 ACTS 10:34-38 Peter proceeded to speak to those gatheredin the house of Cornelius, sayingand In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightlyis acceptable to him.You know the word that he sent to the Israelitesas he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,what has happened all over Judea,beginning in Galilee after the baptismthat John preached,how God anointed Jesus of Nazarethwith the Holy Spirit and power.He went about doing goodand healing all those oppressed by the devil,for God was with him.” Or and//www.usccb.org/bible/titus/2:11 TI 2:11-14 3and4-7 BelovedandThe grace of God has appeared, saving alland training us to reject godless ways and worldly desiresand to live temperately, justly, and devoutly in this age,as we await the blessed hope,the appearance of the glory of our great Godand savior Jesus Christ,who gave himself for us to deliver us from all lawlessnessand to cleanse for himself a people as his own,eager to do what is good.When the kindness and generous loveof God our savior appeared,not because of any righteous deeds we had donebut because of his mercy,He saved us through the bath of rebirthand renewal by the Holy Spirit,whom he richly poured out on usthrough Jesus Christ our savior,so that we might be justified by his graceand become heirs in hope of eternal life. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/mark/9and7 CF. MK 9and7 R.Alleluia, alleluia.The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thunderedandThis is my beloved Son, listen to him.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Or and//www.usccb.org/bible/luke/3:16 CF. LK 3:16 R.Alleluia, alleluia.John saidand One mightier than I is cominghe will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/luke/3:15 LK 3:15-16, 21-22 The people were filled with expectation,and all were asking in their heartswhether John might be the Christ.John answered them all, saying, I am baptizing you with water,but one mightier than I is coming.I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”After all the people had been baptizedand Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon himin bodily form like a dove.And a voice came from heaven, You are my beloved Sonwith you I am well pleased.”