Readings for
Sunday, January 9, 2000
Baptism of Our Lord

(From the Revised Standard Version English Bible
unless otherwise indicated)

First Reading

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.
5: Thus says God, the LORD, who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread forth the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it:
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.

1: A Psalm of David. 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.
5: The voice of the LORD breaks the cedars, the LORD breaks the cedars of Lebanon.
6: He makes Lebanon to skip like a calf, and Si'rion like a young wild ox.
7: The voice of the LORD flashes forth flames of fire.
8: The voice of the LORD shakes the wilderness, the LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.
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.

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.

7: And he preached, saying, "After me comes he who is mightier than I, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie.
8: I have baptized you with water; but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
9: In those days Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized by John in the Jordan.
10: And when he came up out of the water, immediately he saw the heavens opened and the Spirit descending upon him like a dove;
11: and a voice came from heaven, "Thou art my beloved Son; with thee I am well pleased."