Epiphany
Baptism of the Lord
Sunday, January 11, 2026
FIRST READING
Isaiah 42:1-9
Verse 1. “Here is My Servant, whom I uphold, My Chosen One, in whom My soul delights. I will put My Spirit on Him, and He will bring justice to the nations. Verse 2. He will not cry out or raise His voice, nor make His voice heard in the streets. Verse 3. A bruised reed He will not break and a smoldering wick He will not extinguish; He will faithfully bring forth justice. Verse 4. He will not grow weak or discouraged before He has established justice on the earth. In His law the islands will put their hope.” Verse 5. This is what God the LORD says— He who created the heavens and stretched them out, who spread out the earth and its offspring, who gives breath to the people on it and life to those who walk in it: Verse 6. “I, the LORD, have called you for a righteous purpose, and I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and appoint you to be a covenant for the people and a light to the nations, Verse 7. to open the eyes of the blind, to bring prisoners out of the dungeon and those sitting in darkness out from the prison house. Verse 8. I am the LORD; that is My name! I will not yield My glory to another or My praise to idols. Verse 9. Behold, the former things have happened, and now I declare new things. Before they spring forth I proclaim them to you.”
PSALM
Psalm 29
SECOND READING
Acts 10:34-43
Verse 34. Then Peter began to speak: “I now truly understand that God does not show favoritism, Verse 35. but welcomes those from every nation who fear Him and do what is right. Verse 36. He has sent this message to the people of Israel, proclaiming the gospel of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all. Verse 37. You yourselves know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee with the baptism that John proclaimed: Verse 38. how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power, and how Jesus went around doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, because God was with Him. Verse 39. We are witnesses of all that He did, both in the land of the Jews and in Jerusalem. And although they put Him to death by hanging Him on a tree, Verse 40. God raised Him up on the third day and caused Him to be seen — Verse 41. not by all the people, but by the witnesses God had chosen beforehand, by us who ate and drank with Him after He rose from the dead. Verse 42. And He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that He is the One appointed by God to judge the living and the dead. Verse 43. All the prophets testify about Him that everyone who believes in Him receives forgiveness of sins through His name.”
GOSPEL
Matthew 3:13-17
Verse 13. At that time Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John. Verse 14. But John tried to prevent Him, saying, “I need to be baptized by You, and do You come to me?” Verse 15. “Let it be so now,” Jesus replied. “It is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness in this way.” Then John permitted Him. Verse 16. As soon as Jesus was baptized, He went up out of the water. Suddenly the heavens were opened, and He saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and resting on Him. Verse 17. And a voice from heaven said, “This is My beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased!”