Baptism of Our Lord, Year A

¹ “Behold, my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen, in whom my soul delights: I have put my Spirit on him. He will bring justice to the nations. ² He will not shout, nor raise his voice, nor cause it to be heard in the street. ³ He won’t break a bruised reed. He won’t quench a dimly burning wick. He will faithfully bring justice. ⁴ He will not fail nor be discouraged, until he has set justice in the earth, and the islands wait for his law.” ⁵ God the LORD, he who created the heavens and stretched them out, he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it, he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it, says: ⁶ “I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness. I will hold your hand. I will keep you, and make you a covenant for the people, as a light for the nations, ⁷ to open the blind eyes, to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon, and those who sit in darkness out of the prison. ⁸ “I am the LORD. That is my name. I will not give my glory to another, nor my praise to engraved images. ⁹ Behold, the former things have happened and I declare new things. I tell you about them before they come up.”

¹ Ascribe to the LORD, you sons of the mighty, ascribe to the LORD glory and strength. ² Ascribe to the LORD the glory due to his name. Worship the LORD in holy array. ³ The LORD’s voice is on the waters. The God of glory thunders, even the LORD on many waters. ⁴ The LORD’s voice is powerful. The LORD’s voice is full of majesty. ⁵ The LORD’s voice breaks the cedars. Yes, the LORD breaks in pieces the cedars of Lebanon. ⁶ He makes them also to skip like a calf; Lebanon and Sirion like a young, wild ox. ⁷ The LORD’s voice strikes with flashes of lightning. ⁸ The LORD’s voice shakes the wilderness. The LORD shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. ⁹ The LORD’s voice makes the deer calve, and strips the forests bare. In his temple everything says, “Glory!” ¹⁰ The LORD sat enthroned at the Flood. Yes, the LORD sits as King forever. ¹¹ The LORD will give strength to his people. The LORD will bless his people with peace.

³⁴ Peter opened his mouth and said, “Truly I perceive that God doesn’t show favoritism; ³⁵ but in every nation he who fears him and works righteousness is acceptable to him. ³⁶ The word which he sent to the children of Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all— ³⁷ you yourselves know what happened, which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached; ³⁸ even Jesus of Nazareth, how God anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, who went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. ³⁹ We are witnesses of everything he did both in the country of the Jews, and in Jerusalem; whom they also killed, hanging him on a tree. ⁴⁰ God raised him up the third day, and gave him to be revealed, ⁴¹ not to all the people, but to witnesses who were chosen before by God, to us, who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. ⁴² He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that this is he who is appointed by God as the Judge of the living and the dead. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him, that through his name everyone who believes in him will receive remission of sins.”