Daily Readings for January 9, 2017

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord

1ST READING

Jesus will always choose to love. This is the foundation of our relationships. As we deal with our hurts and disappointments, let us remember God’s mercy. Better to love and forgive than to resent and reject.

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

1 Thus says the Lord: Here is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit; he shall bring forth justice to the nations, 2 not crying out, not shouting, not making his voice heard in the street. 3 A bruised reed he shall not break, and a smoldering wick he shall not quench, 4 until he establishes justice on the earth; the coastlands will wait for his teaching. 6 I, the Lord, have called you for the victory of justice, I have grasped you by the hand; I formed you, and set you as a covenant of the people, a light for the nations, 7 to open the eyes of the blind, to bring out prisoners from confinement, and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

P S A L M

Psalm 29:1-2, 3-4, 3, 9-10

R: The Lord will bless his people with peace.

1 Give to the Lord, you sons of God, give to the Lord glory and praise, 2 give to the Lord the glory due his name; adore the Lord in holy attire. (R) 3 The voice of the Lord is over the waters, the Lord, over vast waters. 4 The voice of the Lord is mighty; the voice of the Lord is majestic. (R) 3 The God of glory thunders, 9 and in his temple all say, “Glory!” 10 The Lord is enthroned above the flood; the Lord is enthroned as king forever. (R)

2ND READING

Pope Francis once tweeted that the modern-day Pharisees and hypocrites are the priests who deny the sacrament of baptism to the children of unwed parents. God is a loving and merciful God and will not deny His grace and blessing to a child because of the shortcomings of his parents. Judging others is a serious matter. Let us leave the judgment to God.

Acts 10:34-38

34 Peter proceeded to speak to those gathered in the house of Cornelius, saying: “In truth, I see that God shows no partiality. 35 Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly is acceptable to him. 36 You know the word that he sent to the Israelites as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all, 37 what has happened all over Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached, 38 how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power. He went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.”

GOSPEL

Jesus is empowered by the Holy Spirit during His baptism. Here again we have a model for our own journeys of faith. The Holy Spirit enables us to overcome the temptations of sin. We need His power to live as disciples of Jesus. Let us receive the grace of baptism and live in holy fulfillment and service to the Gospel.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The heavens were opened and the voice of the Father thundered: This is my beloved Son, listen to him.

Matthew 3:13-17

13 Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan to be baptized by him. 14 John tried to prevent him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and yet you are coming to me?” 15 Jesus said to him in reply, “Allow it now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he allowed him. 16 After Jesus was baptized, he came up from the water and behold, the heavens were opened for him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming upon him. 17 And a voice came from the heavens, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”