Illuminations on the Lectionary readings for Jan. 8, 2023 (Epiphany 1A/Baptism of our Lord)

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

The season after Epiphany now begins and will continue until Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent on February 22.

The Gospel stories of the Epiphany season tell us about events that reveal the divinity of Jesus, beginning this Sunday with Matthew’s account of John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan river. In Sunday’s first reading we hear the prophet Isaiah’s call to Israel in exile. The prophet expresses an idea that we will find reflected in the baptism of Jesus: God who created all things will choose a servant to lead them, the “suffering servant” who recurs at several points in Isaiah. God will send the people out as we are sent out in baptism, living out a covenant to be a light to the world and to bring righteousness to all the nations.

Psalm: Psalm 29

Have you ever sat on a porch with a mixture of fear and awe, watching a fierce summer thunderstorm pass by with lightning and thunder, wind and rain, whipping the trees around and whistling through the branches? Even towering oak trees seem to whirl, and large limbs come crashing down. It’s no wonder that the Psalmist chose to portray God’s power and glory as a massive storm that strips the forest bare. And yet, at the end, the people shout “Glory,” hailing God’s power and peace.

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43

Peter, filled with the Holy Spirit, tells the good news of Jesus, starting with his baptism by John when God anointed Jesus with power through the Holy Spirit. Then in quick summary he recounts how Jesus healed and cast out spirits, was executed on the cross and raised again, and finally commanded his disciples to preach and testify that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Messiah. This passage gains context from those that come just before and after: At the invitation of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, Peter has come to his house and for the first time evangelizes to Gentiles. Then, after this speech, Peter and the apostles baptize Cornelius and all his household. They become the first Gentile family welcomed into the new church.

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

All four Gospels tell the familiar story of John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan, while the Holy Spirit comes down as a dove to declare Jesus the son of God. Only in Matthew, however, do we hear what seems an obvious question: Why would Jesus need to repent or be baptized? John declares that Jesus should be baptizing him, not the other way around. But Jesus insists, asking John to baptize him “to fulfill all righteousness,” echoing Isaiah’s call to go out in righteousness to be a light to the world and bring justice to all the nations. John complies, and then Jesus comes up from the water to see the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, while a booming voice from Heaven declares that Jesus is God’s beloved son.

Thoughts on Sunday’s Lessons for Jan. 12, 2020

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

Listen through Sunday’s readings as John baptizes Jesus on the banks of the Jordan: God’s spirit comes down to the people. Justice and righteousness are served, the oppressed are set free, and all is made new again.

In the prophet Isaiah’s call to Israel in exile, we hear an idea that will be reflected in the baptism of Jesus: God who created all things will choose a servant to lead them. God will send the people out as we are sent out in baptism, living a covenant to be a light to the world and to bring righteousness to all the nations.

Psalm: Psalm 29

Visualize this as we chant Sunday’s Psalm: Whether we huddle in the basement, listening to the radio for news, or venture out onto the porch to watch in fearful awe, we know how it feels to live through a powerful thunderstorm. Lightning flashes like fire. Thunder shakes everything. Giant oak trees seem to whirl, and large limbs come crashing down. We may sense God’s power in the frightening storm, but we also feel the comfort that comes with knowing God’s protection and peace.

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43

In the verses of Acts leading up to this reading, God has showed Peter in a dream that Gentiles, too, are to be included in Jesus’ way. Now Peter, alive with the Holy Spirit, tells the Roman centurion Cornelius, an early Gentile Christian, that God’s message through Jesus is for everyone and every nation. God’s generous gift of grace to all without partiality surely reflects God’s righteousness to all the nations as we heard in the reading from Isaiah.

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

All four Gospels tell of Jesus coming to John the Baptist, who was baptizing crowds in the Jordan River “for repentance and the forgiveness of sins.” Only in Matthew, however, do we hear what seems an obvious question: Why would Jesus need to repent or be baptized? Jesus should be baptizing John, not the other way around, John says. But Jesus insists, asking John to baptize him “to fulfill all righteousness,” echoing Isaiah’s call to go out in righteousness to be a light to the world and bring justice to all the nations. John agrees, and then we experience a vision of the Trinity on Jordan’s bank as Jesus, the Son, comes up from the water to see the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, while Jesus hears the Creator God declare Jesus the beloved son.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Jan. 8, 2017

First Reading, Selection I: Isaiah 42:1-9

In light and breath, God’s spirit comes down to the people. Justice and righteousness are served, the oppressed are set free, and all is new. In the prophet Isaiah’s call to Israel in exile we see a vision that will be reflected on Jordan’s bank at the baptism of Jesus in today’s Gospel. Even in exile, the prophet tells the people, the God who created all things will take the people by the hand as God’s servant, sending them out as we are sent out in baptism, to be a light to the world and bring righteousness to all the nations.

Psalm 29

Have you ever sat on a porch with a mixture of fear and awe, watching a fierce summer thunderstorm pass by with lightning and thunder, wind and rain, whipping the trees around and whistling through the branches? Even towering oak trees seem to whirl, and large limbs come crashing down. It’s no wonder that the Psalmist chose to portray God’s power and glory in a massive storm that strips the forest bare. And yet, at the end, the people shout “Glory,” hailing God’s power and peace.

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43

Peter quickly tells the good news of Jesus, starting with his baptism by John when God anointed Jesus through the Holy Spirit with power. Then he briskly recalls how Jesus healed and cast out spirits, was executed on the cross and raised again, and finally commanded his disciples to preach and testify that Jesus Christ is Lord, the Messiah. The verses we hear today gain context from those that come just before and after: At the invitation of Cornelius, a Roman centurion, Peter comes to his house and first begins to evangelize to Gentiles. After this speech, Peter and the apostles baptize Cornelius and all his household, the first Gentile family brought into the new church.

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

All four Gospels show us the familiar scene of John baptizing Jesus in the Jordan, with the Holy Spirit coming down as a dove to declare Jesus the son of God. Only in Matthew, however, do we hear what seems an obvious question: Why would Jesus need to repent or be baptized? Jesus should be baptizing John, not the other way around, John declares. But Jesus insists, asking John to baptize him “to fulfill all righteousness,” echoing Isaiah’s call to go out in righteousness to be a light to the world and bring justice to all the nations.

Thoughts on Today’s Lessons for Sunday, Jan. 12, 2014

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9
The book of Isaiah actually incorporates the work of three separate prophets, modern Bible scholars tell us. The First Isaiah warned of the loss of Jerusalem and the Temple and exile in Babylon if the people didn’t follow their covenant and walk in God’s ways. In today’s reading we come to Second Isaiah. The dire predictions of First Isaiah have come to pass, and the prophet reminds the exiled community of God’s call for justice and righteousness. There is still hope – God is always with us and will send God’s servant to lead us – but God’s covenant must be fulfilled with all the nations.

Psalm: Psalm 29
Whether we huddle in the basement, listening to the radio for news, or venture out onto the porch to watch in fearful awe, we all surely know how it feels to live through a powerful thunderstorm. Lightning flames like fire. Thunder shakes everything. Giant oak trees seem to whirl, and large limbs come crashing down. We may sense God’s power in the frightening storm, but we also feel the comfort that comes with knowing God’s protection and peace.

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43
Peter, alive with the Holy Spirit, tells the Roman centurion Cornelius, an early Gentile Christian, that God’s message through Jesus is for everyone and every nation. God’s generous gift of grace to all, without partiality, surely reflects God’s righteousness to all the nations expressed in today’s Isaiah reading. As Peter so firmly states, “All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17
All four Gospels tell of Jesus coming to John the Baptist, who was baptizing crowds in the Jordan River for “repentance and the forgiveness of sins.” But then we have to wonder: Why would Jesus need to repent or be baptized? The Gospels show John pointing out that Jesus should be baptizing him, not the other way around. But Jesus insists, and John agrees. And then we see a vision of the Trinity on Jordan’s bank as Jesus, the Son, comes up from the water to see the Holy Spirit descending like a dove, while the Creator God’s booming voice declares Jesus as the beloved son.