Bible Readings - Jan. 12, 2025

Reading I

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7

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,

not crying out, not shouting,

not making his voice heard in the street.

A bruised reed he shall not break,

and a smoldering wick he shall not quench,

until he establishes justice on the earth;

the coastlands will wait for his teaching.

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,

to open the eyes of the blind,

to bring out prisoners from confinement,

and from the dungeon, those who live in darkness.

Psalm 104:1-4, 24-25, 27-30

O bless the Lord, my soul.

O LORD, my God, you are great indeed!

you are clothed with majesty and glory,

robed in light as with a cloak.

You have spread out the heavens like a tent-cloth;

You have constructed your palace upon the waters.

You make the clouds your chariot;

you travel on the wings of the wind.

You make the winds your messengers,

and flaming fire your ministers.

How manifold are your works, O LORD!

In wisdom you have wrought them all--

the earth is full of your creatures;

the sea also, great and wide,

in which are schools without number

of living things both small and great.

They look to you to give them food in due time.

When you give it to them, they gather it;

when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.

If you take away their breath, they perish and return to the dust.

When you send forth your spirit, they are created,

and you renew the face of the earth.

Reading II

Acts 10:34-38

Then Peter proceeded to speak and said,

“In truth, I see that God shows no partiality.

Rather, in every nation whoever fears him and acts uprightly

is acceptable to him.

You know the word that he sent to the Israelites

as he proclaimed peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all,

what has happened all over Judea,

beginning in Galilee after the baptism

that John preached,

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

Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

Now the people were filled with expectation,

and all were asking in their hearts

whether John might be the Messiah.

John answered them all, saying,

“I am baptizing you with water,

but one mightier than I is coming.

I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.

He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

After all the people had been baptized

and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,

heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him

in bodily form like a dove.

And a voice came from heaven,

“You are my beloved Son;

with you I am well pleased.”