TODAY’S SCRIPTURE LESSON
JANUARY 12th & 13th
Baptism of the Lord

FOCUS: To hear the baptismal call

Today’s Readings: Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7, Psalm 29:1-4, 9-10, Acts 10:34-38, Matthew 3:13-17

QUESTION OF THE WEEK
How do you respond to the voice calling you“God’s Beloved Child”?

REFLECTIONS ON TODAY’S READINGS
Today’s scriptures focus on Jesus’ person and ministry, as revealed in his baptism. In our first reading from
Isaiah he describes a servant called by God, who will persist until he establishes justice. The servant’s
mission, God says, is to be a covenant to the nations and is to establish justice on the earth, bring peace to all nations. And the servant will do this without resorting to violence of any kind. Our Psalm is a hymn to
Yahweh. It is Yahweh alone who is the source of strength and blessing for the people. Like many of the
speeches in Acts, our reading begins a brief outline of the Gospel. Peter preaches about Jesus anointed by
God and the Holy Spirit. It was a significant move, for Peter recognizing that the same Spirit, which came on Jesus at his baptism, is available to everyone. In today’s Gospel, Jesus receives the anointing of God’s Spirit and hears the voice of God’s affirming love. The baptism of Jesus is a central event in Matthew’s revelation of God in and through the incarnate Son.

QUESTIONS FOR REFLECTION:
1. What kind of person is the servant in our first reading?
2. What does the power of God’s voice reveal to you?
3. What is the significance of the anointing of the Holy Spirit? How has this affected your life?
4. How would you define your own baptismal call? And how does the Holy Spirit work in your life?