Scriptures and Reflection Questions for 1 Epiphany

The Feast of the Baptism of our Lord; 1 Epiphany, Year A
January 13, 2008

How to use this page:

Print this and read a different passage each day and think about it. Some questions are offered to help stimulate your reflection. You'll find your experience of worship on Sunday will be intensified.

For a method to read and pray with the scriptures you might try to use the ancient practice of Lectio Divina (Divine Reading). I've written some instructions on how to use Lectio with the Sunday Scriptures at the following link: Using Lectio Divina to pray the lections

If you would like to comment on these scriptures or have some on-line conversation about them, please go to scripture blog and click the "comments" button at the bottom.
We use the Episcopal Revised Common Lectionary.
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The Collect
Father in heaven, who at the baptism of Jesus in the River Jordan proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit: Grant that all who are baptized into his Name may keep the covenant they have made, and boldly confess him as Lord and Savior; who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.


The Scriptures

Isaiah 42:1-9
Acts 10:34-43
Matthew 3:13-17
Psalm 29


Old Testament: Isaiah (42:1-9)

Here is my servant, whom I uphold,
my chosen, in whom my soul delights;
I have put my spirit upon him;
he will bring forth justice to the nations.
He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

Thus says God, the LORD,
who created the heavens and stretched them out,
who spread out the earth and what comes from it,
who gives breath to the people upon it
and spirit to those who walk in it:
I am the LORD, I have called you in righteousness,
I have taken you by the hand and kept you;
I have given you as a covenant to the people,
a light to the nations,
to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
I am the LORD, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.
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What does it mean to bring forth justice?
What part of this rich passage jumps out at you? Why?
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Psalm 29

Ascribe to God, you heavenly beings, *
ascribe to God glory and strength.

Ascribe due honor to God’s holy Name; *
worship the Most High in the beauty of holiness.

The voice of God is upon the waters;
the God of glory thunders; *
God is upon the mighty waters.

The voice of God is a powerful voice; *
the voice of God is a voice of splendor.

The voice of God breaks the cedar trees; *
God breaks the cedars of Lebanon;

God makes Lebanon skip like a calf *
and Mount Hermon like a young wild ox.

The voice of God splits the flames of fire;
the voice of God shakes the wilderness; *
God shakes the wilderness of Kadesh.

The voice of God makes the oak trees writhe *
and strips the forests bare.

And in the temple of the Holy One, *
all are crying, “Glory!”

God sits enthroned above the flood, *
enthroned for evermore.

God shall give strength to the people; *
God shall give the people the blessing of peace.

(Saint Helena Psalter)

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If you were a composer and were going to set this psalm to music, how would it sound?
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The Epistle: Acts (10:34-23)

Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ--he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him. We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, not to all the people but to us who were chosen by God as witnesses, and who ate and drank with him after he rose from the dead. He commanded us to preach to the people and to testify that he is the one ordained by God as judge of the living and the dead. All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

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Peter has been surprised by the presence of the Holy Spirit manifest within the household of the Gentile Cornelius, a Roman Centurion. The message of Jesus expands into the Gentile world. Peter summarizes the story.
How would you summarize the story of our faith if you were presenting it to someone from an unfamiliar culture?
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Matthew (3:13-17)

Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him. And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."
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What different layers of meaning do you find in this story about the bapstism of Jeus?
How is baptism a ritual of identity?
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For a way to Pray with these scriptures, go to the following link for instructions about how to use Lectio Divina with the Sunday readings:
Praying the Scriptures with Lectio (http://www.stpaulsfay.org/id272.html)

To comment or to write a reflection on the scriptures go to our scripture blog: Scripture blog (http://www.sundayscriptures.blogspot.com)