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In the waters of the Jordan, Jesus is revealed as the beloved Son of God. Through this great epiphany, Jesus fulfills all righteousness and becomes the servant of God who will bring forth justice and be a light to the nations. In the waters of baptism we too are washed by the Word, anointed by the Spirit, and named God’s beloved children. Our baptismal mission is to proclaim good news to all who are oppressed or in need of God’s healing.

Prayer of the Day

O God our Father, at the baptism of Jesus you proclaimed him your beloved Son and anointed him with the Holy Spirit. Make all who are baptized into Christ faithful to their calling to be your daughters and sons, and empower us all with your Spirit, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Readings and Psalm

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

First Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9

 ¹ 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.
 ² He will not cry out or lift up his voice
  or make it heard in the street;
 ³ a bruised reed he will not break,
  and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
  he will faithfully bring forth justice.
 ⁴ He will not grow faint or be crushed
  until he has established justice in the earth,
  and the coastlands wait for his teaching.

 ⁵ 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:
 ⁶ 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,
  ⁷ to open the eyes that are blind,
 to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
  from the prison those who sit in darkness.
 ⁸ I am the Lord; that is my name;
  my glory I give to no other,
  nor my praise to idols.
 ⁹ See, the former things have come to pass,
  and new things I now declare;
 before they spring forth,
  I tell you of them.

Psalm: Psalm 29

 ¹ Ascribe to the  Lord, you gods,
  ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
 ² Ascribe to the Lord the glory  due God’s name;
  worship the Lord in the beauty of holiness.
 ³ The voice of the Lord is upon the waters; the God of  glory thunders;
  the Lord is upon the  mighty waters.
 ⁴ The voice of the Lord is a powerful voice;
  the voice of the Lord is a  voice of splendor. 
 ⁵ The voice of the Lord breaks the  cedar trees;
  the Lord breaks the cedars of Lebanon;
 ⁶ the Lord makes Lebanon skip  like a calf,
  and Mount Hermon like a  young wild ox.
 ⁷ The voice  of the Lord
  bursts forth in  lightning flashes.
 ⁸ The voice of the Lord  shakes the wilderness;
  the Lord shakes the wilderness of Kadesh. 
 ⁹ The voice of the Lord makes the oak trees writhe and strips the  forests bare.
  And in the temple of the Lord all are  crying, “Glory!”
 ¹⁰ The Lord sits enthroned above the flood;
  the Lord sits enthroned as king forevermore.
 ¹¹ O Lord, give strength  to your people;
  give them, O Lord, the blessings of peace. 

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-43

³⁴ Peter began to speak to [Cornelius and his household]: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵ but in every people anyone who fears him and practices righteousness is acceptable to him. ³⁶ You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. ³⁷ That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸ 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. ³⁹ 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, ⁴⁰ but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, ⁴¹ 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. ⁴² 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. ⁴³ All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name.”

Gospel: Matthew 3:13-17

¹³ Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴ John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” ¹⁵ 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. ¹⁶ And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw God’s Spirit descending like a dove and alighting on him. ¹⁷ And a voice from the heavens said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.”

From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2026 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS022632. New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.

Lamentations 3:52-58

⁵² Those who were my enemies without cause
  have hunted me like a bird;
 ⁵³ they flung me alive into a pit
  and hurled stones on me;
 ⁵⁴ water closed over my head;
  I said, “I am lost.”
 ⁵⁵ I called on your name, O Lord,
  from the depths of the pit;
 ⁵⁶ you heard my plea, “Do not close your ear
  to my cry for help, but give me relief!”
 ⁵⁷ You came near when I called on you;
  you said, “Do not fear!”
 ⁵⁸ You have taken up my cause, O Lord;
  you have redeemed my life.

Matthew 2:13-23       

¹³ Now after [the magi] had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you, for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” ¹⁴ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother by night, and went to Egypt ¹⁵ and remained there until the death of Herod. This was to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet, “Out of Egypt I have called my son.”
  ¹⁶ When Herod saw that he had been tricked by the magi, he was infuriated, and he sent and killed all the children in and around Bethlehem who were two years old or under, according to the time that he had learned from the magi. ¹⁷ Then what had been spoken through the prophet Jeremiah was fulfilled:
 ¹⁸ “A voice was heard in Ramah,
  wailing and loud lamentation,
 Rachel weeping for her children;
  she refused to be consoled, because they are no more.”
  ¹⁹ When Herod died, an angel of the Lord suddenly appeared in a dream to Joseph in Egypt and said, ²⁰ “Get up, take the child and his mother, and go to the land of Israel, for those who were seeking the child’s life are dead.” ²¹ Then Joseph got up, took the child and his mother, and went to the land of Israel. ²² But when he heard that Archelaus was ruling Judea in place of his father Herod, he was afraid to go there. And after being warned in a dream, he went away to the district of Galilee. ²³ There he made his home in a town called Nazareth, so that what had been spoken through the prophets might be fulfilled, “He will be called a Nazarene.”

The feast of Epiphany (“manifestation”) concludes the Christmas season with a celebration of God’s glory revealed in the person of Jesus Christ. In Isaiah and Ephesians, that glory is proclaimed for all nations and people. Like the light of the star that guided the magi to Jesus, the light of Christ reveals who we are: children of God who are claimed and washed in the waters of baptism. We are sent out to be beacons of the light of Christ, sharing the good news of God’s love to all people.

Prayer of the Day

O God, on this day you revealed your Son to the nations by the leading of a star. Lead us now by faith to know your presence in our lives, and bring us at last to the full vision of your glory, through your Son, Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Isaiah 60:1-6

 ¹ Arise, shine, for your light has come,
  and the glory of the Lord has risen upon you.
 ² For darkness shall cover the earth
  and thick darkness the peoples,
 but the Lord will arise upon you,
  and his glory will appear over you.
 ³ Nations shall come to your light
  and kings to the brightness of your dawn.
 ⁴ Lift up your eyes and look around;
  they all gather together; they come to you;
 your sons shall come from far away,
  and your daughters shall be carried in their nurses’ arms.
 ⁵ Then you shall see and be radiant;
  your heart shall thrill and rejoice,
 because the abundance of the sea shall be brought to you;
  the wealth of the nations shall come to you.
 ⁶ A multitude of camels shall cover you,
  the young camels of Midian and Ephah;
  all those from Sheba shall come.
 They shall bring gold and frankincense
  and shall proclaim the praise of the Lord.

Matthew 2:1-12

  ¹ In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi from the east came to Jerusalem, ² asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east and have come to pay him homage.” ³ When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him, ⁴ and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah was to be born. ⁵ They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet:
 ⁶ ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah,
  are by no means least among the rulers of Judah,
 for from you shall come a ruler
  who is to shepherd my people Israel.’ ”
  ⁷ Then Herod secretly called for the magi and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared. ⁸ Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.” ⁹ When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, until it stopped over the place where the child was. ¹⁰ When they saw that the star had stopped, they were overwhelmed with joy. ¹¹ On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. ¹² And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they left for their own country by another road.

From sundaysandseasons.com. Copyright © 2026 Augsburg Fortress. All rights reserved. Reprinted by permission under Augsburg Fortress Liturgies Annual License #SAS022632. New Revised Standard Version Updated Edition. Copyright © 2021 National Council of Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Revised Common Lectionary, Copyright © 1992 Consultation on Common Texts, admin Augsburg Fortress. Used by permission.

First Reading: Isaiah 9:2–7

The people who walked in darkness
         have seen a great light;
         those who lived in a land of deep darkness —
         on them light has shined.
  ³You have multiplied the nation,
         you have increased its joy;
         they rejoice before you
         as with joy at the harvest,
         as people exult when dividing plunder.
  ⁴For the yoke of their burden,
         and the bar across their shoulders,
         the rod of their oppressor,
         you have broken as on the day of Midian.
  ⁵For all the boots of the tramping warriors
         and all the garments rolled in blood
         shall be burned as fuel for the fire.
  ⁶For a child has been born for us,
         a son given to us;
         authority rests upon his shoulders;
         and he is named
         Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
         Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.
  ⁷His authority shall grow continually,
         and there shall be endless peace
         for the throne of David and his kingdom.
         He will establish and uphold it
         with justice and with righteousness
         from this time onward and forevermore.
         The zeal of the Lord of hosts will do this.

Christmas Narrative: Luke 2:1–20

         In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered. ²This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria. ³All went to their own towns to be registered. ⁴Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David. ⁵He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child. ⁶While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child. ⁷And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.

      ⁸In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night. ⁹Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. ¹⁰But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see — I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people: ¹¹to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, the Lord. ¹²This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.” ¹³And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, praising God and saying,

          ¹⁴“Glory to God in the highest heaven,

         and on earth peace among those whom he favors!”

      ¹⁵When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”  ¹⁶So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  ¹⁷When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child; ¹⁸and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  ¹⁹But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  ²⁰The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.

The Gospel of the Incarnation: John 1:1–14  

         In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was in the beginning with God. ³All things came into being through him, and without him not one thing came into being. What has come into being ⁴in him was life, and the life was the light of all people. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it.

          ⁶There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. ⁷He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. ⁸He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. ⁹The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world.

          ¹⁰He was in the world, and the world came into being through him; yet the world did not know him. ¹¹He came to what was his own, and his own people did not accept him. ¹²But to all who received him, who believed in his name, he gave power to become children of God, ¹³who were born, not of blood or of the will of the flesh or of the will of man, but of God.

          ¹⁴And the Word became flesh and lived among us, and we have seen his glory, the glory as of a father’s only son, full of grace and truth.

Isaiah 41:5-10

⁵ The coastlands have seen and are afraid;
  the ends of the earth tremble;
  they have drawn near and come.
 ⁶ Each one helps the other,
  saying to one another, “Take courage!”
 ⁷ The artisan encourages the goldsmith,
  and the one who smooths with the hammer
       encourages the one who strikes the anvil,
 saying of the soldering, “It is good,”
  and they fasten it with nails so that it cannot be moved.
 ⁸ But you, Israel, my servant,
  Jacob, whom I have chosen,
  the offspring of Abraham, my friend;
 ⁹ you whom I took from the ends of the earth
  and called from its farthest corners,
 saying to you, “You are my servant;
  I have chosen you and not cast you off”;
 ¹⁰ do not fear, for I am with you;
  do not be afraid, for I am your God;
 I will strengthen you; I will help you;
  I will uphold you with my victorious right hand.

Matthew 1:18-25

¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be pregnant from the Holy Spirit. ¹⁹ Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her to public disgrace, planned to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But just when he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, “Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from the Holy Spirit. ²¹ She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins.” ²² All this took place to fulfill what had been spoken by the Lord through the prophet:
 ²³ “Look, the virgin shall become pregnant and give birth to a son,
  and they shall name him Emmanuel,”
which means, “God is with us.” ²⁴ When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife ²⁵ but had no marital relations with her until she had given birth to a son, and he named him Jesus.