Daily Readings - Sun Jan 12 2020

¹"Here is my servant, whom I uphold, my chosen one in whom I delight; I will put my Spirit on him and he will bring justice to the nations.²He will not shout or cry out, or raise his voice in the streets.³A bruised reed he will not break, and a smoldering wick he will not snuff out. In faithfulness he will bring forth justice;⁴he will not falter or be discouraged till he establishes justice on earth. In his law the islands will put their hope."⁶"I, the LORD, have called you in righteousness; I will take hold of your hand. I will keep you and will make you to be a covenant for the people and a light for the Gentiles,⁷to open eyes that are blind, to free captives from prison and to release from the dungeon those who sit in darkness.

Acts

Chapter 10

³⁴Then Peter began to speak: "I now realize how true it is that God does not show favoritism³⁵but accepts men from every nation who fear him and do what is right.³⁶You know the message God sent to the people of Israel, telling the good news of peace through Jesus Christ, who is Lord of all.³⁷You know what has happened throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John preached--³⁸how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power, and how he went around doing good and healing all who were under the power of the devil, because God was with him.

Matthew

Chapter 3

¹³Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptized by John.¹⁴But John tried to deter him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?"¹⁵Jesus replied, "Let it be so now; it is proper for us to do this to fulfill all righteousness." Then John consented.¹⁶As soon as Jesus was baptized, he went up out of the water. At that moment heaven was opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and lighting on him.¹⁷And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased."

Sermon

The readings today invite us to reflect on the nature of justice, equality, and the universal call to holiness. In the first reading from Isaiah, we encounter a prophecy about God’s servant, who will bring light and justice to the world. This servant is not one who will break the bruised reed or extinguish the smoldering wick; instead, he will lead with gentleness and compassion, ensuring that even the most vulnerable are not overlooked. This passage sets the stage for understanding Jesus as the fulfillment of this prophecy, the one who embodies God’s justice and mercy. In the second reading from Acts, Peter proclaims that God does not show favoritism, and that anyone who fears God and works justice is acceptable to him. This is a powerful reminder of the universality of God’s love and the call to live a life of integrity and compassion. Peter’s words echo the message of Isaiah, emphasizing that God’s plan of salvation is not limited to a chosen few but is open to all people. This reading challenges us to examine our own biases and prejudices, urging us to see everyone through the lens of God’s love. The Gospel reading from Matthew recounts the baptism of Jesus, a moment that reveals the profound unity of the Trinity. As Jesus emerges from the water, the heavens open, the Spirit descends like a dove, and the Father’s voice affirms Jesus as his beloved Son. This scene is not just a moment of revelation for Jesus but also for us. It reminds us that our baptism is a call to live as beloved children of God, to embrace our mission to bring light and justice to the world, and to do so with humility and compassion. Just as Jesus fulfilled all justice by being baptized, we too are called to fulfill our own calling by living lives of integrity, love, and service. As we reflect on these readings, let us ask ourselves: How do we embody the justice and mercy of God in our daily lives? How do we ensure that we do not overlook the vulnerable or exclude those who may seem different from us? Let us remember that we are all called to be lights in the darkness, bringing hope and healing to a world in need. May we, like Jesus, fulfill our mission with humility and love, trusting in the power of the Holy Spirit to guide us.