Sunday between 7 and 13 January    

First Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year A)

First Reading - Isaiah 42.1-4, 6-7

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. ‘You are my servant, my chosen’, says the Lord. ‘I uphold you, I delight in you. I will set my spirit upon you, and you will bring justice to the nations. You will not shout out, or lift up your voice. You will not break a bruised reed, or extinguish a dimly burning flame. I will sustain you, in courage and confidence, while you establish justice on earth. All the nations will look to you. I have called you to this work of justice and righteousness. I will lead you and protect you. I have given you as a covenant to the people, and as a light to the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, and to lead the captives out of darkness into freedom and light.’ This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - Titus 3.4-7

A reading from the letter of Paul to Titus. In the love and generosity of God, we are saved not by any good deeds that we have done, but by God’s mercy. God cleanses us, renews us, even re-creates us, and pours out the Holy Spirit upon us. And so, by God’s grace, through our Saviour Jesus Christ, we are reconciled with God, and we are made inheritors of eternal life. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - Matthew 3.13-17

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. Jesus came from Galilee, to the Jordan, to be baptised by John. John pleaded that Jesus should be baptising John, not John baptising Jesus. But Jesus said, ‘Let it be so’. As Jesus came up out of the water, after being baptised by John, he saw the heavens opened, and the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and settling upon him. And a voice from heaven said, ‘This is my beloved Son, and I delight in him.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.