BAPTISM OF THE LORD (A, B, C) Lectionary #21

With echoes of the message of Epiphany, this feast interprets the baptism of Jesus as an anointing for ministry as the “suffering servant.” Note that the first two readings and the responsorial psalm for Year A may be used in any year, though a full set of texts is provided for each year.

Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7. The “servant” described by Isaiah is an enigmatic figure that may stand for the prophet himself, the “poor ones” of Israel, or the whole nation. Because of the way Jesus died, Christians saw in the sufferings of the servant an image of the One who brought life from death. In this passage the servant is anointed with the divine spirit and acts with mercy and gentleness.

Psalm of the Day: Ps (28) 29
The psalmist sees in a thunderstorm the sign of God's majestic rule over all creation. The image of God “enthroned above the flood” was used by early Christians as an image of God's blessing on the waters of baptism.

El Señor Bendice a Su Pueblo (Manzano)  FYC 192
Lord, Bless Your People (Warner)  WC 379/PMB 143
The Lord Will Bless His People (Batastini)  RS 58
The Lord Will Bless His People (Booth)  GP 191/SP4 12
The Lord Will Bless His People (Forrester/Somerville)  CBW 38
The Lord Will Bless His People (Guimont)  GC 908/LPMG 21
The Lord Will Bless His People (Kreutz)   PMB 576/WS 71/PRM A14
The Lord Will Bless His People (Proulx/Gelineau)  WOR 785/LPGG 787                                     
The Lord Will Bless His People (Schiavone)   JS 899/LP 30
The Lord Will Bless His People/El Señor Bendice a Su Pueblo (Krisman)   SS
The Lord Will Bless Us with Peace (Whitaker)   JS 31/MI-BB

Common Psalm: Ps (71) 72

See suggestions for Epiphany.

Acts 10:34-38. At the end of a dramatic passage in which Peter accepts the call to baptize non-Jews, he summarizes the Gospel message: Jesus was anointed by the spirit of God to heal “all those oppressed by the devil,” and that “healing” applies to all who are called by God.

Matthew 3:13-17. In Matthew's version of the baptism story, John acknowledges Jesus' superiority, but it is only Jesus who sees the Spirit of God descending “like a dove.” Presumably it is also only Jesus who hears the voice naming him God's “beloved Son,” since there is no reaction from John or the crowd.

Songs for the Liturgy

A Living Hope (2,G)  CBW 613/PMB 284
All the Ends of the Earth B Dufford (G)  GP 683/MI‑BB/GC 526/JS 595
All You Who Are Thirsty (G)  RS 644/GC 501
Arise, Your Light Is Come! (1)  CBW 302
Baptized in Water (G)  WOR 720/RS 903/JS 542/GC 797/CBW 614/WC 593/PMB 286/WS 429
Before the Sun Burned Bright (G)  GP 577/CBW 504
Blessed Quietness (G)  LMGM 72
Christ, You are the Fullness (2,G)  CBW 431
Come, Taste and See (G)   JS 818/GP 526/MI‑BB
Everyone Moved by the Spirit (G)  GP 412
God Sends Us His Spirit (G)  WOR 724
Hail to the Lord's Anointed (1,G)  WC 495/PMB 225/SS
Healing River (G)  RS 715/GC 564
Here Am I (1)  RS 822/GC 713
I Have Been Anointed (1,2,G)   PMB 395/WC 763/WS 551
I've Just Come from the Fountain (G)  LMGM 110
Joy to the World (1)  WOR 399/CBW 328/GP 318/LMGM 19/BB/RS 524/GC 353/WC 473/JS 336/PMB 207/WS 366/SS
Now in This Banquet, vss 3‑4 (1)  GC 825/RS 933/CBW 608
O Christ, the Great Foundation (G)  WOR 618/RS 781, 782/CBW 527/GC 646/SS
O God of Love, O King of Peace (Ps)  WOR 652/WC 842/RS 833/CBW 681/RS 833/PMB 457
Praise the One Who Breaks the Darkness (1,G)  CBW 582
Praise to You, O Christ Our Savior (G)  JS 674/MI‑BB/RS 652/GC 517/CBW 442/GP 662
Priestly People, v 1 (1,G)  PMB 383/WC 735/WS 529
Send Down the Fire (G)  GC 477
Song of the Holy Spirit (G)  JS 460/CBW 526
Song over the Waters (G)  RS 855/GC 559
Songs of Thankfulness and Praise (G)  WOR 410/CBW 348/BB/RS 529/GC 383/WC 497/JS 368/PMB 224/WS 374/SS
Sweet Refreshment (G)   GC 802/SS
The Church of Christ in Every Age (1)  WOR 626/RS 803/WC 910/JS 843/GC 665/SS
The Church's One Foundation (G)  CBW 604/GP 573/MI‑BB/WC 739/JS 779/PMB 385/WS 525
The Spirit of God (G)  WC 761/PMB 399/WS 555
The Voice of God Goes Out (1,G)  WOR 358/CBW 433
There Is One Lord (G)  GP 453/WOR 657/MI‑BB/WC 588/RS 835/GC 796/JS 699/PMB 287/WS 434
Ustedes Sacarán Agua/You Will Draw Water   JS 116
Wade in the Water (G)  LMGM 107/GC 793/MI‑BB/GP 456/JS 544
Water and Spirit (G) WC 592
Waters of Love (Ps,G)  WC 590
We Shall Draw Water (1)  JS 117/MI‑BB/GP 288
*When Jesus Came to Jordan (G)  WOR 697/RS 878/HG 151
*When Jesus Comes to Be Baptized (G)  CBW 350/JS 372
*When John Baptized by Jordan's River (G)  WOR 412/RS 538/CBW 325/WC 502/JS 373/GC 390/SS/BB
Wonderful and Great (Ps)  WC 904/PMB 499
You Are the Voice (G)   GC 538/RS 659/CBW 576
You Have Anointed Me (1)  RS 795/GC 662/GP 555