Epiphany 4

Sunday, January 30, 2011
Fourth Sunday after Epiphany / Lectionary 4

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Pastor Macholz

INTRODUCTION
Who are the blessed ones of God? For Micah, they are those who do justice, love kindness, and walk humbly with God. For Paul, they are the ones who find wisdom in the weakness of the cross. For Jesus, they are the poor, mourners, the meek, those who hunger for righteousness, the merciful, the pure in heart, the peacemakers. In baptism we find our blessed identity and calling in this countercultural way of living and serving.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Holy God, you confound the world's wisdom in giving your kingdom to the lowly and the pure in heart. Give us such a hunger and thirst for justice, and perseverance in striving for peace, that in our words and deeds the world may see the life of your Son, Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Micah 6:1–8

With the mountains and the foundations of the earth as the jury, God brings a lawsuit against Israel. God has "wearied" Israel by his long history of saving acts. God does not want or expect lavish sacrifices to attempt to earn divine favor. Rather God empowers his people to do justice, to love loyalty to God, and to walk shrewdly in God's service.

Hear what the LORD says:
Rise, plead your case before the mountains,
and let the hills hear your voice.
2Hear, you mountains, the controversy of the LORD,
and you enduring foundations of the earth;
for the LORD has a controversy with his people,
and he will contend with Israel.
3"O my people, what have I done to you?
In what have I wearied you? Answer me!
4For I brought you up from the land of Egypt,
and redeemed you from the house of slavery;
and I sent before you Moses,
Aaron, and Miriam.
5O my people, remember now what King Balak of Moab devised,
what Balaam son of Beor answered him,
and what happened from Shittim to Gilgal,
that you may know the saving acts of the LORD."
6"With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow myself before God on high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old?
7Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with ten thousands of rivers of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my transgression,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul?"
8He has told you, O mortal, what is good;
and what does the LORD require of you
but to do justice, and to love kindness,
and to walk humbly with your God?

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 15

LORD, who may abide upon your holy hill? (Ps. 15:1)
1LORD, who may dwell in your | tabernacle?
Who may abide upon your | holy hill?
2Those who lead a blameless life and do | what is right,
who speak the truth | from their heart; R
3they do not slander with the tongue, they do no evil | to their friends;
they do not cast discredit up- | on a neighbor.
4In their sight the wicked are rejected, but they honor those who | fear the LORD.
They have sworn upon their health and do not take | back their word.
5They do not give their money in hope of gain, nor do they take bribes a- | gainst the innocent.
Those who do these things shall never be | overthrown. R

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 1:18–31

According to the world’s standards of power and might, the message of the cross seems stupid and offensive. Yet this word reveals the paradoxical way God has chosen to work power and salvation through weakness, rejection, and suffering. Hence the message of the cross becomes true wisdom and power for believers.

18For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God. 19For it is written,
"I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the discernment of the discerning I will thwart."
20Where is the one who is wise? Where is the scribe? Where is the debater of this age? Has not God made foolish the wisdom of the world? 21For since, in the wisdom of God, the world did not know God through wisdom, God decided, through the foolishness of our proclamation, to save those who believe. 22For Jews demand signs and Greeks desire wisdom, 23but we proclaim Christ crucified, a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles, 24but to those who are the called, both Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God. 25For God's foolishness is wiser than human wisdom, and God's weakness is stronger than human strength.
26Consider your own call, brothers and sisters: not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. 27But God chose what is foolish in the world to shame the wise; God chose what is weak in the world to shame the strong; 28God chose what is low and despised in the world, things that are not, to reduce to nothing things that are, 29so that no one might boast in the presence of God. 30He is the source of your life in Christ Jesus, who became for us wisdom from God, and righteousness and sanctification and redemption, 31in order that, as it is written, "Let the one who boasts, boast in the Lord."

Gospel

Matthew 5:1–12

Jesus opens the Sermon on the Mount by naming those who are blessed in the reign of God.

When Jesus saw the crowds, he went up the mountain; and after he sat down, his disciples came to him. 2Then he began to speak, and taught them, saying:
3Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn, for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful, for they will receive mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers, for they will be called children of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness' sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
11Blessed are you when people revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account 12Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for in the same way they persecuted the prophets who were before you.

Reflection

“What does the Lord require of you?” It’s a question I ask myself quite frequently in life and ministry. What do I have to do to please God or sometimes, perhaps appease God? In Micah the writer asks if massive numbers of burnt offerings with calves a year old, thousands of rivers of oil or even one’s first born would do the trick? What is necessary in order to properly live out the life of one who calls God God?

The answer is quite simple actually; do justice, love kindness and walk humbly with God. I’m not sure if any one of those is easier than the others, they all seem to be tied together as I read the text. Walking humbly with God might seem the simplest to understand yet I’m not quite sure what even that means. And then one gets into justice and asks the question: “Whose justice are we talking about?”

This Sunday the ELCA will celebrate Reconciled in Christ Sunday. While the focus for some is on welcoming persons of all sexual orientations, at its very heart is the drive to welcome all people from all walks of life, all backgrounds and all abilities; there is no one to be excluded from the church and its ministries.

I think perhaps that’s what Micah is getting at when he talks of justice. To live our lives as God has shared and shown his throughout history, moving toward God’s people constantly even when they moved away, forgiving us when we can’t forgive ourselves and caring for each and everyone of us, no matter who we are. It’s a place we can begin to understand the call of the prophet, it’s a place we can begin to ground our lives.

Let Us Pray
That we might be open to all people and welcoming despite our difference
For the courage to invite others into the house of the Lord
For those who are battered, abused and left behind
To be open to God’s calling and Spirit
For healing and civility in this country and around the world.

Quote
The ultimate measure of a person (man) is not where she/he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where she/he stands at times of challenge and controversy. Martin Luther King Jr., Strength to Love, 1963

Musings for Epiphany 3

Sunday, January 23, 2011
Third Sunday after Epiphany / Lectionary 3

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Ken Klassen

INTRODUCTION
Jesus begins his public ministry by calling fishers to leave their nets and follow him. In Jesus the kingdom of God has come near. We who have walked in darkness have seen a great light. We see this light most profoundly in the cross—as God suffers with us and all who are oppressed by sickness, sin, or evil. Light dawns for us as we gather around the word, the font, and the holy table. We are then sent to share the good news that others may be "caught" in the net of God's grace and mercy.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Lord God,
your lovingkindness always goes before us and follows after us.
Summon us into your light,
and direct our steps in the ways of goodness
that come through the cross of your Son,
Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Isaiah 9:1–4 NRSV p 665

The northern tribes of Zebulun and Naphtali experienced defeat, but they are assured that their condition will be reversed when God makes a light-filled appearance. The joy they will experience will resemble celebrations of great harvests, because God will deliver them from everything that diminishes or oppresses them. The people in the northern parts of Israel have experienced "gloom" and "darkness" because of the destruction wrought by Assyrian military forces. To these people, the prophet announces the shining of a great light of salvation.

But there will be no gloom for those who were in anguish. In the former time he brought into contempt the land of Zebulun and the land of Naphtali, but in the latter time he will make glorious the way of the sea, the land beyond the Jordan, Galilee of the nations.
²The 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.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 27:1, 4–9

The LORD is my light and my salvation. (Ps. 27:1)

¹The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom then ^| shall I fear?

The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I ^| be afraid?

⁴One thing I ask of the LORD; one ^| thing I seek;

that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life; to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to seek God ^| in the temple.

⁵For in the day of trouble God will ^| give me shelter,

hide me in the hidden places of the sanctuary, and raise me high up- ^| on a rock.

⁶Even now my head is lifted up above my enemies ^| who surround me.

Therefore I will offer sacrifice in the sanctuary, sacrifices of rejoicing; I will sing and make music ^| to the LORD. R

⁷Hear my voice, O LORD, ^| when I call;

have mercy on me and ^| answer me.

⁸My heart speaks your message— ^| "Seek my face."

Your face, O LORD, ^| I will seek.

⁹Hide not your face from me, turn not away from your ser- ^| vant in anger.

Cast me not away—you have been my helper; forsake me not, O God of ^| my salvation. R

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 1:10–18 NRSV p 1038

Paul calls on the Corinthians to end their dissensions and share the unified outlook of the gospel. Discord arises when we forget that we belong not to human leaders or institutions but to Christ who was crucified for us. Indeed, the unifying word of the cross of Christ is the center of the gospel and the power of God's salvation.

¹⁰Now I appeal to you, brothers and sisters, by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, that all of you be in agreement and that there be no divisions among you, but that you be united in the same mind and the same purpose. ¹¹For it has been reported to me by Chloe's people that there are quarrels among you, my brothers and sisters. ¹²What I mean is that each of you says, "I belong to Paul," or "I belong to Apollos," or "I belong to Cephas," or "I belong to Christ." ¹³Has Christ been divided? Was Paul crucified for you? Or were you baptized in the name of Paul? ¹⁴I thank God that I baptized none of you except Crispus and Gaius, ¹⁵so that no one can say that you were baptized in my name. ¹⁶(I did baptize also the household of Stephanas; beyond that, I do not know whether I baptized anyone else.) ¹⁷For Christ did not send me to baptize but to proclaim the gospel, and not with eloquent wisdom, so that the cross of Christ might not be emptied of its power.
¹⁸For the message about the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.

Gospel

Matthew 4:12–23 NRSV p 966

Jesus begins his public ministry shortly after John the Baptist is imprisoned by Herod. He proclaims the nearness of God's reign and calls four fishermen to be his first disciples.

¹²Now when Jesus heard that John had been arrested, he withdrew to Galilee. ¹³He left Nazareth and made his home in Capernaum by the sea, in the territory of Zebulun and Naphtali, ¹⁴so that what had been spoken through the prophet Isaiah might be fulfilled:
¹⁵"Land of Zebulun, land of Naphtali,
on the road by the sea, across the Jordan, Galilee of the Gentiles —
¹⁶the people who sat in darkness
have seen a great light,
and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death
light has dawned."
¹⁷From that time Jesus began to proclaim, "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near."
¹⁸As he walked by the Sea of Galilee, he saw two brothers, Simon, who is called Peter, and Andrew his brother, casting a net into the sea — for they were fishermen. ¹⁹And he said to them, "Follow me, and I will make you fish for people." ²⁰Immediately they left their nets and followed him. ²¹As he went from there, he saw two other brothers, James son of Zebedee and his brother John, in the boat with their father Zebedee, mending their nets, and he called them. ²²Immediately they left the boat and their father, and followed him.
²³Jesus went throughout Galilee, teaching in their synagogues and proclaiming the good news of the kingdom and curing every disease and every sickness among the people.

Reflection

Light - what a wonderful metaphor for Christ. In our first reading Isaiah prophesizes that with the coming Messiah, "people walking in darkness have seen a great light". Light is an integral part of essentially every level of our understanding of science. It plays an important role in almost everything that touches our lives. So what better way to describe Christ? This metaphor appears many times in scripture. John the apostle says of Jesus, "In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it." (John 1:4-5) Later in the same chapter he quotes John the Baptist saying that he "came that He might bear witness of the light . . . the true light which, coming into the world, enlightens every man (John 1:8-9). And our gospel reading for today says, "the people who sat in darkness have seen a great light, and for those who sat in the region and shadow of death light has dawned."

As an object is illuminated with light, we begin to fully know and understand it. At low levels of light we can only start to make out its shape. With more light, we begin to see the details of the object and then we begin to see hue and the intensity of its color. Of course we use our other senses to understand the world around us, but seeing light is so essential to understanding. What's more, as an object in the dark is exposed to light, it absorbs and reflects that light. The more it is exposed, the more it absorbs and the more it radiates and reflects light for others to see. Light - what a wonderful metaphor for Christ.

Prayer

Heavenly Father, from the beginning of time you have been and are the light of the world. Help us to understand that our light is a reflection of you. Give us more of your light so that we may absorb more and radiate more. We pray for wisdom to understand your scriptures. We ask that your protecting hand will be on all of those who serve our country and work for peace. Teach us compassion for the sick, the suffering, and those in need.

Musings for Second Sunday after Epiphany

Sunday, January 16, 2011
Second Sunday after Epiphany / Lectionary 2

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Joshua Brown

INTRODUCTION
Today's gospel opens with further reflection on Jesus' baptism. He is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and the one anointed by the Spirit. In the liturgy we come and see Christ revealed among us in word and meal. We go forth to invite others to come and worship the Holy One, and to receive the gifts of grace and peace made known among us.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

Holy God, our strength and our redeemer, by your Spirit hold us forever, that through your grace we may worship you and faithfully serve you, follow you and joyfully find you, through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord.

First Reading

Isaiah 49:1–7

Here the servant Israel speaks for herself and acknowledges herself as God's secret weapon. Called before her birth like Jeremiah and John the Baptist, the servant is not only to restore Israel itself. The servant's ultimate assignment is to bring news of God's victory to the ends of the earth. God in faithfulness has chosen Israel for this task.

Listen to me, O coastlands,
pay attention, you peoples from far away!
The LORD called me before I was born,
while I was in my mother's womb he named me.
²He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
in the shadow of his hand he hid me;
he made me a polished arrow,
in his quiver he hid me away.
³And he said to me, "You are my servant,
Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
⁴But I said, "I have labored in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing and vanity;
yet surely my cause is with the LORD,
and my reward with my God."
⁵And now the LORD says,
who formed me in the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him,
and that Israel might be gathered to him,
for I am honored in the sight of the LORD,
and my God has become my strength —
⁶he says,
"It is too light a thing that you should be my servant
to raise up the tribes of Jacob
and to restore the survivors of Israel;
I will give you as a light to the nations,
that my salvation may reach to the end of the earth."
⁷Thus says the LORD,
the Redeemer of Israel and his Holy One,
to one deeply despised, abhorred by the nations,
the slave of rulers,
"Kings shall see and stand up,
princes, and they shall prostrate themselves,
because of the LORD, who is faithful,
the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 40:1–11

I love to do your will, O my God. (Ps. 40:8)

¹I waited patiently up- ^| on the LORD,

who stooped to me and ^| heard my cry.

²The LORD lifted me out of the desolate pit, out of the ^| miry clay,

and set my feet upon a high cliff, making my ^| footing sure.

³The LORD put a new song in my mouth, a song of praise ^| to our God;

many shall see, and stand in awe, and put their trust ^| in the LORD.

⁴Happy are they who trust ^| in the LORD!

They do not turn to enemies or to those who ^| follow lies.

⁵Great are the wonders you have done, O LORD my God! In your plans for us, none can be com- ^| pared with you!

Oh, that I could make them known and tell them! But they are more than ^| I can count.

⁶Sacrifice and offering you do ^| not desire;

you have opened my ears: burnt-offering and sin-offering you have ^| not required.

⁷And so I said, "Here I ^| am; I come.

In the scroll of the book it is writ- ^| ten of me:

⁸'I love to do your will, ^| O my God;

your law is ^| deep within me.'"

⁹I proclaimed righteousness in the ^| great assembly;

I have not restrained my lips, O ^| LORD, you know.

¹⁰I have not hidden your righteousness in my heart; I have spoken of your faithfulness and ^| your deliverance;

I have not concealed your steadfast love and truth from the ^| great assembly.

¹¹You are the LORD; do not withhold your compas- ^| sion from me;

may your steadfast love and your truth continually ^| keep me safe.

Second Reading

1 Corinthians 1:1–9

Though God's church in Corinth is a fractious congregation beset with many conflicts, Paul opens this letter by spotlighting the multiple ways God has enriched and sustained its life as part of the divine call into the fellowship of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Paul, called to be an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, and our brother Sosthenes,
²To the church of God that is in Corinth, to those who are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, together with all those who in every place call on the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, both their Lord and ours:
³Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.
⁴I give thanks to my God always for you because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus, ⁵for in every way you have been enriched in him, in speech and knowledge of every kind — ⁶just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you — ⁷so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁸He will also strengthen you to the end, so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. ⁹God is faithful; by him you were called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Gospel

John 1:29–42

John the Baptist's witness to Jesus initiates a chain of testimony as his disciples begin to share with others what they have found.

²⁹The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him and declared, "Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world! ³⁰This is he of whom I said, 'After me comes a man who ranks ahead of me because he was before me.' ³¹I myself did not know him; but I came baptizing with water for this reason, that he might be revealed to Israel." ³²And John testified, "I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it remained on him. ³³I myself did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water said to me, 'He on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain is the one who baptizes with the Holy Spirit.' ³⁴And I myself have seen and have testified that this is the Son of God."
³⁵The next day John again was standing with two of his disciples, ³⁶and as he watched Jesus walk by, he exclaimed, "Look, here is the Lamb of God!" ³⁷The two disciples heard him say this, and they followed Jesus. ³⁸When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, "What are you looking for?" They said to him, "Rabbi" (which translated means Teacher), "where are you staying?" ³⁹He said to them, "Come and see." They came and saw where he was staying, and they remained with him that day. It was about four o'clock in the afternoon. ⁴⁰One of the two who heard John speak and followed him was Andrew, Simon Peter's brother. ⁴¹He first found his brother Simon and said to him, "We have found the Messiah" (which is translated Anointed). ⁴²He brought Simon to Jesus, who looked at him and said, "You are Simon son of John. You are to be called Cephas" (which is translated Peter).

Reflection

“Turn on your listening ears.” That sentence get a large quantity of air time at our house along with its kin , “Look at what you’re doing,” “See what you’ve been missing,” and “Pay attention to where you’re going.” I use these phrases as early warning signals when I want my nearly 3 year old daughter to make full use of the senses God gave her and focus on the matter before her.

Through out Advent the prophet Isaiah provided a number of early warning signals reminding us to “Keep Watch,” “Stay Awake” and “Be Ready” for the arrival of new king. But now this king has come and we have put away the lights and wreaths and manger scenes have our senses already dulled as we slip back into a day to day rhythm?

Though Christ has come, Isaiah remains, shouting to all who would listen “Listen to me, O coastlands, pay attention, you peoples from far away!” And we need Isaiah urgent fervor breaking through the complacency that make us deaf to God’s word and blind to the needs of Gods people. The narrowness of our individual world views so blinds us to seeing Christ that we need John the Baptist to plainly point Christ out and say “Here is the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world!”

My daughter need reminders to pay attention to all here senses because the world holds a plethora of distractions for a three year old. I need reminders from prophets like Isaiah and John to help break through the deafening and blinding distractions of this world so that I can see and hear a gracious God manifest in flesh through Jesus Christ. O Lord, thank you for the prophets who remind us to live with eyes and ears open in order to fully behold your goodness and grace.

Prayers

· For the healing of bodies, minds and souls of those affected by violence

· For the openness of eyes to see Christ’s work and ears to hear his message

· For the healing of divisions within the church

· For the continued struggle to end discrimination and oppression both at home and abroad

Quote

“A blind man knows he cannot see, and is glad to be led, though it be by a dog; but he that is blind in his understanding, which is the worst blindness of all, believes he sees as the best, and scorns a guide” – Samuel Butler

“My words are a whisper, your deafness a shout” – Jethro Tull

Musings for January 9 - Baptism of our Lord

Sunday, January 9, 2011
Baptism of Our Lord

Midweek Musings

Reflection by Gary Lazenby

INTRODUCTION
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.

Adrian of Canterbury, teacher, died around 710 (TFF)
African by birth, Adrian (or Hadrian) worked with Theodore, archbishop of Canterbury, in developing the church in England. He was director of a school at which church leaders were trained.

Prayer of the Day (ELW)

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.

First Reading

Isaiah 42:1–9

God's servant Israel is endowed with the Spirit in order to bring justice to the nations. The servant will not exercise authority boisterously or with violence, nor will weariness ever keep it from fulfilling its task. God's old promises have been fulfilled; the new assignment of the servant is to bring light to the nations.

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.
²He will not cry or lift up his voice,
or make it heard in the street;
³a bruised reed he will not break,
and a dimly burning wick he will not quench;
he will faithfully bring forth justice.
⁴He will not grow faint or be crushed
until he has established justice in the earth;
and the coastlands wait for his teaching.
⁵Thus 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:
⁶I 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,
⁷to open the eyes that are blind,
to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon,
from the prison those who sit in darkness.
⁸I am the LORD, that is my name;
my glory I give to no other,
nor my praise to idols.
⁹See, the former things have come to pass,
and new things I now declare;
before they spring forth,
I tell you of them.

Psalm (ELW)

Psalm 29

The voice of the LORD is upon the waters. (Ps. 29:3)

¹Ascribe to the ^| LORD, you gods,

ascribe to the LORD glo- ^| ry and strength.

²Ascribe to the LORD the glory ^| due God's name;

worship the LORD in the beau- ^| ty of holiness.

³The voice of the LORD is upon the waters; the God of ^| glory thunders;

the LORD is upon the ^| mighty waters.

⁴The voice of the LORD is a pow- ^| erful voice;

the voice of the LORD is a ^| voice of splendor.

⁵The voice of the LORD breaks the ^| cedar trees;

the LORD breaks the ce- ^| dars of Lebanon;

⁶the LORD makes Lebanon skip ^| like a calf,

and Mount Hermon like a ^| young wild ox.

⁷The voice ^| of the LORD

bursts forth in ^| lightning flashes.

⁸The voice of the LORD ^| shakes the wilderness;

the LORD shakes the wilder- ^| ness of Kadesh.

⁹The 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!"

¹⁰The LORD sits enthroned a- ^| bove the flood;

the LORD sits enthroned as king for- ^| evermore.

¹¹O LORD, give strength ^| to your people;

give them, O LORD, the bless- ^| ings of peace.

Second Reading

Acts 10:34–43

Peter crosses the sharp religious boundary separating Jews from Gentiles and proclaims the good news of God's inclusive forgiveness in Jesus' name to Cornelius, a Roman centurion. As a result of Peter's preaching, Cornelius and his family become the first Gentiles to be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ.

³⁴Then Peter began to speak to them: "I truly understand that God shows no partiality, ³⁵but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. ³⁶You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ — he is Lord of all. ³⁷That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: ³⁸how 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. ³⁹We are witnesses to all that he did both in Judea and in Jerusalem. They put him to death by hanging him on a tree; ⁴⁰but God raised him on the third day and allowed him to appear, ⁴¹not 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. ⁴²He 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. ⁴³All the prophets testify about him that everyone who believes in him receives forgiveness of sins through his name."

Gospel

Matthew 3:13–17

Before Jesus begins his ministry, he is baptized by John, touched by the Spirit, and identified publicly as God's child.

¹³Then Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, to be baptized by him. ¹⁴John would have prevented him, saying, "I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?" ¹⁵But Jesus answered him, "Let it be so now; for it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness." Then he consented. ¹⁶And 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. ¹⁷And a voice from heaven said, "This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased."

Reflection

Happy New Year…Every New Year I begin with a few resolutions (loose extra pounds, exercise more, be more careful with money). Every year I have such high hopes. The church year begins each year with the baptism of Jesus. It is part of all four of the Gospels. But why did Jesus need to be baptized? Did he need to repent and have a new beginning? Jesus did not get baptized because He needed to repent of His sins, He was without sin! He was baptized for the new beginning because from the moment of His birth until His baptism, Jesus was in obedience to the customs of His people. Jesus then started His official ministry - teaching, healing, and praising God. At our baptism there is also a new beginning. We are all accepted into God’s family, knowing that we are all God’s children. Does the voice from heaven continue to resonate today with us? “These are my children, with whom I am well pleased.”

Prayers

We pray for

…sons and daughter with whom He is well pleased.

…all during this season of Epiphany.

…all the baptized members of our church community.

…the homeless.

…for new beginnings during 2011.

Quote

“Baptism separates the tire kickers from the car buyers.” Max Lucado, best-selling Christian author