The Baptism of Our Lord

The Baptism of Our Lord

GOSPEL READING

Luke 3:1-22
In the fifteenth year of the reign of Emperor Tiberius, when Pontius
Pilate was governor of Judea, and Herod was ruler of Galilee, and
his brother Philip ruler of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and
Lysanias ruler of Abilene, 2during the high priesthood of Annas and
Caiaphas, the word of God came to John son of Zechariah in the
wilderness. 3He went into all the region around the Jordan, proclaiming a
baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, 4as it is written in the
book of the words of the prophet Isaiah, “The voice of one crying out in
the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.
5Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made
low, and the crooked shall be made straight, and the rough ways made
smooth; 6and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.’” 7John said to the
crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who
warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 8Bear fruits worthy of
repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our
ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up
children to Abraham. 9Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees;
every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown
into the fire.” 10And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with
anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.” 12Even
tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what
should we do?” 13He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount
prescribed for you.” 14Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we
do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or
false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
15As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in
their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah, 16John
answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is
more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his
sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 17His
winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather
the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable
fire.” 18So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to
the people. 19But Herod the ruler, who had been rebuked by him because
of Herodias, his brother’s wife, and because of all the evil things that
Herod had done, 20added to them all by shutting up John in prison.
21Now when all the people were baptized, and when Jesus also had been
baptized and was praying, the heaven was opened, 22and the Holy Spirit
descended upon him in bodily form like a dove. And a voice came from
heaven, “You are my Son, the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.”


Reader: This is the gospel of the Lord.
All: Praise to you, O Christ.

Reader: While everyone was amazed at all that Jesus was saying and
doing, he said to his disciples, “Let these words sink into your ears:
All: The Son of Man is going to be betrayed into human hands.”
(Luke 9:43-44)