January 13, 2013
Feast of the Baptism of the Lord
We hope that today is a good day.
Today's Bible story based on the calendar of the Catholic Church.
http://www.catholicnewsagency.com/calendar.php
Most of these contents are things of The World English Bible.
http://ebible.org/web/
We hope that everyone in the peace of the Lord.
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+ Saints: St. Hilary of Poitiers
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+ First Reading: Isaiah 40:1-5、9-11
1 "Comfort, comfort my people," says your God.
2 "Speak comfortably to Jerusalem; and call out to her that her warfare is accomplished, that her iniquity is pardoned, that she has received of Yahweh's hand double for all her sins."
3 The voice of one who calls out,
"Prepare the way of Yahweh in the wilderness!
Make a level highway in the desert for our God.
4 Every valley shall be exalted,
and every mountain and hill shall be made low.
The uneven shall be made level,
and the rough places a plain.
5 Yahweh's glory shall be revealed,
and all flesh shall see it together;
for the mouth of Yahweh has spoken it."
9 You who tell good news to Zion, go up on a high mountain.
You who tell good news to Jerusalem, lift up your voice with strength.
Lift it up. Don't be afraid.
Say to the cities of Judah, "Behold, your God!"
10 Behold, the Lord Yahweh will come as a mighty one,
and his arm will rule for him.
Behold, his reward is with him,
and his recompense before him.
11 He will feed his flock like a shepherd.
He will gather the lambs in his arm,
and carry them in his bosom.
He will gently lead those who have their young.
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+ Psalm: Psalms 29:1-2, 3-4, 9-10
1 Ascribe to Yahweh, you sons of the mighty,
ascribe to Yahweh glory and strength.
2 Ascribe to Yahweh the glory due to his name.
Worship Yahweh in holy array.
3 Yahweh's voice is on the waters.
The God of glory thunders, even Yahweh on many waters.
4 Yahweh's voice is powerful.
Yahweh's voice is full of majesty.
9 Yahweh's voice makes the deer calve,
and strips the forests bare.
In his temple everything says, "Glory!"
10 Yahweh sat enthroned at the Flood.
Yes, Yahweh sits as King forever.
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+ Second Reading: Titus 2:11-14, 3:4-7
11 For the grace of God has appeared, bringing salvation to all men,
12 instructing us to the intent that, denying ungodliness and worldly lusts, we would live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world;
13 looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the glory of our great God and Savior, Jesus Christ;
14 who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and purify for himself a people for his own possession, zealous for good works.
4 But when the kindness of God our Savior and his love toward mankind appeared,
5 not by works of righteousness, which we did ourselves, but according to his mercy, he saved us, through the washing of regeneration and renewing by the Holy Spirit,
6 whom he poured out on us richly, through Jesus Christ our Savior;
7 that, being justified by his grace, we might be made heirs according to the hope of eternal life.
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+ Gospel: Luke 3:15-16, 21-22
15 As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ,
16 John answered them all, "I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire,
21 Now when all the people were baptized, Jesus also had been baptized, and was praying. The sky was opened,
22 and the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily form like a dove on him; and a voice came out of the sky, saying "You are my beloved Son. In you I am well pleased."
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+ Today's Reading: Isaiah 42:1-9, 49:1-9
42:1 "Behold, my servant, whom I uphold;
my chosen, in whom my soul delights?
I have put my Spirit on him.
He will bring justice to the nations.
2 He will not shout,
nor raise his voice,
nor cause it to be heard in the street.
3 He won't break a bruised reed.
He won't quench a dimly burning wick.
He will faithfully bring justice.
4 He will not fail nor be discouraged,
until he has set justice in the earth,
and the islands will wait for his law."
5 Thus says God Yahweh,
he who created the heavens and stretched them out,
he who spread out the earth and that which comes out of it,
he who gives breath to its people and spirit to those who walk in it.
6 "I, Yahweh, have called you in righteousness,
and will hold your hand,
and will keep you,
and make you a covenant for the people,
as a light for the nations;
7 to open the blind eyes,
to bring the prisoners out of the dungeon,
and those who sit in darkness out of the prison.
8 "I am Yahweh.
That is my name.
I will not give my glory to another,
nor my praise to engraved images.
9 Behold, the former things have happened,
and I declare new things.
I tell you about them before they come up."
49:1 Listen, islands, to me.
Listen, you peoples, from afar:
Yahweh has called me from the womb;
from the inside of my mother he has mentioned my name.
2 He has made my mouth like a sharp sword.
He has hidden me in the shadow of his hand.
He has made me a polished shaft.
He has kept me close in his quiver.
3 He said to me, "You are my servant;
Israel, in whom I will be glorified."
4 But I said, "I have labored in vain.
I have spent my strength in vain for nothing;
yet surely the justice due to me is with Yahweh,
and my reward with my God."
5 Now Yahweh says, he who formed me from the womb to be his servant,
to bring Jacob again to him,
and to gather Israel to him,
for I am honorable in Yahweh's eyes,
and my God has become my strength.
6 Indeed, he says, "It is too light a thing that you should be my servant to raise up the tribes of Jacob,
and to restore the preserved of Israel?
I will also give you as a light to the nations,
that you may be my salvation to the end of the earth."
7 Yahweh, the Redeemer of Israel, and his Holy One,
says to him whom man despises, to him whom the nation abhors, to a servant of rulers:
"Kings shall see and rise up;
princes, and they shall worship;
because of Yahweh who is faithful, even the Holy One of Israel, who has chosen you."
8 Yahweh says, "In an acceptable time I have answered you,
and in a day of salvation I have helped you.
I will preserve you, and give you for a covenant of the people,
to raise up the land, to make them inherit the desolate heritage:
9 saying to those who are bound, 'Come out!';
to those who are in darkness, 'Show yourselves!'
"They shall feed along the paths,
and their pasture shall be on all treeless heights.
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