The Baptism of the Lord

First reading
Isaiah 42:1-4,6-7

Here is my servant, in whom my soul delights
Thus says the Lord:
Here is my servant whom I uphold,
my chosen one in whom my soul delights.
I have endowed him with my spirit
that he may bring true justice to the nations.
He does not cry out or shout aloud,
or make his voice heard in the streets.
He does not break the crushed reed,
nor quench the wavering flame.
Faithfully he brings true justice;
he will neither waver, nor be crushed
until true justice is established on earth,
for the islands are awaiting his law.
I, the Lord, have called you to serve the cause of right;
I have taken you by the hand and formed you;
I have appointed you as covenant of the people and light of the nations,
to open the eyes of the blind,
to free captives from prison,
and those who live in darkness from the dungeon.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 28(29):1-4,9-10

R. (11b) The Lord will bless his people with peace.

¹ Give to the LORD, you sons of God,
give to the LORD glory and praise,
² Give to the LORD the glory due his name;
adore the LORD in holy attire.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

³ The voice of the LORD is over the waters,
the LORD, over vast waters.
⁴ The voice of the LORD is mighty;
the voice of the LORD is majestic.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.

^3B The God of glory thunders,
⁹ and in his temple all say, “Glory!”
¹⁰ The LORD is enthroned above the flood;
the LORD is enthroned as king forever.
R. The Lord will bless his people with peace.
Second reading

Acts 10:34-38
God had anointed Jesus with the Holy Spirit
Peter addressed Cornelius and his household: ‘The truth I have now come to realise’ he said ‘is that God does not have favourites, but that anybody of any nationality who fears God and does what is right is acceptable to him.
‘It is true, God sent his word to the people of Israel, and it was to them that the good news of peace was brought by Jesus Christ – but Jesus Christ is Lord of all men. You must have heard about the recent happenings in Judaea; about Jesus of Nazareth and how he began in Galilee, after John had been preaching baptism. God had anointed him with the Holy Spirit and with power, and because God was with him, Jesus went about doing good and curing all who had fallen into the power of the devil.’
Gospel Acclamation cf.Mk9:8
Alleluia, alleluia!
The heavens opened and the Father’s voice resounded:
‘This is my Son, the Beloved. Listen to him.’
Alleluia!
Gospel

Matthew 3:13-17
‘This is my Son, the Beloved’
Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to be baptised by John. John tried to dissuade him. ‘It is I who need baptism from you’ he said ‘and yet you come to me!’ But Jesus replied, ‘Leave it like this for the time being; it is fitting that we should, in this way, do all that righteousness demands.’ At this, John gave in to him.
As soon as Jesus was baptised he came up from the water, and suddenly the heavens opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming down on him. And a voice spoke from heaven, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; my favour rests on him.’