READINGS FOR THE FIRST SUNDAY OF EPIPHANY January 11, 2026
A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (42:1-9).
​
Behold 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. He will not cry aloud or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a faintly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be discouraged till he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his law. Thus 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 on it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I am the Lord; I have called you in righteousness; I will take you by the hand and keep you; I will give you as a covenant for the people, a light for the nations, to open the eyes that are blind, to bring out the prisoners from the dungeon, from the prison those who sit in darkness. I am the Lord; that is my name; my glory I give to no other, nor my praise to carved idols. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.”
Psalm 89:21-30
21 I have found David my servant; *
with my holy oil have I anointed him.
22 My hand shall hold him fast, *
and my arm shall strengthen him.
23 The enemy shall not be able to do him violence; *
the son of wickedness shall not hurt him.
24 I will smite down his foes before his face, *
and plague them that hate him.
25 My truth also and my mercy shall be with him; *
and in my Name shall his horn be exalted.
26 I will set his dominion also in the sea, *
and his right hand in the floods.
27 He shall call me, Thou art my Father, *
my God, and my strong salvation.
28 And I will make him my firstborn, *
higher than the kings of the earth.
29 My mercy will I keep for him for evermore, *
and my covenant shall stand fast with him.
30 His seed also will I make to endure for ever, *
and his throne as the days of heaven.
A Reading from the Acts of the Apostles (10:34-38).
​
Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. As for the word that he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace through Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), you yourselves know what happened throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism that John proclaimed: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power. He went about doing good and healing all who were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.
The Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ According to St. Matthew (3:13-17).
Then Jesus came from Galilee to the Jordan to John, to be baptized by him. John would have prevented him, saying, “I need to be baptized by you, and do you come to me?” But Jesus answered him, “Let it be so now, for thus it is fitting for us to fulfill all righteousness.” Then he consented. And when Jesus was baptized, immediately he went up from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened to him, and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and coming to rest on him; and behold, a voice from heaven said, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.”
​