ILLUMINATION for the First Lesson
The First Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A, Jan. 11, 2026
Isaiah 42:1-9
The perfect ruler is coming. He will bring justice for the oppressed and will minister gently to the downtrodden.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah:
(Lead in with) RSV: Behold my servant…; NRSV: Here is my servant…Â
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
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 or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not fail 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 forth the earth and what comes from it, who gives breath to the people upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: “I 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, 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 graven images. Behold, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth I tell you of them.â€
New Revised Standard Version
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. He will not cry or lift up his voice, or make it heard in the street; a bruised reed he will not break, and a dimly burning wick he will not quench; he will faithfully bring forth justice. He will not grow faint or be crushed until he has established justice in the earth; and the coastlands wait for his teaching. 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 upon it and spirit to those who walk in it: I 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, 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 idols. See, the former things have come to pass, and new things I now declare; before they spring forth, I tell you of them.
ILLUMINATION for the Second Lesson
The First Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A, Jan. 11, 2026
Acts 10:34-38
Peter preaches the gospel story as he himself experienced, and ties this narrative to the whole of the history of God’s relationship with his people, Israel.
A reading (lesson) from the Book of Acts:
(Lead in with) RSV: Peter opened his mouth…: NRSV: Peter began to speak…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc.
Revised Standard Version
Peter opened his mouth and said: “Truly I perceive that God shows no partiality, but in every nation any one who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the word which he sent to Israel, preaching good news of peace by Jesus Christ (he is Lord of all), the word which was proclaimed throughout all Judea, beginning from Galilee after the baptism which John preached: how God anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and with power; how he went about doing good and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.Â
New Revised Standard Version
Peter began to speak to them: “I truly understand that God shows no partiality, but in every nation anyone who fears him and does what is right is acceptable to him. You know the message he sent to the people of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ—he is Lord of all. That message spread throughout Judea, beginning in Galilee after the baptism that John announced: how 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.Â
ILLUMINATION for the Gospel Lesson
The First Sunday After the Epiphany, Year A, Jan. 11, 2026
Matthew 3:13-17
Jesus is baptized by John in the river Jordan, insisting that this is the right order of things — demonstrating his humility even as he is crowned with the Holy Spirit by the sign of a dove.
A reading (lesson) from the Gospel according to Matthew:
(Lead in with) RSV and NRSV: Jesus came from Galilee…
Conclude with The word of the Lord or Here endeth, etc. If read by an ordained person as the eucharistic gospel, conclude with The gospel of the Lord.
Revised Standard Version
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, he went up immediately from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him; and lo, a voice from heaven, saying, “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.â€
New Revised Standard Version
Jesus came from Galilee to John at the Jordan, 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 it is proper for us in this way to fulfill all righteousness.†Then he consented. And 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. And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased.â€
