First Reading
First reading
Reading from the book of Isaiah
Isaiah 49:3, 5-6
The Lord said to me:
“You are my servant, Israel;
in you I will manifest my glory”.
Now the Lord speaks,
he who formed me from the womb
to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel around him
–thus the Lord honored me
and my God was my strength–.
Now, therefore, says the Lord:
“It is too little for you to be my servant
only to restore the tribes of Jacob
and gather the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
so that my salvation may reach
to the ends of the earth”.
Second reading
Beginning of the first letter of the apostle Saint Paul to the Corinthians
John 1:29-34
At that time, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and exclaimed: “This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one of whom I said: ‘The one who comes after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be made known to Israel”.
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me: ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God”.
Gospel
Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint John
John 1:29-34
At that time, John the Baptist saw Jesus coming toward him and exclaimed: “This is the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world. This is the one of whom I said: ‘The one who comes after me ranks ahead of me, because he existed before me.’ I did not know him, but I came baptizing with water so that he might be made known to Israel”.
Then John gave this testimony: “I saw the Spirit descend from heaven like a dove and remain upon him. I did not know him, but the one who sent me to baptize with water told me: ‘The one on whom you see the Spirit descend and remain, he is the one who will baptize with the Holy Spirit.’ Now I have seen and testified that he is the Son of God”.