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(Is.42:1-4,6-7;\xa0\xa0 Ps.29:1-4,9-11;\xa0\xa0 Acts 10:34-38;\xa0\xa0 Mt.3:13-17) \xa0 \u201cGod anointed Jesus of Nazareth with the Holy Spirit and power.\u201d \xa0 And so He anoints us all in the baptism our Savior has wrought.\xa0 As Jesus humbled Himself to be baptized by John, so must we bow our heads before Him and receive holy baptism at His hands.\xa0 As He has laid down His life for us, so must we lay down our lives for one another.\xa0 As \u201cHe went about doing good and healing all those oppressed by the devil,\u201d so God is with us to do the same. \u201cThe Spirit of God descend[ed] like a dove and [came] upon Him.\xa0 And a voice came from the heavens, saying, \u2018This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased.\u2019\u201d\xa0 So Matthew recounts the Baptism of our Lord. \xa0And how similar is the beginning of our reading from Isaiah: \u201cHere is my servant whom I uphold, my chosen one with whom I am well pleased, upon whom I have put my spirit.\u201d\xa0 The chosen one of the ages now walks amongst us, the Spirit of God upon Him.\xa0 His justice now extends to the ends of the earth, calling all into His blessed confines.\xa0 None who come to Him does He reject.\xa0 The \u201ceyes of the blind\u201d He opens, the prisoners He brings \u201cfrom confinement\u201d in the sin and darkness of the dungeon that is this world to the heavenly light of His presence walking among us in sacred flesh.\xa0 \u201cIn every nation whoever fears Him and acts uprightly is acceptable to Him,\u201d for He loves all. And so should we not sing out in praise of the glory of the Lord to which we are all called as did David at the completion of the tabernacle of God?\xa0 For here stands the true Tabernacle, here stands its fulfillment\u2026 before us is God who calls us not only to look upon but to enter into His doors and dwell within Him in His heart, in His bosom \u2013 one with His sacred flesh and blood.\xa0 The law is now written on our hearts, not only pages of a book; now the Spirit speaks to those who remain close to Him.\xa0 Now we hear the \u201cmighty\u201d and \u201cmajestic\u201d \u201cvoice of the Lord\u2026 over the waters\u201d: \u201cthe God of glory thunders.\u201d\xa0 \u201cIn His temple all say, \u2018Glory!\u2019\u201d\xa0 And should we not \u201cgive to the Lord the glory due His Name\u201d?\xa0 Does not our cup overflow as Peter\u2019s to declare the salvation that comes at the hand of our God? Jesus has come.\xa0 The Spirit is with us.\xa0 Go now in the Spirit and power of God. \xa0 Written, read & chanted by James Kurt; produced by Carie Fortney. \xa0 Music by Carie Fortney; used by permission. \xa0 ******* O LORD, may your Son, our King, bring your merciful justice to all who dwell in darkness.\xa0 YHWH, your mighty voice is over the waters, declaring the glory of your Son to a people in darkness.\xa0 Your Spirit is upon Jesus to open our eyes to your glory here now in our midst \u2013 and what should we do but praise you? He comes humbly to us, bearing our sins and bringing peace to our troubled souls.\xa0 And so, now the flood cannot overwhelm us; now we are released from the prison in which we had been trapped for so long.\xa0 Now, O LORD, your will is accomplished and all are called into your holy light. O let us be baptized with Him and so become as your beloved sons!\xa0 Let us, too, hear your voice speaking your blessing over us.\xa0 Fulfill all righteousness among us this day, let your work be accomplished among men \u2013 let us be known as your children.\xa0 O LORD, let us be acceptable to you! Glory to you, O God of all glory!\xa0 May we be pleasing to you as is your Son.\xa0 Let your surpassing justice be done.