In the Christian context everything written in the Old Testament and the New leads up to and begins with today's Gospel. Jesus is baptized by John and God claims him as his own. This happened first in dream or by angel messenger when God spoke to Zachariah and Elizabeth; then to Mary and Joseph; and at his birth to the Shepherds. At his coming of age God speaks to Jesus directly. Whether or not anyone else heard this declaration it is an article of faith to the writers of Matthew that this is a fulfillment of the prophesy in today's OT Lesson in Isaiah.
As the Psalmist today proclaims the voice of the Lord has spoken:
Psa 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace.
Today's Epistle summarizes these events and relates our own calling in a nutshell. Jesus calling and mission is ours as well.
When one looks at these lessons individually one gets quite different perspectives. The OT passage was written to people who had lost hope after being conquered by the Babylonians who destroyed their temple, pillaged the countryside, and led their leaders away in chains. The Psalm it is posited was borrowed from the Canaanites who worshipped Baal, the god of thunder and rain. The Epistle describes the ministry of John the Baptist. The commentary on the Gospel emphasizes the importance of water in our lives and its symbolism in its use in baptism.
As the Psalmist today proclaims the voice of the Lord has spoken:
Psa 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people and blesses them with peace.
Today's Epistle summarizes these events and relates our own calling in a nutshell. Jesus calling and mission is ours as well.
When one looks at these lessons individually one gets quite different perspectives. The OT passage was written to people who had lost hope after being conquered by the Babylonians who destroyed their temple, pillaged the countryside, and led their leaders away in chains. The Psalm it is posited was borrowed from the Canaanites who worshipped Baal, the god of thunder and rain. The Epistle describes the ministry of John the Baptist. The commentary on the Gospel emphasizes the importance of water in our lives and its symbolism in its use in baptism.
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