January 10th 2021
Epiphany 2

First Reading
Acts
​
While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul traveled through the interior of the province
and arrived in Ephesus. There he found some disciples  and asked them,
"Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you became believers?"
"We have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit," they answered. 
"Well, then, what kind of baptism did you receive?" Paul asked.
"The baptism of John," they answered. 

 Paul said, "The baptism of John was for those who turned from their sins; and he told the people of Israel to believe in the one who was coming after him - that is, in Jesus." 

When they heard this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. 
 Paul placed his hands on them, and the Holy Spirit came upon them;
they spoke in strange tongues and also proclaimed God's message. 
 They were about twelve men in all.

Second Reading
(Mark 1:4-11)

So John appeared in the desert, baptizing and preaching.
 "Turn away from your sins and be baptized," he told the people, "and God will forgive your sins." 

 Many people from the province of Judea and the city of Jerusalem went out to hear John.
They confessed their sins, and he baptized them in the Jordan River. 
 John wore clothes made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist,
and his food was locusts and wild honey. 
 He announced to the people,
"The man who will come after me is much greater than I am.
I am not good enough even to bend down and untie his sandals. 
 I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit." 

 Not long afterward Jesus came from Nazareth in the province of Galilee,
and was baptized by John in the Jordan. 
 As soon as Jesus came up out of the water, he saw heaven opening
and the Spirit coming down on him like a dove. And a voice came from heaven,

"You are my own dear Son. I am pleased with you."