Sunday, January 22, 2006

Explosions in the Sky


Beginning of the good news of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it has been written in the prophet Isaiah, "Behold, I am sending my messenger before your face, who builds your road. A voice crying, ' In the Wilderness make ready the road of the Lord, make straight his beaten track'. John Baptizer came into the wilderness proclaiming a baptism of turning back/ change of heart for the forgiveness of sins. All the Jews of the region and Jerusalemites were going out to him, and they were baptized by him in the Jordan, publicly confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel's fur and a girdle made of leather around his waist, and he was consuming locusts and wild honey. And he proclaimed, saying, "One stronger than me follows me, of whom I am not worthy stooping down to unlace the thong of his sandals. I baptize you in water, but he himself will baptize you with the Holy Spirit". And it happened in those days that Jesus came from Nazareth of Galilee and was baptized in the Jordan by John. And immediately coming up from the water he saw the rending of the heavens and the Spirit like a dove descending upon him, and there was a voice from heaven [saying], "You are my Son, the Beloved, on whom rests my favor." And immediately the Spirit cats him out into the wilderness. And he was in the wilderness forty days being tempted by the Satan, and he was with the wild beasts, and the angels provided for him. But after John was handed over, Jesus [came] into Galilee preaching the good news about God, saying, "The time is fulfilled and the dominion of God is at hand, change your hearts and believe in the good news."