Rev. Sue Beal

While he was still speaking, suddenly a bright cloud overshadowed them, and from the cloud a voice said, ‘This is my Son, the Beloved; with him I am well pleased; listen to him!’ 

“See, I have set before you today life and prosperity, death and adversity. If you obey the commandments of the Lord your God that I am commanding you today, by loving the Lord your God, walking in his ways, and observing his commandments, decrees, and ordinances, then you shall live and become numerous, and the Lord your God will bless you in the land that you are entering to possess.” 

“You are the salt of the earth, but if salt has lost is taste how can its saltiness be restored? You are the light of the world.  A city built on a hill cannot be hid.” 

Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

And he said to them, “Follow me, and I will make you fish for people.” Immediately they left their nets and followed him.

When Jesus turned and saw them following, he said to them, “What are you looking for?” They said to him “Rabbi” (which translated means Teacher), “where are you staying?” Then Jesus says to them, “Come and see.”

And when Jesus had been baptized, just as he came up from the water, suddenly the heavens were opened to him and he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove and alighting on him.  And a voice from heaven said, “This is my Son, the Beloved, with whom I am well pleased. 

On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother; and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. 

Now after they had left, an angel of the Lord appeared to Joseph in a dream and said, “Get up, take the child and his mother, and flee to Egypt, and remain there until I tell you; for Herod is about to search for the child, to destroy him.” 

Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall name him Emmanuel, which means, ‘God is with us.’

“Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?”

I will sing unto the Lord, as long as I live. I will sing praise to my God while I have my being.