Project BLACK MAMBA: Baptism of the Lord

'Tis the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord: Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Though not explicitly numbered as such, this appears to be the first Sunday in Ordinary Time. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Along with the crucifixion of Jesus, most biblical scholars view [His baptism] as one of the two historically certain facts about Him, & often use it as the starting point for the study of the historical Jesus.

Were 10 January not a Sunday, 'twould be the feast of Saint Gregory of Nyssa, Bishop (circa 330-395): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Along with Ss. Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianzen (2 January), St. Gregory of Nyssa is consider the third "Cappadocian Father," though unlike his brother Basil & the other Gregory he is not honored as a Doctor of the Church.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Isaiah, chapter forty-two, verses one thru four, six, & seven;
or, the Book of Isaiah, chapter forty, verses one thru five & nine thru eleven;
Psalm Twenty-nine, verses one thru four, nine, & ten;
or, Psalm One Hundred Four, verses one(b) thru four, twenty-four, twenty-five, & twenty-seven thru thirty;
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter ten, verses thirty-four thru thirty-eight;
or, The Letter to Titus, chapter two, verses eleven thru fourteen & chapter three, verses four thru seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter three, verses fifteen, sixteen, twenty-one, & twenty-two.

Commentary: Though not listed on the U.S.C.C.B.'s website as an optional reading for today, the Gospel proclaimed at the retreat I was on was the baptismal account from the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter three, verses thirteen thru seven. A fine reading, & I would not take issue with anyone who preferred it to the Lucan account, but I found the variance liturgically improper. In this, I might well be mistaken, though I suspect not.

Retreat Readings
The First Letter of John, chapter four, verse eighteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter eight, verses thirty-one & thirty-two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-eight, verses sixteen thru twenty.