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The Baptism of the Lord: Meaning, Scripture & Mission

Father Scott connects the dots between today’s powerful scripture readings. He explores the Second Reading from the Book of Acts, where Peter realizes God’s message is for all nations, not just the Jewish people. This connects deeply to the Prophet Isaiah’s description of the "Servant" who brings justice without violence, and ultimately to the Gospel account of Jesus’ baptism.

Trusting God When You Have No Good Options | 4th Sunday of Advent (Cycle A)

In the Gospel of Matthew, Joseph discovers Mary is pregnant and believes his only choices are to divorce her quietly or expose her to shame. Meanwhile, in the first reading from Isaiah, King Ahaz faces a terrifying political invasion and thinks his only choice is to surrender his sovereignty to Assyria. This video explains the deep historical context behind the "Emmanuel" prophecy in Isaiah 7 and how St. Joseph succeeded where King Ahaz failed—by trusting that God can create a "third option" where we see none.