In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,
(when) Pontius Pilate was governing the Judeans
and Herod was the ruler of Galilee
and Philip, his brother was the ruler of Iturea and Trachonitis
and Lysanius was ruler of Abilene
and during the high priesthood of Anna and Caiaphas –
the word of God came upon John,
the son of Ze chariah
in the desert.
And he came to all the region of the Jordan preaching
a baptism of repentance
for the forgiveness of sins.
As it is was written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet:
‘A voice crying in the the wilderness,
Prepare the way of the Lord,
Make straight his path.
Every valley shall be filled,
and ever mountain and hill will be made low.
And the crooked will be straight
and the rough ways will be made level.
And all humanity will see the salvation of God.
Lord God,
you feed us with the living bread from heaven;
you renew our faith,
increase our hope,
and strengthen our love.
Teach us to hunger
for Christ who is the true and living bread,
and to live by every word
that comes from your mouth,
through Jesus Christ our Lord.
Amen.