Over the centuries, the First Sunday after Epiphany has been approached in several ways. Sometimes, it has been a Sunday observance of the Epiphany. Sometimes, as in the Common Service Book, it has been associated with Christ's youthful visit to Jerusalem (Luke 2). In some older traditions and in recent calendars and lectionaries, it has been a time to commemorate the Baptism of our Lord Jesus Christ.
The second or epistle reading is Romans 6:1-11 which is the Apostle Paul's well-known discussion about the significance of Baptism. Christians have been baptized into Christ, died with Him, and raised to newness of life. By His grace, let us consider ourselves dead to our old sinful selves and alive to God in Christ.
The Gospel from Mark 1:4-11 is a brief account of the ministry of John the Baptist and the Baptism of Jesus at the beginning of His public ministry. The passage brings up several topics: Christ's ministry, His humility, His identity, and a contrast between John's baptism and Christian Baptism. These topics can be drawn together in considering the significance of Christ's Baptism.
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