First Sunday of Advent

Jeremiah 33:14-16 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Jeremiah

I will cause a good seed to spring forth from David.

See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when I am going to fulfil the promise I made to the House of Israel and the House of Judah:

‘In those days and at that time,

I will make a virtuous Branch grow for David,

who shall practise honesty and integrity in the land.

In those days Judah shall be saved

and Israel shall dwell in confidence.

And this is the name the city will be called:

The Lord-our-integrity.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Jeremiah 33:14-16 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah

The days are surely coming, says the Lord,

when I will fulfil the promise

I made to the house of Israel

and the house of Judah.

In those days and at that time

I will cause a righteous Branch to spring up for David;

and he shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

In those days Judah will be saved

and Jerusalem will live in safety.

And this is the name by which it will be called:

“The Lord is our righteousness.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 24:4-5, 8-9, 10, 14 (JB)

R. To you, O Lord, I lift my soul.

Lord, make me know your ways.

Lord, teach me your paths.

Make me walk in your truth, and teach me:

for you are God my Saviour. R.

The Lord is good and upright.

He shows the path to those who stray,

he guides the humble in the right path;

he teaches his way to the poor. R.

His ways are faithfulness and love

for those who keep his covenant and will.

The Lord’s friendship is for those who revere him;

to them he reveals his covenant. R.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 – 4:2 (JB)

A reading from the first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians

When Christ comes may he strengthen your hearts in holiness.

May the Lord be generous in increasing your love and make you love one another and the whole human race as much as we love you. And may he so confirm your hearts in holiness that you may be blameless in the sight of our God and Father when our Lord Jesus Christ comes with all his saints.

Finally, brothers, we urge you and appeal to you in the Lord Jesus to make more and more progress in the kind of life that you are meant to live: the life that God wants, as you learnt from us, and as you are already living it. You have not forgotten the instructions we gave you on the authority of the Lord Jesus.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Thessalonians 3:12 – 4:2 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

Beloved:

May the Lord make you increase

and abound in love for one another and for all,

just as we abound in love for you.

And may he so strengthen your hearts in holiness

that you may be blameless before our God and Father

at the coming of our Lord Jesus with all his saints.

Finally, brothers and sisters,

we ask and urge you in the Lord Jesus that,

as you learned from us how you ought to live and to please God,

as, in fact, you are doing,

you should do so more and more.

For you know what instructions we gave you through the Lord Jesus.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 84:8 (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Lord, show us your mercy and love,

and grant us your salvation.

Alleluia!

Ps 85:7 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

Lord, show us your mercy and love,

and grant us your salvation.

Alleluia!

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Luke

Your redemption is near at hand.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘There will be signs in the sun and moon and stars; on earth nations in agony, bewildered by the clamour of the ocean and its waves; men dying of fear as they await what menaces the world, for the powers of heaven will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. When these things begin to take place, stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand.’

‘Watch yourselves, or your hearts will be coarsened with debauchery and drunkenness and the cares of life, and that day will be sprung on you suddenly, like a trap. For it will come down on every living man on the face of the earth. Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to survive all that is going to happen, and to stand with confidence before the Son of Man.’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Luke 21:25-28, 34-36 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke

Jesus spoke to his disciples about his return in glory.

“There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars

and on the earth distress among nations

confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.

People will faint from fear and foreboding

of what is coming upon the world,

for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.

“Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’

with power and great glory.

Now when these things begin to take place,

stand up and raise your heads,

because your redemption is drawing near.

“Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down

with dissipation and drunkenness

and the worries of this life,

and that day catch you unexpectedly, like a trap.

For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth.

Be alert at all times,

praying that you may have the strength

to escape all these things that will take place,

and to stand before the Son of Man.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.