First Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1,3-8 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

Oh that you would tear the heavens apart and come down.

You, Lord, yourself are our Father,

Our Redeemer is your ancient name.

Why, Lord, leave us to stray from your ways

and harden our hearts against fearing you?

Return, for the sake of your servants,

the tribes of your inheritance.

Oh, that you would tear the heavens open and come down

– at your Presence the mountains would melt.

No ear has heard,

no eye has seen

any god but you act like this

for those who trust him.

You guide those who act with integrity

and keep your ways in mind.

You were angry when we were sinners;

we had long been rebels against you.

We were all like men unclean,

all that integrity of ours is like filthy clothing.

We have all withered like leaves

and our sins blew us away like the wind.

No one invoked your name

or roused himself to catch hold of you.

For you hid your face from us

and gave us up to the power of our sins.

And yet, Lord, you are our Father;

we the clay, you the potter,

we are all the work of your hand.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 63:16-17; 64:1, 3-8 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

You, O Lord, are our father;

‘Our Redeemer from of old’ is your name.

Why, O Lord, do you make us stray from your ways

and harden our heart, so that we do not fear you?

Turn back for the sake of your servants,

for the sake of the tribes that are your heritage.

O that you would tear open the heavens and come down,

so that the mountains would quake at your presence.

When you did awesome deeds that we did not expect,

you came down, the mountains quaked at your presence.

From ages past no one has heard,

no ear has perceived,

no eye has seen any God besides you,

who works for those who wait for him.

You meet those who gladly do right,

those who remember you in your ways.

But you were angry, and we sinned;

because you hid yourself we transgressed.

We have all become like one who is unclean,

and all our righteous deeds are like a filthy cloth.

We all fade like a leaf,

and our iniquities, like the wind, take us away.

There is no one who calls on your name,

or attempts to take hold of you;

for you have hidden your face from us,

and have delivered us into the hand of our iniquity.

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;

we are the clay, and you are our potter;

we are all the work of your hand.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Ps 79:2-3, 15-16, 18-19 (JB)

R. Lord, make us turn to you, let us see your face

and we shall be saved.

O shepherd of Israel, hear us,

shine forth from your cherubim throne.

O Lord, rouse up your might,

O Lord, come to our help. R.

God of hosts, turn again, we implore,

look down from heaven and see,

Visit this vine and protect it,

the vine your right hand has planted. R.

May your hand be on the man you have chosen,

the man you have given your strength.

And we shall never forsake you again:

give us life that we may call upon your name. R.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (JB)

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

The revelation we looked for, Christ Jesus our Lord.

May God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ send you grace and peace.

I never stop thanking God for all the graces you have received through Jesus Christ. I thank him that you have been enriched in so many ways, especially in your teachers and preachers; the witness to Christ has indeed been strong among you so that you will not be without any of the gifts of the Spirit while you are waiting for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed; and he will keep you steady and without blame until the last day, the day of our Lord Jesus Christ, because God by calling you has joined you to his Son, Jesus Christ; and God is faithful.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Corinthians 1:3-9 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Corinthians

My brothers and sisters:

Grace to you and peace from God our Father

and the Lord Jesus Christ.

I give thanks to my God always for you

because of the grace of God that has been given you in Christ Jesus,

for in every way you have been enriched in him,

in speech and knowledge of every kind-

just as the testimony of Christ has been strengthened among you-

so that you are not lacking in any spiritual gift

as you wait for the revealing of our Lord Jesus Christ.

He will also strengthen you to the end,

so that you may be blameless on the day of our Lord

Jesus Christ.

God is faithful;

by him you were called

into fellowship with his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

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!

Mark 13:33-37 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Mark

Stay awake! You never know when the Lord will come.

Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Be on your guard, stay awake, because you never know when the time will come. It is like a man travelling abroad: he has gone from home, and left his servants in charge, each with his own task; and he has told the doorkeeper to stay awake. So stay awake, because you do not know when the master of the house is coming, evening, midnight, cockcrow, dawn; if he comes unexpectedly, he must not find you asleep. And what I say to you I say to all: Stay awake!’

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Mark 13:31-37 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to Mark

Jesus said to his disciples:

“Heaven and earth will pass away,

but my words will not pass away.

But about that day or hour no one knows,

neither the angels in heaven, nor the Son,

but only the Father.

Beware, keep alert;

for you do not know when the time will come.

“It is like a man going on a journey,

when he leaves home and puts his slaves in charge,

each with a particular task,

and commands the doorkeeper to be on the watch.

Therefore, keep awake-

in the evening, or at midnight,

or at cockcrow, or at dawn,

or else he may find you asleep when he comes suddenly.

“And what I say to you I say to all:

Keep awake.”

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.