Third Sunday of Advent

Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 (JB)

A reading from the prophet Isaiah

I exult for joy in the Lord.

The spirit of the Lord has been given to me,

for the Lord has anointed me.

He has sent me to bring good news to the poor,

to bind up hearts that are broken;

to proclaim liberty to captives,

freedom to those in prison;

to proclaim a year of favour from the Lord.

‘I exult for joy in the Lord,

my soul rejoices in my God,

for he has clothed me in the garments of salvation,

he has wrapped me in the cloak of integrity,

like a bridegroom wearing his wreath,

like a bride adorned in her jewels.

‘For as the earth makes fresh things grow,

as a garden makes seeds spring up,

so will the Lord make both integrity and praise

spring up in the sight of the nations.’

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11 (NRSV)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah

The servant of the Lord said:

“The spirit of the Lord God is upon me,

because the Lord has anointed me;

he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed,

to bind up the brokenhearted,

to proclaim liberty to the captives,

and release to the prisoners;

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favour.

“I will greatly rejoice in the Lord,

my whole being shall exult in my God;

for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation,

he has covered me with the robe of righteousness,

as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland,

and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.

“For as the earth brings forth its shoots,

and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up,

so the Lord God will cause righteousness and praise

to spring up before all the nations.”

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Luke 1:46-50, 53-54 (JB)

R. My soul rejoices in my God.

My soul glorifies the Lord,

my spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

He looks on his servant in her nothingness;

henceforth all ages will call me blessed. R.

The Almighty works marvels for me.

Holy his name!

His mercy is from age to age,

on those who fear him. R.

He fills the starving with good things,

sends the rich away empty.

He protects Israel, his servant,

remembering his mercy. R.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (JB)

A reading from first letter of St Paul to the Thessalonians

May you all be kept blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Be happy at all times; pray constantly; and for all things give thanks to God, because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.

Never try to suppress the Spirit or treat the gift of prophecy with contempt; think before you do anything – hold on to what is good and avoid every form of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfect and holy; and may you all be kept safe and blameless, spirit, soul and body, for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. God has called you and he will not fail you.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24 (NRSV)

A reading from the first letter of Paul to the Thessalonians

My brothers and sisters,

rejoice always, pray without ceasing,

give thanks in all circumstances;

for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.

Do not quench the Spirit.

Do not despise the words of prophets, but test everything;

hold fast to what is good;

abstain from every form of evil.

May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely;

and may your spirit and soul and body

be kept sound and blameless

at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this.

The word of the Lord.

Thanks be to God.

Isaiah 61:1 (Luke 4:18) (JB)

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me;

he sent me to bring Good News to the poor.

Alleluia!

Luke 4:18 (NRSV)

Alleluia, alleluia!

The Spirit of the Lord now upon me;

has sent me to bring Good News to the poor.

Alleluia!

John 1:6-8, 19-28 (JB)

A reading from the holy Gospel according to John

There stands among you, unknown to you, the one who is coming after me.

A man came, sent by God.

His name was John.

He came as a witness,

as a witness to speak for the light,

so that everyone might believe through him.

He was not the light,

only a witness to speak for the light.

This is how John appeared as a witness. When the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, ‘Who are you?’ he not only declared, but he declared quite openly, ‘I am not the Christ.’ ‘Well then,’ they asked ‘are you Elijah?’ ‘I am not’ he said. ‘Are you the Prophet?’ He answered, ‘No.’ So they said to him, ‘Who are you? We must take back an answer to those who sent us. What have you to say about yourself?’ So John said, ‘I am, as Isaiah prophesied:

a voice that cries in the wilderness:

Make a straight way for the Lord.’

Now these men had been sent by the Pharisees, and they put this further question to him, ‘Why are you baptising if you are not the Christ, and not Elijah, and not the prophet?’ John replied, ‘I baptise with water; but there stands among you unknown to you the one who is coming after me; and I am not fit to undo his sandal-strap.’ This happened at Bethany, on the far side of the Jordan, where John was baptising.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

John 1:6-8, 19-28 (NRSV)

A reading from the holy gospel according to John

There was a man sent from God,

whose name was John.

He came as a witness to testify to the light,

so that all might believe through him.

He himself was not the light,

but he came to testify to the light.

This is the testimony given by John

when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem

to ask him, “Who are you?”

He confessed and did not deny it,

but confessed, “I am not the Messiah.”

And they asked him,

“What then? Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

Then they said to him, “Who are you?

Let us have an answer for those who sent us.

What do you say about yourself?”

He said,

“I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness,

‘Make straight the way of the Lord,”‘

as the prophet Isaiah said.

Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.

They asked him, “Why then are you baptizing

if you are neither the Messiah, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

John answered them, “I baptize with water.

Among you stands one whom you do not know,

the one who is coming after me;

I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal.”

This took place in Bethany across the Jordan

where John was baptizing.

The Gospel of the Lord.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.