Isa 54:1-10; Luke 7

The 3^rd Week of Advent.
Readings and Antiphons on p. 81 of the Daily Missal.

Entrance Antiphon.
You, O Lord, are close, and all your ways are truth. From of old, I have known your decrees, for you are eternal.

First Reading: Isaiah 54:1-10

A reading from the Book of Isaiah.

“Sing, O barren one, who did not bear;
break forth into singing and cry aloud,
you who have not had labour pains!
For the children of the desolate one will be more
than the children of her that is married,
says the Lord.

Enlarge the place of your tent,
and let the curtains of your habitations be stretched out;
hold not back, lengthen your cords and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread abroad to the right and to the left,
and your descendants will possess the nations
and will people the desolate cities.

“Fear not, for you will not be ashamed;
be not confounded, for you will not be put to shame;
for you will forget the shame of your youth,
and the reproach of your widowhood
you will remember no more.
For your Maker is your husband,
the Lord of hosts is his name;
and the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer,
the God of the whole earth he is called.
For the Lord has called you
like a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit,
like a wife of youth when she is cast off,
says your God.
For a brief moment I forsook you,
but with great compassion, I will gather you.
In overflowing wrath, for a moment
I hid my face from you,
but with everlasting mercy, I will have compassion on you,
says the Lord, your Redeemer.

“For this is like the days of Noah to me:
as I swore that the waters of Noah
should no more go over the earth,
so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you
and will not rebuke you.
For the mountains may depart
and the hills be removed,
but my mercy shall not depart from you,
and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,
says the Lord, who has compassion on you.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 30:2 & 4.5-6.11-12a & 13b (R. 2a)

Let us now pray the Responsorial Psalm:

R/. I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.

I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up,
and have not let my enemies rejoice over me.
O Lord, you have lifted up my soul from the grave,
restored me to life from those who sink into the pit.

Sing psalms to the Lord, you faithful ones;
give thanks to his holy name.
His anger lasts a moment; his favour all through life.
At night there are tears, but dawn brings joy.

Hear, O Lord, and have mercy on me;
be my helper, O Lord.
You have changed my mourning into dancing,
O Lord my God, I will thank you forever.

R/. I will extol you, Lord, for you have raised me up.

Please stand for the Gospel.

Alleluia. Alleluia.
Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight;
all flesh shall see the salvation of God.
Alleluia.

Gospel: Luke 7:24-30

A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Luke.

When the messengers of John had gone,
he began to speak to the crowds concerning John:
“What did you go out into the wilderness to behold?
A reed shaken by the wind?
What then did you go out to see?
A man clothed in soft raiment?
Behold, those who are gorgeously apparelled and live in luxury
are in kings’ courts.
What then did you go out to see?
A prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is he of whom it is written,
‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face,
who shall prepare your way before you.’
I tell you, among those born of women
none is greater than John,
yet he who is least in the kingdom of God
is greater than he.”
(When they heard this
all the people and the tax collectors justified God,
having been baptized with the baptism of John;
but the Pharisees and the lawyers
rejected the purpose of God for themselves,
not having been baptized by him.)

The Gospel of the Lord.

Communion Antiphon.
Let us live justly and devoutly in this age, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of the glory of our great God.