Readings and Psalm for week beginning December 8

Readings and Psalm

Isaiah 11:1-10 - From David’s line, a ruler bringing justice and peace
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19 - May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace. (Ps. 72:7)
Romans 15:4-13 - Live in harmony, welcoming one another
Matthew 3:1-12 - A voice cries: Prepare the way of the Lord
 
First Reading: Isaiah 11:1-10
 
 1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
  and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
 2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
  the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
  the spirit of counsel and might,
  the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
 3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.
 He shall not judge by what his eyes see,
  or decide by what his ears hear;
 4 but with righteousness he shall judge the poor,
  and decide with equity for the meek of the earth;
 he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
  and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
 5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist,
  and faithfulness the belt around his loins.
 6 The wolf shall live with the lamb,
  the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
 the calf and the lion and the fatling together,
  and a little child shall lead them.
 7 The cow and the bear shall graze,
  their young shall lie down together;
  and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
 8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
  and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
 9 They will not hurt or destroy
  on all my holy mountain;
 for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
  as the waters cover the sea.
  10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

Psalm: Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
 
 1 Give the king your justice, O God,
  and your righteousness to the king’s son;
 2 that he may rule your people righteously
  and the poor with justice;
 3 that the mountains may bring prosperity to the people,
  and the hills, in righteousness.
 4 Let him defend the needy among the people,
  rescue the poor, and crush the oppressor. 
 5 May he live as long as the sun and moon endure,
  from one generation to another.
 6 Let him come down like rain upon the mown field,
  like showers that water the earth.
 7 In his time may the righteous flourish;
  and let there be an abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
 18 Blessed are you, Lord God, the God of Israel;
  you alone do wondrous deeds!
 19 And blessed be your glorious name forever,
  and may all the earth be filled with your glory. Amen. Amen. 

Second Reading: Romans 15:4-13
 
4 Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope. 
5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.
7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God. 
8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the patriarchs, 9 and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and sing praises to your name”;
10 and again he says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people”;
11 and again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples praise him”;
12 and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall come, the one who rises to rule the Gentiles;in him the Gentiles shall hope.”
13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

Gospel: Matthew 3:1-12
 
1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea, proclaiming, 2“Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 
3 This is the one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight.’ ”
4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. 
5 Then the people of Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and all the region along the Jordan, 6and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins.
7 But when he saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? 
8 Bear fruit worthy of repentance. 
9 Do not presume to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. 
10 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
11“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 
12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

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                             Readings and Psalm for week beginning December 15

​Readings and Psalm

• Isaiah 35:1-10 - The desert blooms as God’s people return from exile
• Psalm 146:5-10 - The Lord lifts up those who are bowed down. (Ps. 146:8)
• Luke 1:46b-55 (alternate) - My spirit rejoices in God my Savior. (Lk. 1:47)
• James 5:7-10 - Patience until the coming of the Lord
• Matthew 11:2-11 - The forerunner of Christ

First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10
 
 1The wilderness and the dry land shall be glad,
  the desert shall rejoice and blossom;
 like the crocus 2 it shall blossom abundantly,
  and rejoice with joy and singing.
 The glory of Lebanon shall be given to it,
  the majesty of Carmel and Sharon.
 They shall see the glory of the Lord,
  the majesty of our God.
 3 Strengthen the weak hands,
  and make firm the feeble knees.
 4 Say to those who are of a fearful heart,
  “Be strong, do not fear!
 Here is your God.
  He will come with vengeance,
 with terrible recompense.
  He will come and save you.”
 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened,
  and the ears of the deaf unstopped;
 6 then the lame shall leap like a deer,
  and the tongue of the speechless sing for joy.
 For waters shall break forth in the wilderness,
  and streams in the desert;
 7 the burning sand shall become a pool,
  and the thirsty ground springs of water;
 the haunt of jackals shall become a swamp,
  the grass shall become reeds and rushes.
 8A highway shall be there,
  and it shall be called the Holy Way;
 the unclean shall not travel on it,
  but it shall be for God’s people;
  no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray.
 9No lion shall be there,
  nor shall any ravenous beast come up on it;
 they shall not be found there,
  but the redeemed shall walk there.
 10And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
  and come to Zion with singing;
 everlasting joy shall be upon their heads;
  they shall obtain joy and gladness,
  and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

Psalm: Psalm 146:5-10
 
 5 Happy are they who have the God of Jacob for their help,
  whose hope is in the Lord their God;
 6 who made heaven and earth, the seas, and all that is in them;
  who keeps promises forever;
 7 who gives justice to those who are oppressed, and food to those who hunger.
  The Lord sets the captive free.
 8 The Lord opens the eyes of the blind; the Lord lifts up those who are bowed down; the Lord loves the righteous. 
 9 The Lord cares for the stranger;
  the Lord sustains the orphan and widow, but frustrates the way of the wicked.
 10 The Lord shall reign forever,
  your God, O Zion, throughout all generations. Hallelujah! 

Psalm (alternate): Luke 1:46b-55
 
 46b My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
  47 my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
 48 for you, Lord, have looked with favor on your lowly servant.
  From this day all generations will call me blessed:
 49 you, the Almighty, have done great things for me
  and holy is your name.
 50 You have mercy on those who fear you,
  from generation to generation. 
 51 You have shown strength with your arm
  and scattered the proud in their conceit,
 52 casting down the mighty from their thrones
  and lifting up the lowly.
 53You have filled the hungry with good things
  and sent the rich away empty.
 54You have come to the aid of your servant Israel,
  to remember the promise of mercy,
 55the promise made to our forbears,
  to Abraham and his children forever. 

Second Reading: James 5:7-10
 
7 Be patient, therefore, beloved, until the coming of the Lord. The farmer waits for the precious crop from the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains. 
8 You also must be patient. Strengthen your hearts, for the coming of the Lord is near. 
9 Beloved, do not grumble against one another, so that you may not be judged. See, the Judge is standing at the doors! 
10 As an example of suffering and patience, beloved, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Gospel: Matthew 11:2-11
 
2 When John heard in prison what the Messiah was doing, he sent word by his disciples 3 and said to him, “Are you the one who is to come, or are we to wait for another?” 
4 Jesus answered them, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 the blind receive their sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have good news brought to them. 
6 And blessed is anyone who takes no offense at me.”
7 As they went away, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to look at? A reed shaken by the wind? 8 What then did you go out to see? Someone dressed in soft robes? Look, those who wear soft robes are in royal palaces. 
9 What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 
10 This is the one about whom it is written,
 ‘See, I am sending my messenger ahead of you,
  who will prepare your way before you.’
11 Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.”