Saturday in Advent — Open Word

FIRST READING

Isaiah 40:1-11

Verse 1. “Comfort, comfort My people,” says your God. Verse 2. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her forced labor has been completed; her iniquity has been pardoned. For she has received from the hand of the LORD double for all her sins.” Verse 3. A voice of one calling: “Prepare the way for the LORD in the wilderness; make a straight highway for our God in the desert. Verse 4. Every valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill made low; the uneven ground will become smooth, and the rugged land a plain. Verse 5. And the glory of the LORD will be revealed, and all humanity together will see it.” Verse 6. A voice says, “Cry out!” And I asked, “What should I cry out?” “All flesh is like grass, and all its glory like the flowers of the field. Verse 7. The grass withers and the flowers fall when the breath of the LORD blows on them; indeed, the people are grass. Verse 8. The grass withers and the flowers fall, but the word of our God stands forever.” Verse 9. Go up on a high mountain, O Zion, herald of good news. Raise your voice loudly, O Jerusalem, herald of good news. Lift it up, do not be afraid! Say to the cities of Judah, “Here is your God!” Verse 10. Behold, the Lord GOD comes with might, and His arm establishes His rule. His reward is with Him, and His recompense accompanies Him. Verse 11. He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart. He gently leads the nursing ewes.

PSALM

Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19

Of Solomon. Endow the king with Your justice, O God, and the son of the king with Your righteousness.

May he judge Your people with righteousness and Your afflicted with justice.

May the mountains bring peace to the people, and the hills bring righteousness.

May he vindicate the afflicted among the people; may he save the children of the needy and crush the oppressor.

May they fear him as long as the sun shines, as long as the moon remains, through all generations.

May he be like rain that falls on freshly cut grass, like spring showers that water the earth.

May the righteous flourish in his days and prosperity abound until the moon is no more.

Blessed be the LORD God, the God of Israel, who alone does marvelous deeds.

And blessed be His glorious name forever; may all the earth be filled with His glory. Amen and amen.

SECOND READING

John 1:19-28

Verse 19. And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” Verse 20. He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.” Verse 21. “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” Verse 22. So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” Verse 23. John replied in the words of Isaiah the prophet: “I am a voice of one calling in the wilderness, ‘Make straight the way for the Lord.’” Verse 24. Then the Pharisees who had been sent Verse 25. asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” Verse 26. “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know. Verse 27. He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” Verse 28. All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.