Third Sunday of Advent

1Verse 1. The wilderness and the dry land will be glad; the desert will rejoice and blossom like a rose. 2Verse 2. It will bloom profusely and rejoice with joy and singing. The glory of Lebanon will be given to it, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon. They will see the glory of the LORD, the splendor of our God. 3Verse 3. Strengthen the limp hands and steady the feeble knees! 4Verse 4. Say to those with anxious hearts: “Be strong, do not fear! Behold, your God will come with vengeance. With divine retribution He will come to save you.” 5Verse 5. Then the eyes of the blind will be opened and the ears of the deaf unstopped. 6Verse 6. Then the lame will leap like a deer and the mute tongue will shout for joy. For waters will gush forth in the wilderness, and streams in the desert. 7Verse 7. The parched ground will become a pool, the thirsty land springs of water. In the haunt where jackals once lay, there will be grass and reeds and papyrus. 8Verse 8. And there will be a highway called the Way of Holiness. The unclean will not travel it — only those who walk in the Way — and fools will not stray onto it. 9Verse 9. No lion will be there, and no vicious beast will go up on it. Such will not be found there, but the redeemed will walk upon it. 10Verse 10. So the redeemed of the LORD will return and enter Zion with singing, crowned with everlasting joy. Gladness and joy will overtake them, and sorrow and sighing will flee.

7Verse 7. Be patient, then, brothers, until the Lord’s coming. See how the farmer awaits the precious fruit of the soil — how patient he is for the fall and spring rains. 8Verse 8. You, too, be patient and strengthen your hearts, because the Lord’s coming is near. 9Verse 9. Do not complain about one another, brothers, so that you will not be judged. Look, the Judge is standing at the door! 10Verse 10. Brothers, as an example of patience in affliction, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

2Verse 2. Meanwhile John heard in prison about the works of Christ, and he sent his disciples 3Verse 3. to ask Him, “Are You the One who was to come, or should we look for someone else?” 4Verse 4. Jesus replied, “Go back and report to John what you hear and see: 5Verse 5. The blind receive sight, the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the good news is preached to the poor. 6Verse 6. Blessed is the one who does not fall away on account of Me. ” 7Verse 7. As John’s disciples were leaving, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John: “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed swaying in the wind? 8Verse 8. Otherwise, what did you go out to see? A man dressed in fine clothes? Look, those who wear fine clothing are found in kings’ palaces. 9Verse 9. What then did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10Verse 10. This is the one about whom it is written: ‘Behold, I will send My messenger ahead of You, who will prepare Your way before You.’ 11Verse 11. Truly I tell you, among those born of women there has risen no one greater than John the Baptist. Yet even the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.