Third Sunday of Advent

1Verse 1. The Spirit of the Lord GOD is on Me, because the LORD has anointed Me to preach good news to the poor. He has sent Me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and freedom to the prisoners, 2Verse 2. to proclaim the year of the LORD’s favor and the day of our God’s vengeance, to comfort all who mourn, 3Verse 3. to console the mourners in Zion — to give them a crown of beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for a spirit of despair. So they will be called oaks of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that He may be glorified. 4Verse 4. They will rebuild the ancient ruins; they will restore the places long devastated; they will renew the ruined cities, the desolations of many generations. 8Verse 8. For I, the LORD, love justice; I hate robbery and iniquity; in My faithfulness I will give them their recompense and make an everlasting covenant with them. 9Verse 9. Their descendants will be known among the nations, and their offspring among the peoples. All who see them will acknowledge that they are a people the LORD has blessed. 10Verse 10. I will rejoice greatly in the LORD, my soul will exult in my God; for He has clothed me with garments of salvation and wrapped me in a robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom wears a priestly headdress, as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 11Verse 11. For as the earth brings forth its growth, and as a garden enables seed to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

16Verse 16. Rejoice at all times. 17Verse 17. Pray without ceasing. 18Verse 18. Give thanks in every circumstance, for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus. 19Verse 19. Do not extinguish the Spirit. 20Verse 20. Do not treat prophecies with contempt, 21Verse 21. but test all things. Hold fast to what is good. 22Verse 22. Abstain from every form of evil. 23Verse 23. Now may the God of peace Himself sanctify you completely, and may your entire spirit, soul, and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24Verse 24. The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.

6Verse 6. There came a man who was sent from God. His name was John. 7Verse 7. He came as a witness to testify about the Light, so that through him everyone might believe. 8Verse 8. He himself was not the Light, but he came to testify about the Light. 19Verse 19. And this was John’s testimony when the Jews of Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to ask him, “Who are you?” 20Verse 20. He did not refuse to confess, but openly declared, “I am not the Christ.” 21Verse 21. “Then who are you?” they inquired. “Are you Elijah?” He said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22Verse 22. So they said to him, “Who are you? We need an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?” 23Verse 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.’” 24Verse 24. Then the Pharisees who had been sent 25Verse 25. asked him, “Why then do you baptize, if you are not the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the Prophet?” 26Verse 26. “I baptize with water,” John replied, “but among you stands One you do not know. 27Verse 27. He is the One who comes after me, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.” 28Verse 28. All this happened at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.