Third Sunday of Advent

FIRST READING

Zephaniah 3:14-20

Verse 14. Sing for joy, O Daughter of Zion; shout aloud, O Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O Daughter of Jerusalem! Verse 15. The LORD has taken away your punishment; He has turned back your enemy. Israel’s King, the LORD, is among you; no longer will you fear any harm. Verse 16. On that day they will say to Jerusalem: “Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands fall limp. Verse 17. The LORD your God is among you; He is mighty to save. He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.” Verse 18. “I will gather those among you who grieve over the appointed feasts, so that you will no longer suffer reproach. Verse 19. Behold, at that time, I will deal with all who afflict you. I will save the lame and gather the scattered; and I will appoint praise and fame for the disgraced throughout the earth. Verse 20. At that time I will bring you in; yes, at that time I will gather you. For I will give you fame and praise among all the peoples of the earth when I restore your captives before your very eyes,”

PSALM

Isaiah 12:2-6

Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. For the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and He also has become my salvation.”

With joy you will draw water from the springs of salvation,

and on that day you will say: “Give praise to the LORD; proclaim His name! Make His works known among the peoples; declare that His name is exalted.

Sing to the LORD, for He has done glorious things. Let this be known in all the earth.

Cry out and sing, O citizen of Zion, for great among you is the Holy One of Israel.”

SECOND READING

Philippians 4:4-7

Verse 4. Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice! Verse 5. Let your gentleness be apparent to all. The Lord is near. Verse 6. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. Verse 7. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

GOSPEL

Luke 3:7-18

Verse 7. Then John said to the crowds coming out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers, who warned you to flee from the coming wrath? Verse 8. Produce fruit, then, in keeping with repentance. And do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our father.’ For I tell you that out of these stones God can raise up children for Abraham. Verse 9. The axe lies ready at the root of the trees, and every tree that does not produce good fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.” Verse 10. The crowds asked him, “What then should we do?” Verse 11. John replied, “Whoever has two tunics should share with him who has none, and whoever has food should do the same.” Verse 12. Even tax collectors came to be baptized. “Teacher,” they asked, “what should we do?” Verse 13. “Collect no more than you are authorized,” he answered. Verse 14. Then some soldiers asked him, “And what should we do?” “Do not take money by force or false accusation,” he said. “Be content with your wages.” Verse 15. The people were waiting expectantly and were all wondering in their hearts if John could be the Christ. Verse 16. John answered all of them: “I baptize you with water, but One more powerful than I will come, the straps of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. Verse 17. His winnowing fork is in His hand to clear His threshing floor and to gather the wheat into His barn; but He will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.” Verse 18. With these and many other exhortations, John proclaimed the good news to the people.