2015 Dec 13 SUN: 3rd Sunday of Advent
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A reading from the book of the prophet Zephaniah
Zep 3: 14-18a
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[14] Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
[15] The LORD has taken away the judgments against you,
he has cast out your enemies.
The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst;
you shall fear evil no more.
[16] On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
"Do not fear, O Zion;
let not your hands grow weak.
[17] The LORD, your God, is in your midst,
a warrior who gives victory;
he will rejoice over you with gladness,
he will renew you in his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing
[18] as on a day of festival.
The Word of the Lord
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From Isaiah
Is 12: 2-3. 4. 5-6 (6)
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Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
[2] "Behold, God is my salvation;
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song,
and he has become my salvation."
[3] With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation.
Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
[4] And you will say in that day: "Give thanks to the LORD,
call upon his name;
make known his deeds among the nations,
proclaim that his name is exalted.
Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
[5] "Sing praises to the LORD, for he has done gloriously;
let this be known in all the earth.
[6] Shout, and sing for joy, O inhabitant of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is the great and Holy One of Israel.
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A reading from the letter of St. Paul to the Philippians
Phil 4: 4-7
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Brothers and sisters:
[4] Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
[5] Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand.
[6] Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
[7] And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord
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A reading from the holy gospel according to Luke
Lk 3: 10-18
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[10] The multitudes asked John the Baptist, "What then shall we do?"
[11] And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise."
[12] Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?"
[13] And he said to them, "Collect no more than is appointed you."
[14] Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages."
[15] As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ,
[16] John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire.
[17] His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire."
[18] So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.
The Gospel of the Lord
