Second Sunday in Advent
(2 Kings 22:8-13; 23:1-3)
A reading from Second Kings:
Hilkiah the high priest said to Shaphan the secretary, “I have found the
Book of the Law in the house of the Lord.” And Hilkiah gave the book to
Shaphan, and he read it. And Shaphan the secretary came to the king, and
reported to the king, “Your servants have emptied out the money that was
found in the house and have delivered it into the hand of the workmen who
have the oversight of the house of the Lord.” Then Shaphan the secretary
told the king, “Hilkiah the priest has given me a book.” And Shaphan read
it before the king.
When the king heard the words of the Book of the Law, he tore his
clothes. And the king commanded Hilkiah the priest, and Ahikam the son
of Shaphan, and Achbor the son of Micaiah, and Shaphan the secretary,
and Asaiah the king's servant, saying, “Go, inquire of the Lord for me, and
for the people, and for all Judah, concerning the words of this book that
has been found. For great is the wrath of the Lord that is kindled against
us, because our fathers have not obeyed the words of this book, to do
according to all that is written concerning us.”…
…Then the king sent, and all the elders of Judah and Jerusalem were
gathered to him. And the king went up to the house of the Lord, and with
him all the men of Judah and all the inhabitants of Jerusalem and the
priests and the prophets, all the people, both small and great. And he read
in their hearing all the words of the Book of the Covenant that had been
found in the house of the Lord. And the king stood by the pillar and made
a covenant before the Lord, to walk after the Lord and to keep his
commandments and his testimonies and his statutes with all his heart and
all his soul, to perform the words of this covenant that were written in this
book. And all the people joined in the covenant.
All
This is the word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.
Second Sunday in Advent
(Romans 15:4-13)
A reading from Romans:
Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction,
that through endurance and through the encouragement of the
Scriptures we might have hope. May the God of endurance and
encouragement grant you to live in such harmony with one another, in
accord with Christ Jesus, that together you may with one voice glorify
the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. Therefore welcome one
another as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory of God.
For I tell you that Christ became a servant to the circumcised to show
God's truthfulness, in order to confirm the promises given to the
patriarchs, and in order that the Gentiles might glorify God for his
mercy.
As it is written, “Therefore I will praise you among the Gentiles, and
sing to your name.”
And again it is said, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with his people.”
And again, “Praise the Lord, all you Gentiles, and let all the peoples
extol him.”
And again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse will come, even he who
arises to rule the Gentiles; in him will the Gentiles hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so
that by the power of the Holy Spirit you may abound in hope.
This is the word of the Lord.
All Thanks be to God.
Second Sunday in Advent
(St Luke 21:25-33)
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke:
Glory to you, O Lord
“There will be signs in sun and moon and stars, and on the
earth distress of nations in perplexity because of the roaring of
the sea and the waves, people fainting with fear and with
foreboding of what is coming on the world. For the powers of
the heavens will be shaken. And then they will see the Son of
Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Now
when these things begin to take place, straighten up and raise
your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.
And Jesus told them a parable:
“Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. As soon as they come
out in leaf, you see for yourselves and know that the summer
is already near. So also, when you see these things taking
place, you know that the kingdom of God is near. Truly, I say
to you, this generation will not pass away until all has taken
place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but my words will
not pass away.This is the Gospel of the Lord
This is the Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, O Christ