SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT
READINGS
Isaiah 11:1-10
Psalm 72:1-7, 18-19
Romans 15:4-13
Matthew 3:1-12
OPENING PRAYER
O God of justice and of peace,
your realm is at hand;
John the Baptist was its herald,
announcing the coming of your Chosen One.
Give us a spirit of repentance
to make us worthy of his coming,
that in that day justice may flourish,
and conflict give way to the peace you bestow in Christ.
Grant this through the One whose coming is certain,
whose day draws near:
Jesus Christ, your Only-begotten, our Saviour,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God now and forever.
Amen.
PRAYER OVER THE GIFTS
Faithful God,
we thank you for feeding us
with this heavenly banquet.
Strengthen us to heed the prophet's call,
and prepare for the One who comes
to baptize with the Holy Spirit and with fire:
your Son our Saviour Jesus Christ,
in whose name we pray.
Amen.
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SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT
FIRST READING: Isaiah 11:1-10
A Reading from the Book of Isaiah
A shoot shall sprout forth from the stump of Jesse,
from Jesse’s roots a branch shall blossom.
God’s spirit shall rest upon this One—
a spirit of wisdom and understanding,
a spirit of counsel and might,
a spirit of knowledge and the fear of God.
Your delight shall be in the fear of God,
neither judging by what the eyes see,
nor deciding by what the ears hear;
but treating the poor with justice,
and upholding with fairness the meek of the earth.
Tyrants shall be struck down with a single word,
the wicked with but a single breath.
Justice will be the belt around your waist,
and faithfulness shall gird your loins.
Then the wolf shall dwell with the lamb,
the leopard shall lie down with the kid,
the calf and the lion shall graze together,
and a little child shall lead them.
The cow and the bear shall graze,
their young shall lie down together;
and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
The infant shall play over the den of the cobra,
and the weaned child shall put its hand
over the viper’s nest.
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SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT
They will not hurt or destroy anywhere on my holy mountain;
for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of God,
as the waters fill the sea.
On that day the Root of Jesse shall rise up
as a sign to the peoples;
the nations shall flock to you, O God,
and your dwelling shall be a place of glory.
Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Thanks be to God!
YEAR A
SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT
PSALM 72:1-7, 18-19
Give to your anointed one your judgement, O God,
and your justice to the ruler’s offspring;
that your people may be governed with righteousness,
and the poor with justice;
that the mountains may bring prosperity to the people,
and the little hills bring righteousness.
Your anointed one shall defend the oppressed
among the people;
rescue the poor, and crush the oppressor.
May that one live as long as the sun and moon endure,
from one generation to another,
like rain coming down upon the mown field,
like showers that water the earth.
Justice shall flourish in those days;
and peace shall be abundant
until the moon shall be no more.
Blessed be our God, the God of Israel,
who alone does wondrous deeds!
Blessed be God’s glorious name for ever!
May all the earth be filled with God’s glory.
Amen, amen!
YEAR A
SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT
YEAR A
SECOND READING: Romans 15:4-13
A Reading from the Letter to the Romans
Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction,
so that by steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we
might have hope. May the God of steadfastness and encouragement enable
you to live in harmony with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, so
that together you may with one voice glorify the God of our Saviour Jesus
Christ.
Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you for
the glory of God. For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of God’s
chosen people so that the truth of the promises God made to the patriarchs
might be fulfilled, and at the same time in order that the Gentiles might
glorify God for the same mercy we have known.
As it is written, “Therefore I will confess you among the Gentiles, and
sing praises to your name”; and again it says, “Rejoice, O Gentiles, with
God’s people”; and again, “Praise our God, all you Gentiles, and let all the
peoples praise our God”; and again Isaiah says, “The root of Jesse shall
come, the One who rises to rule the Gentiles; in that One the Gentiles shall
hope.”
May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that
you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.
Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.
Thanks be to God.
SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT
YEAR A
GOSPEL READING: Matthew 3:1-12
The Lord be with you.
And with thy spirit.
The Holy Gospel
of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Matthew.
Glory be to Thee, O Lord.
God be with you.
And also with you.
The Good News
of Jesus Christ
according to Matthew.
Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea,
proclaiming, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” This is the
one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said, “The voice of one
crying out in the wilderness: ‘Prepare the way of our God, make the paths
straight’.”
Now John wore clothing of camel's hair with a leather belt around his
waist, and his food was locusts and wild honey. At that time the people of
Jerusalem and all Judea were going out to him, and the entire region along
the Jordan, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing
their sins.
But when John saw many Pharisees and Sadducees coming for
baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee
from the wrath to come? Bear fruit worthy of repentance! Do not presume
to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God
is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. Even now the axe
is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good
fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.
“I baptize you with water for repentance, but one who is more
powerful than I is coming after me; I am not worthy to stoop down and carry
his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing
fork is in his hand, and he will clear his threshing floor and will gather his
wheat into the granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise be to Thee, Christ.
YEAR A
The Gospel of Christ.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.