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Lectionary Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent, Year A

Readings, Responsorial Psalm and Gospel

Reading I, Is 35, 1-6. 10

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah
God himself will come and save us.

The desert and the parched land will exult; the steppe will
rejoice and bloom. They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song. The glory of Lebanon will be
given to them, the splendor of Carmel and Sharon; they will
will see the glory of the Lord, the splendor of our God.

Strengthen the hands that are feeble, make firm the knees
that are weak, say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not! Here is your God, he comes with
vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, the ears of
the deaf be cleared; then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the dumb will sing.

Those whom the Lord has ransomed will return and enter
Zion singing, crowned with everlasting joy; they will meet
with joy and gladness, sorrow and mourning will flee.

The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm, Ps 146, 6-7. 8-9. 9-10. R. cf. Is 35, 4

R. Lord, come and save us.

1. The Lord God keeps faith forever,
secures justice for the oppressed
gives food to the hungry.
The Lord sets captives free. R.

2. The Lord gives sight to the blind;
the Lord raises up those that were bowed down.
The Lord loves the just;
the Lord protects strangers. R.

3. The fatherless and the widow he sustains,
but the way of the wicked he thwarts.
The Lord shall reign forever;
your God, O Zion, through all generations. R.

Reading II, Jas 5, 7-10

A Reading from the Letter of James
You also must be patient; do not lost heart,
the Lord's coming will be soon.


Be patient, my brothers, until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer awaits the precious yield of the soil.
He looks forward to it patiently while the soil receives
the winter and the spring rains. You too, must be patient.
Steady your hearts, because the coming of the Lord is at
hand. Do not grumble against one another, my brothers,
lest you be condemned. See! The judge stands at the gate.
As your models in suffering hardships and in patience,
brothers, take the prophets who spoke in the name of the
Lord.

The Word of the Lord.

Gospel, Mt 11, 2-11

Alleluia Is 61, 1
R. Alleluia. The Spirit of the Lord is
upon me; he sent me to bring Good News to the
poor. R. Alleluia.


A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Matthew
Are you the one who is to come, or must we wait
for someone else?


John in prison heard about the works of Christ performed,
and sent a message through his disciples to ask him, "Are
you 'He who is to come' or do we look for another?" In
reply, Jesus said to them: "Go back and report to John
what you hear and see: the blind recover their sight,
cripples walk, lepers are cured, the deaf hear, dead men
are raised to life, and the poor have the good news preached
to them. Blest is the man who finds no stumbling block in
me."

As the messengers set off, Jesus began to speak to the
crowds about John: "What did you go out to the wasteland
to see - a reed swaying in the wind? Tell me, what did
you go out to see - someone luxuriously dressed? Remember,
those who dress luxuriously are to be found in royal palaces.
Why then did you go out - to see a prophet? A prophet indeed,
and something more! It is about this man that Scripture says,

'I send my messenger ahead of you
to prepare your way before you.'

"I solemnly assure you, history has not known a man born of
woman greater than John the Baptizer. Yet the least born
into the kingdom of God is greater than he."

The Gospel of the Lord.


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