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

Readings, Responsorial Psalm and Gospel

Reading I, Zep 3, 14-18

A Reading from the Book of the Prophet Zephaniah
The Lord will exult you, over you, he will renew you
by his love.

Shout for joy, O daughter Zion! sing joyfully, O Israel!
Be glad and exult with all your heart, O daughter
Jerusalem! The Lord has removed the judgment against
you, he has turned away your enemies; the King of Israel,
the Lord, is in your midst, you have no further misfortune
to fear. On that day, it shall be said to Jerusalem: fear not,
O Zion, be not discouraged! The Lord, your God, is in your
midst, a mighty savior; he will rejoice over you with
gladness, and renew you in his love. He will sing joyfully
because of you, as one sings at festivals.
The Word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm, Is 12, 2-3. 4. 5-6. R. v. 6

R. Cry out with joy and gladness: for among you is
the great and Holy One of Israel.

1. God indeed is my savior;
I am confident and unafraid.
My strength and my courage is the Lord,
and he has been my savior.
With joy you will draw water
at the fountain of salvation. R.

2. Give thanks to the Lord, acclaim his name;
among the nations make known his deeds,
proclaim how exalted is his name. R.

3. Sing praise to the Lord for his glorious achievement;
let this be known throughout all the earth.
Shout with exultation, O city of Zion,
for great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel! R.

Reading II, Phil 4, 4-7

A Reading from the Letter of Paul to the Philippians
The Lord is near.

Rejoice in the Lord always! I say it again. Rejoice!
Everyone should see how unselfish you are. The Lord
himself is near. Dismiss all anxiety from your minds.
Present your needs to God in every form of prayer and
in petitions full of gratitude. Then God's own peace,
which is beyond all understanding, will stand guard
over your hearts and minds, in Christ Jesus.
The Word of the Lord.

Gospel, Lk 3, 10-18

Alleluia Is 61, 1 (cited in Lk 4, 18)
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 Luke
What, then, must we do?

The crowds asked John, "What ought we to do?" In reply
he said, "Let the man with two coats give to him who
has none. The man who has food should do the same."
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said
to him, "Teacher, what are we to do?" He answered them,
"Exact nothing over and above your fixed amount." Soldiers
likewise asked him, "What about us?" He told them, "Do
not bully anyone. Denounce no one falsely. Be content
with your pay." The people were full of anticipation,
wondering in their hearts whether John might be the
Messiah. John answered them all by saying: "I am
baptizing you in water, but there is one to come who
is mightier than I. I am not fit to loosen his sandal
strap. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and in
fire. His winnowing-fan is in his hand to clear his
threshing floor and gather the wheat into his granary,
but the chaff he will burn in unquenchable fire." Using
exhortations of this sort, he preached the good news
to the people.
This is the gospel of the Lord.

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