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Lectionary Readings for the Birth of John the Baptist, Years A, B, and C
Readings, Responsorial Psalm and Gospel
Reading I, Isa 49, 1-6A Reading from the Book of the Prophet IsaiahBehold I will make you a light to the nations. Hear me, O coastlands, listen, O distant peoples. The Lord called me from birth, from my mother's womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the Lord, my recompense is with my God. For now the Lord has spoken who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of of the Lord, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. The Word of the Lord. Responsorial Psalm, Ps 139, 1-3. 13-14. 14-15. R. v. 14R. I praise you for I am wonderfully made.1. O Lord, you have probed me and you know me; you know me when I sit and when I stand; you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize, with all my ways you are familiar. R. 2. Truly you have formed my inmost being; you knit me in my mother's womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made; wonderful are your works. R. 3. My soul also you knew full well; nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret, when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. R. Reading II, Acts 13, 22-26A Reading from the Acts of the ApostlesChrist's coming was announced beforehand by the preaching of John. Paul said: "God raised up David as their king; on his behalf God testified, 'I have found David son of Jesse to be a man after my own heart who will fulfill my every wish.' "According to his promise, God has brought forth from this man's descendants Jesus, a savior for Israel. John heralded the coming of Jesus by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel. As John's career was coming to an end, he would say, 'What you suppose me to be I am not. Rather, look for the one who comes after me. I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals on his feet.' My brothers, children of the family of Abraham and you others who reverence our God, it was to us that this message of salvation was sent forth." The Word of the Lord. Gospel, Lk 1, 57-66. 80
Alleluia Luke 1, 76
R. Alleluia. You, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways. R. Alleluia. A Reading from the Holy Gospel According to Luke John is his name. When Elizabeth's time for delivery arrived, she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives, upon hearing that the Lord had extended his mercy to her, rejoiced with her. When they assembled for the circumcision of the child on the eighth day, they intended to name him after his father Zechariah. At this his mother intervened, saying, "No, he is to be called John." They pointed out to her, "None of your relatives has this name." Then, using signs, they asked the father what he wished him to be called. He signaled for a writing tablet and wrote the words, "His name is John." This astonished them all. At that moment his mouth was opened and his tongue loosed, and he began to speak in praise of God. Fear descended on all in the neighborhood; throughout the hill country of Judea these happenings began to be recounted to the last detail. All who heard stored these things up in their hearts, saying, "What will this child be?" and, "Was not the hand of the Lord upon him?" The child grew up and matured in spirit. He lived in the desert until the day when he made his public appearance in Israel. The Gospel of the Lord.
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