SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT YEAR A

SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT YEAR A

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.
FIRST READING: Isaiah 11:1-10

A Reading from the Book of Isaiah

A shoot shall sproutforth 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;

buttreating the poor with justice,

andupholding 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.

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,

andyour dwelling shall be a place of glory.

Listen to what the Spirit is saying to the churches.

Thanks be to God!
PSALM 72:1-7, 18-19

Give to your anointed one your judgement, O God,

and your justice to the ruler’s offspring;

thatyour 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!

SECOND READING: Romans 15:4-13

A Readingfrom the Letterto 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.

GOSPEL READING: Matthew 3:1-12

SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT YEAR A

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.

SECOND SUNDAY of ADVENT YEAR A

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 YEAR A

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise be to Thee, Christ.

The Gospel of Christ.

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.