MASS READINGS FOR ADVENT THREE – GUADETE SUNDAY
First reading
Zephaniah 3:14-18a
‘The Lord will exult over you with loud singing.’
Sing aloud, O daughter of Sion;
shout, O Israel!
Rejoice and exult with all your heart,
O daughter of Jerusalem!
The Lord has taken away the judgements against you;
he has cleared away your enemies.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst;
you shall never again fear evil.
On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem:
‘Fear not, O Sion;
let not your hands grow weak.
The Lord your God is in your midst,
a mighty one who will save;
he will rejoice over you with gladness;
he will quiet you by his love;
he will exult over you with loud singing.
I will gather those of you who mourn for the festival,
so that you will no longer suffer reproach.’
Responsorial Psalm
Is 12:2-3. 4b-d. 5-6. ℟3
The rejoicing of a redeemed people
Shout aloud and sing praise,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Behold, God is my salvation!
I will trust, and will not be afraid;
for the Lord is my strength and my praise,
and he has been my salvation.
With joy you will draw water
from the springs of salvation.
Shout aloud and sing praise,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Give thanks to the Lord, invoke his name;
make known among the peoples his deeds;
proclaim that his name is exalted.
Shout aloud and sing praise,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Sing to the Lord for he has wrought wonders;
let this be known through all the earth.
Shout aloud and sing praise, you who dwell in Sion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Shout aloud and sing praise,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.
Second reading
Philippians 4:4-7
‘The Lord is at hand.’
Brothers and sisters: Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, rejoice. Let your reasonableness be known to everyone. The Lord is at hand; do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.
Gospel Acclamation
Isaiah 61:1 (Luke 4:18)
Alleluia, alleluia.
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
he has sent me to proclaim good news to the poor.
Alleluia.
Gospel Luke 3:10-18
‘And we, what shall we do?’
At that time: The crowds asked John, ‘What, then, shall we do?’ And he answered them, ‘Whoever has two tunics is to share with him who has none, and whoever has food is to do likewise.’ Tax collectors also came to be baptised and said to him, ‘Teacher, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Collect no more than you are authorized to do.’ Soldiers also asked him, ‘And we, what shall we do?’ And he said to them, ‘Do not extort money from anyone by threats or by false accusation, and be content with your wages.’
As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Christ, John answered them all, saying, ‘I baptise you with water, but he who is mightier than I is coming, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie. He will baptise you with the Holy Spirit and fire. His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his barn, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.’ So with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.
