December 21, 2014 Fourth Sunday of Advent

Reading 1

When King
David was settled in his palace, and the LORD had given him rest from his
enemies on every side, he said to Nathan the prophet, Here I am living in a
house of cedar, while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”

Nathan
answered the king, Go, do whatever you have in mind, for the LORD is with
you.”

But that night
the LORD spoke to Nathan and saidand

Go, tell my
servant David, ‘Thus says the LORDand

Should you
build me a house to dwell in?’

It was I who
took you from the pasture and from the care of the flock to be commander of my
people Israel.

I have been
with you wherever you went, and I have destroyed all your enemies before you. And
I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth. I will fix a place for
my people Israel I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place without
further disturbance. Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they
did of old, since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel. I
will give you rest from all your enemies.

The LORD also
reveals to you that he will establish a house for you. And when your time comes
and you rest with your ancestors, I will raise up your heir after you, sprung
from your loins, and I will make his kingdom firm. I will be a father to him, and
he shall be a son to me. Your house and your kingdom shall endure forever
before me your throne shall stand firm forever.”

Responsorial Psalm

R. For ever I
will sing the goodness of the Lord.

The promises
of the LORD I will sing forever through all generations my mouth shall
proclaim your faithfulness. For you have said, My kindness is established
forever” in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.

R/ For ever I
will sing the goodness of the Lord.

I have made
a covenant with my chosen one, I have sworn to David my servantand Forever will I
confirm your posterity and establish your throne for all generations.”

R/ For ever I
will sing the goodness of the Lord.

He shall say
of me, ‘You are my father, my God, the Rock, my savior.’ Forever I will
maintain my kindness toward him, and my covenant with him stands firm.”

R/ For ever I
will sing the goodness of the Lord.

Reading 2

Brothers and
sistersand To him who can strengthen you, according to my gospel and the
proclamation of Jesus Christ, according to the revelation of the mystery kept
secret for long ages but now manifested through the prophetic writings and, according
to the command of the eternal God, made known to all nations to bring about the
obedience of faith, to the only wise God, through Jesus Christ be glory forever
and ever. Amen.

Gospel Lk 1:26-38

The angel
Gabriel was sent from God to a town of Galilee called Nazareth, to a virgin
betrothed to a man named Joseph, of the house of David, and the virgin’s name
was Mary. And coming to her, he said, Hail, full of grace! The Lord is with
you.” But she was greatly troubled at what was said and pondered what sort of
greeting this might be. Then the angel said to her, Do not be afraid, Mary, for
you have found favor with God.

Behold, you
will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name him Jesus. He
will be great and will be called Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will
give him the throne of David his father, and he will rule over the house of
Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” But Mary said to the
angel, How can this be, since I have no relations with a man?” And the angel
said to her in reply, The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you. Therefore the child to be born will be called
holy, the Son of God. And behold, Elizabeth, your relative, has also conceived
a son in her old age, and this is the sixth month for her who was called
barren for nothing will be impossible for God.”

Mary said, Behold,
I am the handmaid of the Lord. May it be done to me according to your word.” Then
the angel departed from her.