Fourth Sunday of Advent

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/micah/5and1 MI 5and1-4A Thus says the LORDandYou, Bethlehem-Ephrathahtoo small to be among the clans of Judah,from you shall come forth for meone who is to be ruler in Israelwhose origin is from of old,from ancient times.Therefore the Lord will give them up, until the timewhen she who is to give birth has borne,and the rest of his kindred shall returnto the children of Israel.He shall stand firm and shepherd his flockby the strength of the LORD,in the majestic name of the LORD, his Godand they shall remain, for now his greatnessshall reach to the ends of the earthhe shall be peace. Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/80and2 PS 80and2-3, 15-16, 18-19 R. (4)Lord, make us turn to you let us see your face and we shall be saved. O shepherd of Israel, hearken,from your throne upon the cherubim, shine forth.Rouse your power,and come to save us. R.Lord, make us turn to you let us see your face and we shall be saved. Once again, O LORD of hosts,look down from heaven, and seetake care of this vine,and protect what your right hand has plantedthe son of man whom you yourself made strong. R.Lord, make us turn to you let us see your face and we shall be saved. May your help be with the man of your right hand,with the son of man whom you yourself made strong.Then we will no more withdraw from yougive us new life, and we will call upon your name. R.Lord, make us turn to you let us see your face and we shall be saved. Reading 2 and//www.usccb.org/bible/hebrews/10and5 HEB 10and5-10 Brothers and sistersandWhen Christ came into the world, he saidand Sacrifice and offering you did not desire,but a body you prepared for mein holocausts and sin offerings you took no delight.Then I said, ‘As is written of me in the scroll,behold, I come to do your will, O God.’ First he says, Sacrifices and offerings,holocausts and sin offerings,you neither desired nor delighted in.”These are offered according to the law.Then he says, Behold, I come to do your will.”He takes away the first to establish the second.By this will,” we have been consecratedthrough the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. Alleluia and//www.usccb.org/bible/luke/1:38 LK 1:38 R.Alleluia, alleluia.Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord.May it be done to me according to your word.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/luke/1:39 LK 1:39-45 Mary set outand traveled to the hill country in hasteto a town of Judah,where she entered the house of Zechariahand greeted Elizabeth.When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting,the infant leaped in her womb,and Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit,cried out in a loud voice and said, Blessed are you among women,and blessed is the fruit of your womb.And how does this happen to me,that the mother of my Lord should come to me?For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears,the infant in my womb leaped for joy.Blessed are you who believedthat what was spoken to you by the Lordwould be fulfilled.”