Friday of the Third Week of Advent

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/jeremiah/23:5 JER 23:5-8 Behold, the days are coming, says the LORD,when I will raise up a righteous shoot to DavidAs king he shall reign and govern wisely,he shall do what is just and right in the land.In his days Judah shall be saved,Israel shall dwell in security.This is the name they give himand The LORD our justice.”Therefore, the days will come, says the LORD,when they shall no longer say, As the LORD lives,who brought the children of Israel out of the land of Egypt”but rather, As the LORD lives,who brought the descendants of the house of Israelup from the land of the north”–and from all the lands to which I banished themthey shall again live on their own land. Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/72and1 PS 72and1-2, 12-13, 18-19 R.Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. O God, with your judgment endow the king,and with your justice, the king’s sonHe shall govern your people with justiceand your afflicted ones with judgment. R.Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.He shall have pity for the lowly and the poorthe lives of the poor he shall save. R.Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Blessed be the LORD, the God of Israel,who alone does wondrous deeds.And blessed forever be his glorious namemay the whole earth be filled with his glory. R.Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever. Alleluia R.Alleluia, alleluia.O Leader of the House of Israel,giver of the Law to Moses on Sinaiandcome to rescue us with your mighty power!R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/matthew/1:18 MT 1:18-25 This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,but before they lived together,she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,yet unwilling to expose her to shame,decided to divorce her quietly.Such was his intention when, behold,the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, Joseph, son of David,do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.For it is through the Holy Spiritthat this child has been conceived in her.She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,because he will save his people from their sins.”All this took place to fulfillwhat the Lord had said through the prophetandBehold, the virgin shall be with child and bear a son,and they shall name him Emmanuel,which means God is with us.”When Joseph awoke,he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded himand took his wife into his home.He had no relations with her until she bore a son,and he named him Jesus.