Second Sunday of Advent

Reading 1 and//usccb.org/bible/baruch/5and1 BAR 5and1-9 Jerusalem, take off your robe of mourning and miseryput on the splendor of glory from God foreverandwrapped in the cloak of justice from God,bear on your head the mitrethat displays the glory of the eternal name.For God will show all the earth your splendorandyou will be named by God foreverthe peace of justice, the glory of God’s worship.Up, Jerusalem! stand upon the heightslook to the east and see your childrengathered from the east and the westat the word of the Holy One,rejoicing that they are remembered by God.Led away on foot by their enemies they left youandbut God will bring them back to youborne aloft in glory as on royal thrones.For God has commandedthat every lofty mountain be made low,and that the age-old depths and gorgesbe filled to level ground,that Israel may advance secure in the glory of God.The forests and every fragrant kind of treehave overshadowed Israel at God’s commandfor God is leading Israel in joyby the light of his glory,with his mercy and justice for company. Responsorial Psalm and//usccb.org/bible/psalms/126and1 PS 126and1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6 R. (3)The Lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy. When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,we were like men dreaming.Then our mouth was filled with laughter,and our tongue with rejoicing. R.The Lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy. Then they said among the nations, The LORD has done great things for them.”The LORD has done great things for uswe are glad indeed. R.The Lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy. Restore our fortunes, O LORD,like the torrents in the southern desert.Those who sow in tearsshall reap rejoicing. R.The Lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy. Although they go forth weeping,carrying the seed to be sown,They shall come back rejoicing,carrying their sheaves. R.The Lord has done great things for us we are filled with joy. Reading 2 and//usccb.org/bible/philippians/1and4 PHIL 1and4-6, 8-11 Brothers and sistersandI pray always with joy in my every prayer for all of you,because of your partnership for the gospelfrom the first day until now.I am confident of this,that the one who began a good work in youwill continue to complete ituntil the day of Christ Jesus.God is my witness,how I long for all of you with the affection of Christ Jesus.And this is my prayerandthat your love may increase ever more and morein knowledge and every kind of perception,to discern what is of value,so that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ,filled with the fruit of righteousnessthat comes through Jesus Christfor the glory and praise of God. Alleluia and//usccb.org/bible/luke/3and4 LK 3and4, 6 R.Alleluia, alleluia.Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his pathsandall flesh shall see the salvation of God.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//usccb.org/bible/luke/3and1 LK 3and1-6 In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar,when Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea,and Herod was tetrarch of Galilee,and his brother Philip tetrarch of the regionof Ituraea and Trachonitis,and Lysanias was tetrarch of Abilene,during the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas,the word of God came to John the son of Zechariah in the desert.John went throughout the whole region of the Jordan,proclaiming a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins,as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet IsaiahandA voice of one crying out in the desertand Prepare the way of the Lord,make straight his paths.Every valley shall be filledand every mountain and hill shall be made low.The winding roads shall be made straight,and the rough ways made smooth,and all flesh shall see the salvation of God.”