Thursday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Reading 1 and//www.usccb.org/bible/2samuel/7and1 2 SM 7and1-5, 8B-12, 14A, 16 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 LORDandShould you build me a house to dwell in? ‘It was I who took you from the pastureand from the care of the flockto 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 IsraelI will plant them so that they may dwell in their placewithout 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 youthat 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 meyour throne shall stand firm forever.’” Responsorial Psalm and//www.usccb.org/bible/psalms/89and2 PS 89and2-3, 4-5, 27 AND 29 R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord. The favors of the LORD I will sing foreverthrough 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 servantandForever will I confirm your posterityand 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. Alleluia R.Alleluia, alleluia.O Radiant Dawn,splendor of eternal light, sun of justiceandcome and shine on those who dwell in darkness and in the shadow of death.R.Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel and//www.usccb.org/bible/luke/1and67 LK 1and67-79 Zechariah his father, filled with the Holy Spirit, prophesied, sayingand Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israelfor he has come to his people and set them free.He has raised up for us a mighty Savior,born of the house of his servant David.Through his prophets he promised of oldthat he would save us from our enemies,from the hands of all who hate us.He promised to show mercy to our fathersand to remember his holy covenant.This was the oath he swore to our father Abrahamandto set us free from the hand of our enemies,free to worship him without fear,holy and righteous in his sightall the days of our life.You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High,for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,to give his people knowledge of salvationby the forgiveness of their sins.In the tender compassion of our Godthe dawn from on high shall break upon us,to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death,and to guide our feet into the way of peace.”