December 23, 2014 Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Reading 1

Thus says the
Lord GODand Lo, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me And
suddenly there will come to the temple the LORD whom you seek, And the
messenger of the covenant whom you desire. Yes, he is coming, says the LORD of
hosts. But who will endure the day of his coming? And who can stand when he
appears? For he is like the refiner’s fire, or like the fuller’s lye. He will
sit refining and purifying silver, and he will purify the sons of Levi, Refining
them like gold or like silver that they may offer due sacrifice to the LORD. Then
the sacrifice of Judah and Jerusalem will please the LORD, as in the days of
old, as in years one by.

Lo, I will
send you Elijah, the prophet, Before the day of the LORD comes, the great and
terrible day, To turn the hearts of the fathers to their children, and the
hearts of the children to their fathers, Lest I come and strike the land with
doom.

Responsorial Psalm

R. Lift up
your heads and see your redemption is near at hand. Your ways, O LORD, make
known to me teach me your paths, Guide me in your truth and teach me, for you
are God my savior.

R. Lift up
your heads and see your redemption is near at hand. Good and upright is the
LORD thus he shows sinners the way. He guides the humble to justice, he
teaches the humble his way.

R. Lift up
your heads and see your redemption is near at hand. All the paths of the LORD
are kindness and constancy toward those who keep his covenant and his decrees. The
friendship of the LORD is with those who fear him, and his covenant, for their
instruction.

R. Lift up
your heads and see your redemption is near at hand.

Alleluia

R. Alleluia,
alleluia.

O King of all
nations and keystone of the Church come and save man, whom you formed from the
dust!

R. Alleluia,
alleluia.

Gospel Lk 1:57-66

When the time
arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors
and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and
they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the
child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother
said in reply, No. He will be called John.”

But they
answered her, There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they
made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a
tablet and wrote, John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his
mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came
upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the
hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, What,
then, will this child be? For surely the hand of the Lord was with him.”