Readings for
Sunday, December 12, 1999
Third Sunday of Advent

(From the Revised Standard Version English Bible
unless otherwise indicated)

First Reading

1: The Spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me to bring good tidings to the afflicted; he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives, and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
2: to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, and the day of vengeance of our God; to comfort all who mourn;
10: I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, my soul shall exult in my God; for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.
11: For as the earth brings forth its shoots, and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.

46: And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord,
47: and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
48: for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed;
49: for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.
50: And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation.
51: He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts,
52: he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree;
53: he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away.
54: He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,

16: Rejoice always,
17: pray constantly,
18: give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.
19: Do not quench the Spirit,
20: do not despise prophesying,
21: but test everything; hold fast what is good,
22: abstain from every form of evil.
23: May the God of peace himself sanctify you wholly; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

6: There was a man sent from God, whose name was John.
7: He came for testimony, to bear witness to the light, that all might believe through him.
8: He was not the light, but came to bear witness to the light.
19: And this is the testimony of John, when the Jews sent priests and Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?"
20: He confessed, he did not deny, but confessed, "I am not the Christ."
21: And they asked him, "What then? Are you Elijah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" And he answered, "No."
22: They said to him then, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?"
23: He said, "I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness, 'Make straight the way of the Lord,' as the prophet Isaiah said."
24: Now they had been sent from the Pharisees.
25: They asked him, "Then why are you baptizing, if you are neither the Christ, nor Elijah, nor the prophet?"
26: John answered them, "I baptize with water; but among you stands one whom you do not know,
27: even he who comes after me, the thong of whose sandal I am not worthy to untie."
28: This took place in Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.