Fourth Sunday of Advent

Collect
We beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son Jesus Christ cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen

First Lesson: Micah 5:2-4
"But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah,
though you are small among the clans of Judah,
out of you will come for me
one who will be ruler over Israel,
whose origins are from of old,
from ancient times."

Therefore Israel will be abandoned
until the time when she who is in labor gives birth
and the rest of his brothers return
to join the Israelites.

He will stand and shepherd his flock
in the strength of the LORD,
in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God.
And they will live securely, for then his greatness
will reach to the ends of the earth.
And he will be their peace.

When the Assyrian invades our land
and marches through our fortresses,
we will raise against him seven shepherds,
even eight leaders of men.

Second Lesson: Hebrews 10:5-10
Therefore, when Christ came into the world, he said: "Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me; with burnt offerings and sin offerings you were not pleased.

Then I said, 'Here I am--it is written about me in the scroll-- I have come to do your will, O God.' "

First he said, "Sacrifices and offerings, burnt offerings and sin offerings you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them" (although the law required them to be made). Then he said, "Here I am, I have come to do your will." He sets aside the first to establish the second. And by that will, we have been made holy through the sacrifice of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Psalm: 80

1. Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
   shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2. In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
   stir up your strength and come to help us.
3. Restore us, O God of hosts; *
   show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
4. O LORD God of hosts, *
   how long will you be angered
   despite the prayers of your people?
5. You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
   you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6. You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
   and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7. Restore us, O God of hosts; *
   show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
8. You have brought a vine out of Egypt; *
   you cast out the nations and planted it.
9. You prepared the ground for it; *
   it took root and filled the land.
10. The mountains were covered by its shadow *
    and the towering cedar trees by its boughs.
11. You stretched out its tendrils to the Sea *
    and its branches to the River.
12. Why have you broken down its wall, *
    so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?
13. The wild boar of the forest has ravaged it, *
    and the beasts of the field have grazed upon it.
14. Turn now, O God of hosts, look down from heaven;
    behold and tend this vine; *
    preserve what your right hand has planted.
15. They burn it with fire like rubbish; *
    at the rebuke of your countenance let them perish.
16. Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
    the son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
17. And so will we never turn away from you; *
    give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
18. Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; *
    show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

Gospel: Luke 1:39-49(50-56)
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to her will be accomplished!"

And Mary said:

"My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me-- holy is his name.

His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation. He has performed mighty deeds with his arm; he has scattered those who are proud in their inmost thoughts. He has brought down rulers from their thrones but has lifted up the humble. He has filled the hungry with good things but has sent the rich away empty. He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful to Abraham and his descendants forever, even as he said to our fathers."

Mary stayed with Elizabeth for about three months and then returned home.

Collect & Psalm from the Book of Common Prayer
Other excerpts from the New International Bible

Sts. Vidicon & Isidore