1st Sunday of Advent

63:16For you are our Father, and Abraham has not known us, and Israel has been ignorant of us. You are our Father, O Lord our Redeemer. Your name is beyond all ages. 17Why have you allowed us to stray from your ways, O Lord? Why have you hardened our heart, so that we do not fear you? Return, for the sake of your servants, the tribes of your inheritance.

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19We have become as we were in the beginning, when you did not rule over us, and when we were not called by your name.

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64:3When you will perform miracles, we will not be able to withstand them. You descended, and the mountains flowed away before your presence. 4From ages past, they have not heard it, and they have not perceived it with the ears. Apart from you, O God, the eye has not seen what you have prepared for those who await you. 5You have met with those who rejoice in doing justice. By your ways, they will remember you. Behold, you have been angry, for we have sinned. In this, we have continued, but we will be saved. 6And we have all become like the unclean. And all our justices are like a rag of menstruation. And we have all fallen away, like a leaf. And our iniquities have carried us away, like the wind. 7There is no one who calls upon your name, who rises up and holds fast to you. You have concealed your face from us, and you have crushed us with the hand of our own iniquity. 8And now, O Lord, you are our Father, yet truly, we are clay. And you are our Maker, and we are all the works of your hands.

2The One who reigns over Israel: Be attentive. For you lead Joseph like a sheep. The One who sits upon the cherubim: Shine forth

3in the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh. Awaken your power and draw near, so as to accomplish our salvation.

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15Turn back, O God of hosts. Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vineyard;

16and complete what your right hand has planted, and look upon the son of man, whom you have confirmed for yourself.

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18Let your hand be over the man on your right, and over the son of man, whom you have confirmed for yourself.

19For we do not depart from you, and you will revive us. And we will invoke your name.

3Grace and peace to you from God our Father and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I give thanks to my God continuously for you because of the grace of God that has been given to you in Christ Jesus. 5By that grace, in all things, you have become wealthy in him, in every word and in all knowledge. 6And so, the testimony of Christ has been strengthened in you. 7In this way, nothing is lacking to you in any grace, as you await the revelation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8And he, too, will strengthen you, even until the end, without guilt, until the day of the advent of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful. Through him, you have been called into the fellowship of his Son, Jesus Christ our Lord.

33Take heed, be vigilant, and pray. For you do not know when the time may be. 34It is like a man who, setting out on a sojourn, left behind his house, and gave his servants authority over every work, and instructed the doorkeeper to stand watch. 35Therefore, be vigilant, for you do not know when the lord of the house may arrive: in the evening, or in the middle of the night, or at first light, or in the morning. 36Otherwise, when he will have arrived unexpectedly, he may find you sleeping. 37But what I say to you, I say to all: Be vigilant.”