3rd Sunday of Advent

14Give praise, daughter of Zion. Shout joyfully, Israel. Rejoice and exult with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem. 15The Lord has taken away your judgment; he has turned aside your foes. The king of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst; you shall no longer fear evil. 16In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Do not be afraid,” and to Zion, “Do not let your hands be weakened.” 17The Lord your God is the strength in your midst; he will save. He will rejoice over you with gladness. In his love, he will be silent. He will exult over you with praise. 18The triflers who withdrew from the law, I will gather together, because they were from you, so that you may no longer suffer disgrace over them.

2Behold, God is my savior, I will act faithfully, and I will not be afraid. For the Lord is my strength and my praise, and he has become my salvation.”

3You will draw water with gladness from the fountains of the Savior.

4And you will say in that day: “Confess the Lord, and invoke his name! Make his plans known among the peoples! Remember that his name is exalted!

5Sing to the Lord, for he has acted magnificently! Announce it to the whole world!

6Exult and give praise, O habitation of Zion! For the Great One, the Holy One of Israel, is in your midst!”

4Rejoice in the Lord always. Again, I say, rejoice. 5Let your modesty be known to all men. The Lord is near. 6Be anxious about nothing. But in all things, with prayer and supplication, with acts of thanksgiving, let your petitions be made known to God. 7And so shall the peace of God, which exceeds all understanding, guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.

10And the crowed was questioning him, saying, “What then should we do?” 11But in response, he said to them: “Whoever has two coats, let him give to those who do not have. And whoever has food, let him act similarly.” 12Now the tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what should we do?” 13But he said to them, “You should do nothing more than what has been appointed to you.” 14Then the soldiers also questioned him, saying, “And what should we do?” And he said to them: “You should strike no one, and you should not make false accusations. And be content with your pay.” 15Now all were thinking about John in their hearts, and the people were supposing that perhaps he might be the Christ. 16John responded by saying to everyone: “Indeed, I baptize you with water. But there will arrive one stronger than me, the laces of whose shoes I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit, and with fire. 17His winnowing fan is in his hand. And he will purify his threshing floor. And he will gather the wheat into the barn. But the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.” 18Indeed, he also proclaimed many other things, exhorting the people.