Daily Readings for December 17, 2017

Third Sunday of Advent

1ST READING

This is a beautiful Old Testament passage that tells how a man or woman of God should live. The second part of the text today talks about the joy of living according to God’s will. No matter what bad press God gets today, the truth is that when we live according to His will, there will always be joy within us, knowing that we are doing what God wants us to do.

Isaiah 61:1-2, 10-11

1 The spirit of the Lord God is upon me, because the Lord has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, 2 to announce a year of favor from the Lord and a day of vindication by our God. 10 I rejoice heartily in the Lord, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation, and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. 11 As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord God make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.

P S A L M

Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54

R: My soul rejoices in my God.

46 My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord; 47 my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 48 for he has looked upon his lowly servant. From this day all generations will call me blessed. (R) 49 The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is his Name. 50 He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation. (R)53 He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty. 54 He has come to help of his servant Israel for he has remembered his promise of mercy. (R)

2ND READING

St. Paul seems to be out of his mind when he tells us to give thanks in all circumstances. He is right because there is always something to be grateful to God for. He is not saying that everything we experience in life is good, but that whatever is happening is an opportunity to discover the goodness of God. Sometimes, this is easy to do; at other times, especially during trials, it can be more difficult.

1 Thessalonians 5:16-24

16 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. 17 Pray without ceasing. 18 In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise prophetic utterances. 21 Test everything; retain what is good. 22 Refrain from every kind of evil. 23 May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.

GOSPEL

Our lives should witness to the truth of the Gospel. We ought to simplify the opportunities for others to respond to God’s call of love. We should not make it more difficult for them to follow God. If we give a good witness to the Gospel, we will implicitly encourage others to do the same.

GOSPEL ACCLAMATION

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tidings to the poor.

John 1:6-8, 19-28

6 A man named John was sent from God. 7 He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. 19 And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” 20 he admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” 21 So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” 22 So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” 23 He said: “I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord, as Isaiah the prophet said.” 24 Some Pharisees were also sent. 25 They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” 26 John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, 27 the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” 28 This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.