Reading from the book of Isaiah Is 7:10-14
The LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying:
Ask for a sign from the LORD, your God;
let it be deep as the netherworld, or high as the sky!
But Ahaz answered,
“I will not ask! I will not tempt the LORD!”
Then Isaiah said:
Listen, O house of David!
Is it not enough for you to weary people,
must you also weary my God?
Therefore the Lord himself will give you this sign:
the virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and shall name him Emmanuel.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
Responsorial Psalm Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
The LORD’s are the earth and its fullness;
the world and those who dwell in it.
For he founded it upon the seas
and established it upon the rivers.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Who can ascend the mountain of the LORD?
or who may stand in his holy place?
One whose hands are sinless, whose heart is clean,
who desires not what is vain.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
He shall receive a blessing from the LORD,
a reward from God his savior.
Such is the race that seeks for him,
that seeks the face of the God of Jacob.
R. Let the Lord enter; he is king of glory.
Second Reading
Reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Romans Rom 1:1-7
Paul, a slave of Christ Jesus,
called to be an apostle and set apart for the gospel of God,
which he promised previously through his prophets in the holy Scriptures,
the gospel about his Son, descended from David according to the flesh,
but established as Son of God in power
according to the Spirit of holiness
through resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord.
Through him we have received the grace of apostleship,
to bring about the obedience of faith,
for the sake of his name, among all the Gentiles,
among whom are you also, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ;
to all the beloved of God in Rome, called to be holy.
Grace to you and peace from God our Father
and the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Word of the Lord
Thanks be to God.
R. Alleluia, alleluia. Mt 1:23
The virgin shall conceive, and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel.
R. Alleluia, alleluia
Gospel
P: The Lord be with you.
P: A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew Mt 1:18-24
This is how the birth of Jesus Christ came about.
When his mother Mary was betrothed to Joseph,
but before they lived together,
she was found with child through the Holy Spirit.
Joseph her husband, since he was a righteous man,
yet unwilling to expose her to shame,
decided to divorce her quietly.
Such was his intention when, behold,
the angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said,
“Joseph, son of David,
do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home.
For it is through the Holy Spirit
that this child has been conceived in her.
She will bear a son and you are to name him Jesus,
because he will save his people from their sins.”
All this took place to fulfill what the Lord had said through the prophet:
Behold, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son,
and they shall name him Emmanuel,
which means “God is with us.”
When Joseph awoke,
he did as the angel of the Lord had commanded him
and took his wife into his home.
The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.
BIDDING PRAYERS:
Sisters and brothers, the day draws near. Let us intensify our prayers to be a faith-filled people longing for the Dawn of Joy.
Our prayer response is: “Christ, hear our prayer.”
- Christ descended from David’s line and assumed our humanity. May the world grow in its respect for all that is genuinely human. With hope-filled joy, we ask: “Christ, hear our prayer.”
- Paul, the apostle, sent greetings of peace to the church of Rome. May the Catholic church proclaim the peace of Christ through the apostolic ministry of Pope Francis and the bishops of the world. With hope-filled joy, we ask: “Christ, hear our prayer.”
- Joseph received Mary, the Christ-bearer, into his home. May we receive others, regardless of race or creed, as bearers of the mystery of God. With hope-filled joy, we ask: “Christ, hear our prayer.”
- Joseph responded in faith to the revelation he received. May people of goodwill be more alert to the Spirit’s prompting and respond with a trusting faith. With hope-filled joy, we ask: “Christ, hear our prayer.”
God and Abba of Jesus, you sent your Word to dwell among us. Hear our prayers, for we long for the fullness of life that Christ will bring. We pray in Jesus’ name.
