Lectionary Readings Book of Common Prayer - 1979 Third Sunday of Advent

The Collect

Third Sunday of Advent
Stir up thy power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let thy bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with thee and the Holy Ghost, be honor and glory, world without end. Amen
Preface of Advent

Old Testament Reading

Zephaniah 3:14-20
¹⁴ Sing aloud, O daughter of Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem! ¹⁵ The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has cast out your enemies. The King of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear evil no more. ¹⁶ On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: "Do not fear, O Zion; let not your hands grow weak. ¹⁷ The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing ¹⁸ as on a day of festival. "I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it. ¹⁹ Behold, at that time I will deal with all your oppressors. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth. ²⁰ At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you together; yea, I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes," says the LORD.

Psalm

Psalm 85

Benedixisti, Domine
1You have been gracious to your land, O LORD, *
     you have restored the good fortune of Jacob.
2You have forgiven the iniquity of your people *
     and blotted out all their sins.
3You have withdrawn all your fury *
     and turned yourself from your wrathful indignation.
4Restore us then, O God our Savior; *
     let your anger depart from us.
5Will you be displeased with us for ever? *
     will you prolong your anger from age to age?
6Will you not give us life again, *
     that your people may rejoice in you?
7Show us your mercy, O LORD, *
     and grant us your salvation.
8I will listen to what the LORD God is saying, *
     for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
     and to those who turn their hearts to him.
9Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
     that his glory may dwell in our land.
10Mercy and truth have met together; *
     righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
     and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12The LORD will indeed grant prosperity, *
     and our land will yield its increase.
13Righteousness shall go before him, *
     and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

- OR -

Psalm 85:7-13

7Show us your mercy, O LORD, *
     and grant us your salvation.
8I will listen to what the LORD God is saying, *
     for he is speaking peace to his faithful people
     and to those who turn their hearts to him.
9Truly, his salvation is very near to those who fear him, *
     that his glory may dwell in our land.
10Mercy and truth have met together; *
     righteousness and peace have kissed each other.
11Truth shall spring up from the earth, *
     and righteousness shall look down from heaven.
12The LORD will indeed grant prosperity, *
     and our land will yield its increase.
13Righteousness shall go before him, *
     and peace shall be a pathway for his feet.

New Testament Reading

Philippians 4:4-7(8-9)
⁴ Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice. ⁵ Let all men know your forbearance. The Lord is at hand. ⁶ Have no anxiety about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. ⁷ And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will keep your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. (⁸ Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is gracious, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. ⁹ What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me, do; and the God of peace will be with you. )

Gospel Reading

Luke 3:7-18
⁷ He said therefore to the multitudes that came out to be baptized by him, "You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come? ⁸ Bear fruits that befit repentance, and do not begin to say to yourselves, `We have Abraham as our father'; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham. ⁹ Even now the axe is laid to the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire." ¹⁰ And the multitudes asked him, "What then shall we do?" ¹¹ And he answered them, "He who has two coats, let him share with him who has none; and he who has food, let him do likewise." ¹² Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and said to him, "Teacher, what shall we do?" ¹³ And he said to them, "Collect no more than is appointed you." ¹⁴ Soldiers also asked him, "And we, what shall we do?" And he said to them, "Rob no one by violence or by false accusation, and be content with your wages." ¹⁵ As the people were in expectation, and all men questioned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he were the Christ, ¹⁶ John answered them all, "I baptize you with water; but he who is mightier than I is coming, the thong of whose sandals I am not worthy to untie; he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and with fire. ¹⁷ His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor, and to gather the wheat into his granary, but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire." ¹⁸ So, with many other exhortations, he preached good news to the people.