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

The Collect

Fourth Sunday of Advent
We beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily visitation, that when thy Son Jesus Christ cometh he may find in us a mansion prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, now and for ever. Amen
Preface of Advent

Old Testament Reading

Micah 5:2-5
² But you, O Bethlehem Eph'rathah, who are little to be among the clans of Judah, from you shall come forth for me one who is to be ruler in Israel, whose origin is from of old, from ancient days. ³ Therefore he shall give them up until the time when she who is in travail has brought forth; then the rest of his brethren shall return to the people of Israel. ⁴ And he shall stand and feed his flock in the strength of the LORD, in the majesty of the name of the LORD his God. And they shall dwell secure, for now he shall be great to the ends of the earth. ⁵ And this shall be peace, when the Assyrian comes into our land and treads upon our soil, that we will raise against him seven shepherds and eight princes of men;

Psalm

Psalm 80

Qui regis Israel
1Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
     shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
     stir up your strength and come to help us.
3Restore us, O God of hosts; *
     show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
4O LORD God of hosts, *
     how long will you be angered
     despite the prayers of your people?
5You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
     you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
     and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7Restore us, O God of hosts; *
     show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
8You have brought a vine out of Egypt; *
     you cast out the nations and planted it.
9You prepared the ground for it; *
     it took root and filled the land.
10The mountains were covered by its shadow *
     and the towering cedar trees by its boughs.
11You stretched out its tendrils to the Sea *
     and its branches to the River.
12Why have you broken down its wall, *
     so that all who pass by pluck off its grapes?
13The wild boar of the forest has ravaged it, *
     and the beasts of the field have grazed upon it.
14Turn now, O God of hosts, look down from heaven;
     behold and tend this vine; *
     preserve what your right hand has planted.
15They burn it with fire like rubbish; *
     at the rebuke of your countenance let them perish.
16Let your hand be upon the man of your right hand, *
     and son of man you have made so strong for yourself.
17And so will we never turn away from you; *
     give us life, that we may call upon your Name.
18Restore us, O LORD God of hosts; *
     show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

- OR -

Psalm 80:1-7

1Hear, O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; *
     shine forth, you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
2In the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, *
     stir up your strength and come to help us.
3Restore us, O God of hosts; *
     show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
4O LORD God of hosts, *
     how long will you be angered
     despite the prayers of your people?
5You have fed them with the bread of tears; *
     you have given them bowls of tears to drink.
6You have made us the derision of our neighbors, *
     and our enemies laugh us to scorn.
7Restore us, O God of hosts; *
     show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.

New Testament Reading

Hebrews 10:5-10
⁵ Consequently, when Christ came into the world, he said, "Sacrifices and offerings thou hast not desired, but a body hast thou prepared for me; ⁶ in burnt offerings and sin offerings thou hast taken no pleasure. ⁷ Then I said, `Lo, I have come to do thy will, O God,' as it is written of me in the roll of the book." ⁸ When he said above, "Thou hast neither desired nor taken pleasure in sacrifices and offerings and burnt offerings and sin offerings" (these are offered according to the law), ⁹ then he added, "Lo, I have come to do thy will." He abolishes the first in order to establish the second. ¹⁰ And by that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all.

Gospel Reading

Luke 1:39-49(50-56)
³⁹ In those days Mary arose and went with haste into the hill country, to a city of Judah, ⁴⁰ and she entered the house of Zechari'ah and greeted Elizabeth. ⁴¹ And when Elizabeth heard the greeting of Mary, the babe leaped in her womb; and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit ⁴² and she exclaimed with a loud cry, "Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! ⁴³ And why is this granted me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ⁴⁴ For behold, when the voice of your greeting came to my ears, the babe in my womb leaped for joy. ⁴⁵ And blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfilment of what was spoken to her from the Lord." ⁴⁶ And Mary said, "My soul magnifies the Lord, ⁴⁷ and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, ⁴⁸ for he has regarded the low estate of his handmaiden. For behold, henceforth all generations will call me blessed; ⁴⁹ for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. (⁵⁰ And his mercy is on those who fear him from generation to generation. ⁵¹ He has shown strength with his arm, he has scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts, ⁵² he has put down the mighty from their thrones, and exalted those of low degree; ⁵³ he has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent empty away. ⁵⁴ He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy, ⁵⁵ as he spoke to our fathers, to Abraham and to his posterity for ever." ⁵⁶ And Mary remained with her about three months, and returned to her home. )