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

Isaiah 7:10-17
¹⁰ Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, ¹¹ "Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven." ¹² But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test." ¹³ And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? ¹⁴ Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman'u-el. ¹⁵ He shall eat curds and honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. ¹⁶ For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. ¹⁷ The LORD will bring upon you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not come since the day that E'phraim departed from Judah-- the king of Assyria."

Psalm

Psalm 24

Domini est terra
1The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, *
     the world and all who dwell therein.
2For it is he who founded it upon the seas *
     and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3"Who can ascend the hill of the LORD? *
     and who can stand in his holy place?"
4"Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *
     who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
     nor sworn by what is a fraud.
5They shall receive a blessing from the LORD *
     and a just reward from the God of their salvation."
6Such is the generation of those who seek him, *
     of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7Lift up your heads, O gates;
     lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
     and the King of glory shall come in.
8"Who is this King of glory?" *
     "The LORD, strong and mighty,
     the LORD, mighty in battle."
9Lift up your heads, O gates;
     lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
     and the King of glory shall come in.
10"Who is he, this King of glory?" *
     "The LORD of hosts,
     he is the King of glory."

- OR -

Psalm 24:1-7

1The earth is the LORD'S and all that is in it, *
     the world and all who dwell therein.
2For it is he who founded it upon the seas *
     and made it firm upon the rivers of the deep.
3"Who can ascend the hill of the LORD? *
     and who can stand in his holy place?"
4"Those who have clean hands and a pure heart, *
     who have not pledged themselves to falsehood,
     nor sworn by what is a fraud.
5They shall receive a blessing from the LORD *
     and a just reward from the God of their salvation."
6Such is the generation of those who seek him, *
     of those who seek your face, O God of Jacob.
7Lift up your heads, O gates;
     lift them high, O everlasting doors; *
     and the King of glory shall come in.

New Testament Reading

Romans 1:1-7
¹ Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God ² which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, ³ the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh ⁴ and designated Son of God in power according to the Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, ⁵ through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, ⁶ including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; ⁷ To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

Gospel Reading

Matthew 1:18-25
¹⁸ Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be with child of the Holy Spirit; ¹⁹ and her husband Joseph, being a just man and unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. ²⁰ But as he considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; ²¹ she will bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." ²² All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet: ²³ "Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). ²⁴ When Joseph woke from sleep, he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, ²⁵ but knew her not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus.