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FOURTH
SUNDAY OF ADVENT
ISAIAH 7:10-16
PSALM
80:1-7, 16-18
ROMANS
1:1-7
MATTHEW
1:18-25
COLLECT
Heavenly Father,
who chose the Virgin Mary, full of grace,
to be the mother of our Lord and Saviour,
now fill us with your grace,
that we in all things may embrace your will
and with her rejoice in your salvation;
through Jesus Christ our Lord,
who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.
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A
READING FROM THE BOOK OF ISAIAH
Again the Lord spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the Lord your
God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I
will not ask, and I will not put the Lord to the test. Then Isaiah
said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you
to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord
himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child
and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat
curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and
choose the good. 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."
ISAIAH 7:10-16
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PSALM
REFRAIN Show the light of your countenance, and we shall be saved.
Hear,
O Shepherd of Israel, leading Joseph like a flock; shine forth,
you that are enthroned upon the cherubim.
In
the presence of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up your
strength and come to help us.
Restore
us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we
shall be saved. R
O
Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angered despite the
prayers of your people?
You
have fed them with the bread of tears; you have given them bowls
of tears to drink. R
You
have made us the derision of our neighbours, and our enemies laugh
us to scorn.
Restore
us, O God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and we
shall be saved. R
Let
your hand be upon the man of your right hand, the son of man you
have made so strong for yourself.
And
so will we never turn away from you; give us life, that we may
call upon your name.
Restore
us, O Lord God of hosts; show the light of your countenance, and
we shall be saved. R
PSALM 80:1-7, 16-18
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A
READING FROM THE LETTER OF PAUL TO THE ROMANS
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set
apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through
his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his
Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was
declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of
holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about
the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his
name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus
Christ, 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.
ROMANS 1:1-7
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THE
HOLY GOSPEL OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
ACCORDING TO MATTHEW
Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When
his mother Mary had been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived
together, she was found to be with child from the Holy Spirit. Her
husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to expose her
to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when
he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him
in a dream and said, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid
to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is from
the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him
Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins." All this
took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the Lord through the
prophet: "Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and
they shall name him Emmanuel," which means, "God is with
us." When Joseph awoke from sleep, he did as the angel of the
Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife, but had no marital
relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him
Jesus.
MATTHEW 1:18-25
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PRAYER
OVER THE GIFTS
Gracious God,
by the power of the Spirit
who sanctified the mother of your Son,
make holy all we offer you this day.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
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PRAYER
AFTER COMMUNION
Faithful God,
in this sacrament we receive the promise of salvation.
May we, like the Virgin Mary,
be obedient to your will.
We ask this in the name of Jesus Christ the Lord.
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