Second
Sunday of Advent
Merciful
God, who sent your messengers the prophets to preach repentance and prepare the way for
our salvation: Give us grace to heed their warnings and forsake our sins, that we may
greet with joy the coming of Jesus Christ our Redeemer; who lives and reigns with you and
the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
FIRST LESSON Isaiah 40:1-11
“Comfort,
O comfort my people,” says your God. “Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and cry to
her that she has served her term, that her penalty is paid, that she has received from the
Lord’s hand double for all her sins.” A voice cries out: “In the wilderness
prepare the way of the Lord, make straight in the desert a highway for our God. Every
valley shall be lifted up, and every mountain and hill be made low; the uneven ground
shall become level, and the rough places a plain. Then the glory of the Lord shall be
revealed, and all people shall see it together, for the mouth of the Lord has
spoken.” A voice says, “Cry out!” And I said, “What shall I cry?”
All people are grass, their constancy is like the flower of the field. The grass
withers, the flower fades,
when the breath of the Lord blows upon it; surely the people are grass. The grass withers,
the flower fades; but the word of our God will stand forever. Get you up to a high
mountain, O Zion, herald of good tidings; lift up your voice with strength, O Jerusalem,
herald of good tidings, lift it up, do not fear; say to the cities of Judah, “Here is
your God!” See, the Lord God comes with might, and his arm rules for him; his reward
is with him, and his recompense before him. He will feed his flock like a shepherd; he
will gather the lambs in his arms, and carry them in his bosom, and gently lead the mother
sheep.
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