2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C/_ABC) (p. 555) First reading. Bar 5, 1-9. God will show you his splendor A reading from the book of the prophet Baruch Jerusalem, take off your garment of mourning and poverty, and put on the eternal beauty of God’s glory. Wrap yourself in the robe of God’s righteousness, put on the crown of the Eternal’s glory on your head, for God will show your splendor to the whole earth. You will forever be called by God “Peace through Righteousness” and “Glory through the worship of God.” Arise, Jerusalem! Stand on high, look toward the east and look at your children, gathered from the east and the west by the word of the Holy One and rejoicing, because God has remembered them. Driven by their enemies, they went out from you on foot, but God will bring them back to you, carried with reverence as on a royal throne. For God has decreed that the high mountains and the everlasting rocks be made low, that the valleys and the valleys be filled up, that Israel may walk safely, surrounded by the glory of God. By God’s command the forests and all fragrant trees will provide shade for Israel, for God will lead Israel joyfully, illuminated by his glory, mercy, and righteousness.” This is the word of God. Responsorial Psalm. Ps 125 (126), 1–2ab. 2cd–3. 4–5. 6 (P.: 3) P. The Lord has done great things for us, how happy we were! When the Lord brought back the exiles of Zion, * it seemed to us like a dream. How our mouths laughed, * and our tongues clapped for joy! – P. The nations then said: * “The Lord has done great things for them!” Indeed, the Lord has done great things for us, * how happy we were! – P. Lord, restore our prosperity again, * like waters to the dry rivers of the Negeb. He who sows in tears * will reap with joy. – P. A man goes out weeping, * carrying seed for sowing, but he will return with joy to his house, * carrying his feet with him. – P. Second reading. Phil 1, 4-6. 8-11. Be pure and blameless on the day of Christ A reading from the Letter of the Holy Apostle Paul to the Philippians Brothers and sisters! Always, in every prayer, praying for you all with joy, for your cooperation in the gospel from the first day until now. I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Christ Jesus. God is my witness, how I long for you all with the sincerity of Christ Jesus. And this is my prayer, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment, that you may approve the things that are excellent, that you may be pure and blameless for the day of Christ, filled with the fruits of righteousness which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God. This is the word of God. A Hymn to the Gospel. Luke 3:4. 6 P. Alleluia. — Prepare the way of the Lord! Make his paths straight! All flesh shall see the salvation of God. — P. Alleluia. Gospel. Luke 3:1-6 All people will see the salvation of God ✠ From the Holy Gospel according to Luke In the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of Ituraea and the region of Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, in the high priests Annas and Caiaphas, the word of the Lord came to John the son of Zechariah in the wilderness. He went throughout all the region around the Jordan, preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins, as it is written in the book of the words of the prophet Isaiah: The voice of one crying in the wilderness, Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight. Every valley shall be filled, and every mountain and hill shall be made low; the crooked ways shall be made straight, and the rough places plain. And all people will see the salvation of God, says the Lord.