4TH SUNDAY OF ADVENT (C/_ABC) (p. 561) First reading. Mch 5, 1-4a Out of you will come the ruler of Israel A reading from the book of the prophet Micah. Thus says the Lord: “But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, though you are small among the clans of Judah, out of you will come for me one who is to be ruler in Israel; his origins are from ancient times, from ancient times. {Therefore he will leave them until the time when she who is in labor gives birth; then the remnant of his family will return to the children of Israel.} He will stand firm and shepherd his flock in the strength of the Lord, in the mighty name of the Lord his God. They will live in safety, for now his greatness will reach to the ends of the earth. He himself will be peace!” This is the word of God. Responsorial Psalm. Ps 79 (80), 2ac and 3b. 15-16. 18–19 (P.: 4) P. God, raise us up again! Let your face shine upon us, and we shall be saved! Incline your ear, Shepherd of Israel, * You who sit enthroned between the cherubim, shine forth. Show your power, * come and save us! — P. Turn back to us, God of hosts! † Look down from heaven, see, * and take care of the vine. Come and protect what your right hand has planted, * the young branch that you have made strong for yourself. — P. Give help to the man of your right hand, * the son of man that you have made strong for yourself! Then we will no longer turn away from you, * preserve us alive, that we may praise your name! — P. Second reading. Hebrews 10:5-10 Behold, I come to do your will A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews Brothers and sisters! When Christ came into the world, he said: Sacrifice and offering you did not desire, but a body you prepared for me. In burnt offerings and sacrifices for sins you did not delight in. Then I said: Behold, I come (in the scroll of the book it is written about me) to do your will, O God! After saying before, Sacrifice and offering, burnt offerings and sacrifices for sin you did not desire, nor were you pleased with them, which are offered according to the law, then he said: Behold, I come to do your will. He abolishes the one and establishes the other. By that will we have been sanctified through the offering of the body of Jesus Christ once for all. This is the word of God. Apocalypse before the Gospel. Mt 1:23 P. Alleluia. – Behold, a virgin shall conceive in her womb and bear a son, and he shall call his name Emmanuel, which means “God with us.” – P. Alleluia. Gospel. Luke 1:39-45 Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? ✠ From the Holy Gospel according to Luke In those days, Mary got ready and set out with haste into the hill country of Judea. She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leaped in her womb, and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She exclaimed with a loud voice, “You are most blessed among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb! Whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was spoken to her from the Lord.” This is the word of the Lord.