Third Sunday of Advent

Official Translation



Reading 1 – Zepheniah 3.14-18a

Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, O Israel!
Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, O daughter of Jerusalem.
The Lord has taken away your punishment. He has thrown out your enemy.
The King of Israel, the Lord, is in your midst. You will not be afraid of evil anymore.
In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Do not be afraid, Zion. Do not let your hands be weak.”
The Lord, your God, is in your midst, a mighty one who will save.
He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love.
He will rejoice over you with singing, as at the appointed feasts.

Responsorial – Isaiah 12.2-3, 4, 5-6 Resp. 6

R. Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Behold, God is my salvation.
I will trust and will not be afraid;
for the Lord, the Lord, is my strength and song;
and he has become my salvation.
Therefore with joy you will draw water
out of the wells of salvation.

R. Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Give thanks to the Lord! Call on his name.
Declare his deeds among the nations.
Proclaim that his name is exalted!

R. Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Sing to the Lord, for he has done excellent things!
Let this be known in all the earth!
Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion;
For great in your midst
is the Holy One of Israel.

R. Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel.

Reading 2 – Philippians 4.4-7

Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice in the Lord always! I will say it again: “Rejoice!”
Let your gentleness be known to all humans. The Lord is at hand.
In nothing be anxious,
but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Gospel – Luke 3.10-18

The crowds asked John the Baptist, “What then must we do?”
He answered them, “The one who has two coats, let them give to the one who has none.
The one who has food, let them do likewise.”
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”
He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”
Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?”
He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by violence, nor accuse anyone wrongfully.
Be content with your wages.”

As the people were in expectation, and all in their hearts wondered about John,
whether perhaps he was the Christ.
John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water,
but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen.
He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.
His fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor,
and will gather the wheat into his barn,
but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.