Sunday 14 December 2008

1The Lord GOD’s Spirit is on me,because the Lord has anointed me to preach good news to the humble.He has sent me to bind up the broken hearted,to proclaim liberty to the captivesand release to those who are bound,2to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favorand the day of vengeance of our God,to comfort all who mourn,· · · verses 3–9 are not read10I will greatly rejoice in the Lord!My soul will be joyful in my God,for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation.He has covered me with the robe of righteousness,as a bridegroom decks himself with a garlandand as a bride adorns herself with her jewels.11For as the earth produces its bud,and as the garden causes the things that are sown in it to spring up,so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations.

46Mary said,

“My soul magnifies the Lord.47My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior,48for he has looked at the humble state of his servant.For behold, from now on, all generations will call me blessed.

49For he who is mighty has done great things for me.Holy is his name.50His mercy is for generations and generations on those who fear him.

53He has filled the hungry with good things.He has sent the rich away empty.54He has given help to Israel, his servant, that he might remember mercy,

16Always rejoice.17Pray without ceasing.18In everything give thanks,for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus toward you.19Don’t quench the Spirit.20Don’t despise prophecies.21Test all things, and hold firmly that which is good.22Abstain from every form of evil.

23May the God of peace himself sanctify you completely.May your whole spirit,soul, and body be preserved blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.

24He who calls you is faithful, who will also do it.

6There came a man sent from God, whose name was John.7The same came as a witness,that he might testify about the light,that all might believe through him.8He was not the light,but was sent that he might testify about the light.

· · · verses 9–18 are not read19This is John’s testimony,when the Jews sent priestsand Levites from Jerusalem to ask him, “Who are you?”

20He declared, and didn’t deny,but he declared, “I am not the Christ.”

21They asked him, “What then?Are you Elijah?”

He said, “I am not.”

“Are you the prophet?”

He answered, “No.”

22They said therefore to him, “Who are you?Give us an answer to take back to those who sent us.What do you say about yourself?”

23He said, “I am the voice of one crying in the wilderness,‘Make straight the way of the Lord,’as Isaiah the prophet said.”

24The ones who had been sent were from the Pharisees.25They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ,nor Elijah, nor the prophet?”

26John answered them,“I baptize in water,but among you stands one whom you don’t know.27He is the one who comes after me,who is preferred before me,whose sandal strap I’m not worthy to loosen.”28These things were done in Bethany beyond the Jordan,where John was baptizing.