December 11, 2011 - YEAR B - Third Sunday of Advent

“ I BAPTIZE WITH WATER,
BUT THERE IS ONE AMONG YOU
WHOM YOU DO NOT RECONGNIZE’’

INTRODUCTION TO THE MASS

John the Baptist said to his contemporaries: “There stands among you one whom you know not.” He was referring to Jesus, who was present among the people unbeknownst to them. Jesus is present among us as we gather to celebrate the Eucharist. [Pause]

LORD Jesus,

You bring liberty to captives. LORD, have mercy.

You bring good news to the poor. Christ, have mercy.

You bind up hearts that are broken. LORD, have mercy.

OPENING PRAYER

May we, your people, who look forward to the birthday of Christ experience the joy of salvation and celebrate that feast with love and thanksgiving.

We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God   forever and ever.  R: Amen.

FIRST READING: Is 61:1-2a, 10-11             

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isaiah.

 The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, because the LORD has anointed me; he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, to proclaim liberty to the captives and release to the prisoners, to announce a year of favor from the LORD and a day of vindication by our God. 

I rejoice heartily in the LORD, in my God is the joy of my soul; for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation and wrapped me in a mantle of justice, like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem, like a bride bedecked with her jewels. As the earth brings forth its plants, and a garden makes its growth spring up, so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise spring up before all the nations.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;

my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,

for he has looked upon his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed:

R. My soul rejoices in my God.

the Almighty has done great things for me,

and holy is his Name.

He has mercy on those who fear him

in every generation.

R. My soul rejoices in my God.

He has filled the hungry with good things,

and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel

for he has remembered his promise of mercy,

R. My soul rejoices in my God.

              
SECOND READING: 1 Thes 5:16-24

A reading from the first Letter of Saint Paul to the Thessalonians.

 Brothers and sisters: Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing. In all circumstances give thanks, for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus. Do not quench the Spirit. Do not despise prophetic utterances. Test everything; retain what is good. Refrain from every kind of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body, be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will also accomplish it.  

Alleluia, Alleluia.  

The Spirit of the LORD is upon me, because he has anointed me to bring glad tiding to the poor.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

GOSPEL

V. The Lord be with you.                                       R. And also with you.

X A reading from the holy Gospel according to John.

R. Glory to you, Lord.

 A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John. When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests and Levites to him to ask him, “Who are you?” He admitted and did not deny it, but admitted, “I am not the Christ.” So they asked him, “What are you then? Are you Elijah?” And he said, “I am not.” “Are you the Prophet?” He answered, “No.” So they said to him, “Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us? What do you have to say for yourself?” He said:

“I am the voice of one crying out in the desert, ‘make straight the way of the Lord,’” as Isaiah the prophet said.” Some Pharisees were also sent. They asked him, “Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?” John answered them, “I baptize with water; but there is one among you whom you do not recognize, the one who is coming after me, whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie.” This happened in Bethany across the Jordan, where John was baptizing.