Luke 3:1-6 The Preaching Of John The Baptist
World English Bible (WEB)
3 Now in the fifteenth year of the reign of Tiberius Caesar, Pontius Pilate being governor of Judea, and Herod being tetrarch of Galilee, and his brother Philip tetrarch of the region of Ituraea and Trachonitis, and Lysanias tetrarch of Abilene, 2 in the high priesthood of Annas and Caiaphas, the word of God came to John, the son of Zacharias, in the wilderness. 3 He came into all the region around the Jordan, preaching the baptism of repentance for remission of sins. 4 As it is written in the book of the words of Isaiah the prophet,
“The voice of one crying in the wilderness,
‘Make ready the way of the Lord.
Make his paths straight.
5 Every valley will be filled.
Every mountain and hill will be brought low.
The crooked will become straight,
and the rough ways smooth.
6 All flesh will see God’s salvation.’”[a]
Readings
First Reading: Baruch 5:1-9
Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition (DRA)
5 Put off, O Jerusalem, the garment of thy mourning, and affliction: and put on the beauty, and honour of that everlasting glory which thou hast from God.
2 God will clothe thee with the double garment of justice, and will set a crown on thy head of everlasting honour.
3 For God will shew his brightness in thee, to every one under heaven.
4 For thy name shall be named to thee by God for ever: the peace of justice, and honour of piety.
5 Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on high: and look about towards the east, and behold thy children gathered together from the rising to the setting sun, by the word of the Holy One rejoicing in the remembrance of God.
6 For they went out from thee on foot, led by the enemies: but the Lord will bring them to thee exalted with honour as children of the kingdom.
7 For God hath appointed to bring down every high mountain, and the everlasting rocks, and to fill up the valleys to make them even with the ground: that Israel may walk diligently to the honour of God.
8 Moreover the woods, and every sweet-smelling tree have overshadowed Israel by the commandment of God.
9 For God will bring Israel with joy in the light of his majesty, with mercy, and justice, that cometh from him.
Second Reading: Philippians 1:4-6, 8-11
World English Bible (WEB)
4 always in every request of mine on behalf of you all making my requests with joy, 5 for your partnership[a] in furtherance of the Good News from the first day until now; 6 being confident of this very thing, that he who began a good work in you will complete it until the day of Jesus Christ.
8 For God is my witness, how I long after all of you in the tender mercies of Christ Jesus.
9 This I pray, that your love may abound yet more and more in knowledge and all discernment; 10 so that you may approve the things that are excellent; that you may be sincere and without offense to the day of Christ; 11 being filled with the fruits of righteousness, which are through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.