Third Sunday of Advent

Dec 11

Processional Hymn - Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

Come, Thou long expected Jesus
Born to set Thy people free;
From our fears and sins release us,
Let us find our rest in Thee.
Israel's strength and consolation,
Hope of all the earth Thou art;
Dear desire of every nation,
Joy of every longing heart.

Born Thy people to deliver,
Born a child and yet a King,
Born to reign in us forever,
Now Thy gracious kingdom bring.
By Thine own eternal Spirit
Rule in all our hearts alone;
By Thine all sufficient merit,
Raise us to Thy glorious throne.

First Reading -
Isaiah 35:1-6a, 10

The desert and the parched land will exult;
the steppe will rejoice and bloom.
They will bloom with abundant flowers,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to them,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
they will see the glory of the LORD,
the splendor of our God.
Strengthen the hands that are feeble,
make firm the knees that are weak,
say to those whose hearts are frightened:
Be strong, fear not!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
with divine recompense
he comes to save you.
Then will the eyes of the blind be opened,
the ears of the deaf be cleared;
then will the lame leap like a stag,
then the tongue of the mute will sing.

Those whom the LORD has ransomed will return
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
they will meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning will flee.

Responsorial Psalm -
Psalm 146

R. Lord, come and save us. Lord, come and save us. Lord, come and save us.

Happy those who keep faith with you,
securing justice for the oppressed,
who give your food to each hungry heart,
your freedom to each captive.
R. Lord, come and save us. Lord, come and save us. Lord, come and save us.

You give your sight to all the blind,
you raise up those bent low.
Your heart is near to the broken ones,
you welcome in the stranger.
R. Lord, come and save us. Lord, come and save us. Lord, come and save us.

The weak and poor you sustain in love,
the wicked ones you bring to destruction;
forever more shall your reign endure,
to ev’ry generation.
R. Lord, come and save us. Lord, come and save us. Lord, come and save us.

Second Reading - James 5:7-10

Be patient, brothers and sisters,
until the coming of the Lord.
See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it
until it receives the early and the late rains.
You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm,
because the coming of the Lord is at hand.
Do not complain, brothers and sisters, about one another, that you may not be judged.
Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates.
Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers and sisters,
the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.

Gospel -
Matthew 11:2-11

When John the Baptist heard in prison of the works of the Christ, he sent his disciples to Jesus with this question,
"Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?"
Jesus said to them in reply,
"Go and tell John what you hear and see:
the blind regain their sight, the lame walk,
lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear,
the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.
And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me."

As they were going off,
Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John,
"What did you go out to the desert to see?
A reed swayed by the wind?
Then what did you go out to see?
Someone dressed in fine clothing?
Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces.
Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?
Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet.
This is the one about whom it is written:
Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.
Amen, I say to you, among those born of women
there has been none greater than John the Baptist;
yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he."

Prayer for Our Lady of Angels Parish

Heavenly Father, we thank you for gathering us together and calling us to serve as your disciples.
You have charged us through your Son, Jesus, with the great mission of evangelizing and witnessing your love to the world.
Send your Holy Spirit to guide us as we discern your will for the spiritual renewal of our parish.
Give us strength, courage, and clear vision as we use our gifts to serve you.
We entrust our parish family to the care of Mary, our mother, and ask for her intercession and guidance, as we strive to build a parish that loves God, embraces all people, and shares the Gospel joyfully.

Offertory Hymn - 396 - Comfort, My People

Comfort, my people,
and calm all your fear;
the day of salvation
is quickly drawing near.
The One you long to see
will soon set you free.
O come, Lord Jesus, come.
O come, Lord Jesus, come.

Silence the thunder,
silence sounds of war.
End all destruction
and comfort those who mourn.
Your dream draws near;
your vision is here.
O come, Lord Jesus, come.
O come, Lord Jesus, come.

Be light in the darkness;
be truth for our lives.
Be strength for the helpless,
the poor and lost who cry.
O saving voice,
O living choice.
O come, Lord Jesus, come.
O come, Lord Jesus, come.