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The Fourth Sunday of Advent |
 We
beseech thee, Almighty God, to purify our consciences by thy daily
visitation, that when thy Son our Lord cometh he may find in us a mansion
prepared for himself; through the same Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and
reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for
ever. Amen.
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Lesson |
Isaiah 7:10-17
Isaiah Gives Ahaz the Sign of Immanuel
Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, "Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be
deep as Sheol or high as heaven." But Ahaz said, "I will not ask, and I will
not put the LORD to the test." And he said, "Hear then, O house of David! Is
it too little for you to weary men, that you weary my God also? Therefore
the Lord himself will give you a sign. Behold, a young woman shall conceive
and bear a son, and shall call his name Imman'u-el. He shall eat curds and
honey when he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before
the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before
whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. The LORD will bring upon
you and upon your people and upon your father's house such days as have not
come since the day that E'phraim departed from Judah -- the king of
Assyria." |
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Epistle |
Romans 1:1-7
Salutation
Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the
gospel of God which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy
scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David
according to the flesh and designated Son of God in power according to the
Spirit of holiness by his resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord,
through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the
obedience of faith for the sake of his name among all the nations, including
yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ; To all God's beloved in
Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our
Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. |
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Gospel |
Matthew 1:18-25
The Birth of Jesus the Messiah
Now the birth of Jesus Christ took place in this way. When his mother Mary
had been betrothed to Joseph, before they came together she was found to be
with child of the Holy Spirit; and her husband Joseph, being a just man and
unwilling to put her to shame, resolved to divorce her quietly. But as he
considered this, behold, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream,
saying, "Joseph, son of David, do not fear to take Mary your wife, for that
which is conceived in her is of the Holy Spirit; she will bear a son, and
you shall call his name Jesus, for he will save his people from their sins."
All this took place to fulfil what the Lord had spoken by the prophet:
"Behold, a virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and his name shall be
called Emmanuel" (which means, God with us). When Joseph woke from sleep, he
did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took his wife, but knew her
not until she had borne a son; and he called his name Jesus. |
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