The 12th of December, 2021 is the Third Sunday of Advent (Gaudete). The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2022 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: ZEP 3:14-18A
The first reading from the Book of Zephaniah.
Sing, daughter of Zion! Shout, Israel! Be glad and rejoice with all your heart, daughter of Jerusalem.
Yahweh has taken away your judgments. He has thrown out your enemy. The King of Israel, Yahweh, is among you. You will not be afraid of evil anymore.
In that day, it will be said to Jerusalem, “Don’t be afraid, Zion. Don’t let your hands be weak.”
Yahweh, your God, is among you, a mighty one who will save. He will rejoice over you with joy. He will calm you in his love. He will rejoice over you with singing.
I will remove those who grieve about the appointed feasts from you.
Responsorial Psalm: IS 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
Response: “Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”
“Behold, God is my salvation. I will trust, and will not be afraid; for Yah, Yahweh, is my strength and song; and he has become my salvation.”
Therefore with joy you will draw water out of the wells of salvation.
R: “Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”
In that day you will say, “Give thanks to Yahweh! Call on his name! Declare his doings among the peoples! Proclaim that his name is exalted!”
R: “Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”
“Sing to Yahweh, for he has done excellent things! Let this be known in all the earth!
Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”
R: “Cry aloud and shout, you inhabitant of Zion, for the Holy One of Israel is great among you!”
Reading 2: PHIL 4:4-7
The second reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Philippians.
Rejoice in the Lord always! Again I will say, “Rejoice!”
Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand.
In nothing be anxious, but in everything, by prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.
And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your thoughts in Christ Jesus.
Gospel of the Day: LK 3:10-18
From the gospel verse according to Luke.
The multitudes asked him, “What then must we do?”
He answered them, “He who has two coats, let him give to him who has none. He who has food, let him do likewise.”
Tax collectors also came to be baptized, and they said to him, “Teacher, what must we do?”
He said to them, “Collect no more than that which is appointed to you.”
Soldiers also asked him, saying, “What about us? What must we do?” He said to them, “Extort from no one by violence, neither accuse anyone wrongfully. Be content with your wages.”
As the people were in expectation, and all men reasoned in their hearts concerning John, whether perhaps he was the Christ, John answered them all, “I indeed baptize you with water, but he comes who is mightier than I, the strap of whose sandals I am not worthy to loosen. He will baptize you in the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand, and he will thoroughly cleanse his threshing floor, and will gather the wheat into his barn; but he will burn up the chaff with unquenchable fire.”
Then with many other exhortations he preached good news to the people.
