The 16th of December, 2021 is Thursday in the Third Week in Advent. The Bible scriptures for the holy mass readings for this day came from the 2022 Liturgical Calendar.
Reading 1: IS 54:1-10
The first reading from the Book of Isaiah.
“Sing, barren, you who didn’t give birth! Break out into singing, and cry aloud, you who didn’t travail with child! For more are the children of the desolate than the children of the married wife,” says Yahweh.
“Enlarge the place of your tent, and let them stretch out the curtains of your habitations; don’t spare; lengthen your cords, and strengthen your stakes.
For you will spread out on the right hand and on the left; and your offspring will possess the nations and settle in desolate cities.”
“Don’t be afraid, for you will not be ashamed. Don’t be confounded, for you will not be disappointed. For you will forget the shame of your youth. You will remember the reproach of your widowhood no more.
For your Maker is your husband; Yahweh of Armies is his name. The Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer. He will be called the God of the whole earth.
For Yahweh has called you as a wife forsaken and grieved in spirit, even a wife of youth, when she is cast off,” says your God.
“For a small moment I have forsaken you, but I will gather you with great mercies.
In overflowing wrath I hid my face from you for a moment, but with everlasting loving kindness I will have mercy on you,” says Yahweh your Redeemer.
“For this is like the waters of Noah to me; for as I have sworn that the waters of Noah will no more go over the earth, so I have sworn that I will not be angry with you, nor rebuke you.
For the mountains may depart, and the hills be removed, but my loving kindness will not depart from you, and my covenant of peace will not be removed,” says Yahweh who has mercy on you.
Responsorial Psalm: PS 30:1 and 3, 4-5, 10-11A and 12B
Response: I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up.
I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up, and have not made my foes to rejoice over me.
Yahweh, you have brought up my soul from Sheol. You have kept me alive, that I should not go down to the pit.
R: I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up.
Sing praise to Yahweh, you saints of his. Give thanks to his holy name.
For his anger is but for a moment. His favor is for a lifetime. Weeping may stay for the night, but joy comes in the morning.
R: I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up.
“Hear, Yahweh, and have mercy on me. Yahweh, be my helper.”
You have turned my mourning into dancing for me.
Yahweh my God, I will give thanks to you forever!
R: I will extol you, Yahweh, for you have raised me up.
Gospel of the Day: LK 7:24-30
From the gospel verse according to Luke.
When John’s messengers had departed, he began to tell the multitudes about John, “What did you go out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken by the wind?
But what did you go out to see? A man clothed in soft clothing? Behold, those who are gorgeously dressed and live delicately are in kings’ courts.
But what did you go out to see? A prophet? Yes, I tell you, and much more than a prophet.
This is he of whom it is written, ‘Behold, I send my messenger before your face, who will prepare your way before you.’_”
“For I tell you, among those who are born of women there is not a greater prophet than John the Baptizer; yet he who is least in God’s Kingdom is greater than he.”
When all the people and the tax collectors heard this, they declared God to be just, having been baptized with John’s baptism.
But the Pharisees and the lawyers rejected the counsel of God, not being baptized by him themselves.
