SECOND SUNDAY IN ADVENT

The INTROIT (Is.62:11; 30:29,30; Ps.80:1)

Daughter of Zion: behold, thy Salvation cometh. The Lord shall cause His glorious voice to be heard: and ye shall have gladness of heart. Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel: Thou that leadest Joseph like a flock.

The COLLECT

Stir up our hearts, O Lord, to make ready the way of Thine only-begotten Son, so that by His coming we may be enabled to serve Thee with pure minds; through Jesus Christ, Thy Son, our Lord, who liveth, and reigneth, with the Father and the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end.

The FIRST LESSON Micah 4:1-7 (NKJV)

Now it shall come to pass in the latter days That the mountain of the Lord's house Shall be established on the top of the mountains, And shall be exalted above the hills; And peoples shall flow to it. Many nations shall come and say, "Come, and let us go up to the mountain of the LORD, To the house of the God of Jacob; He will teach us His ways, And we shall walk in His paths." For out of Zion the law shall go forth, And the word of the LORD from Jerusalem. He shall judge between many peoples, And rebuke strong nations afar off; They shall beat their swords into plowshares, And their spears into pruning hooks; Nation shall not lift up sword against nation, Neither shall they learn war any more. But everyone shall sit under his vine and under his fig tree, And no one shall make them afraid; For the mouth of the LORD of hosts has spoken.

For all people walk each in the name of his god, But we will walk in the name of the LORD our God Forever and ever.

"In that day," says the LORD, "I will assemble the lame, I will gather the outcast And those whom I have afflicted; I will make the lame a remnant, And the outcast a strong nation; So the LORD will reign over them in Mount Zion From now on, even forever.

The GRADUAL (Ps.50:2-5; Luke 21:26-27)

P:/C: Out of Zion, the perfection of beauty, God hath shined; our God shall come.

P:/C: Gather My saints together unto Me, those that have made a covenant with Me by sacrifice. Alleluia! Alleluia!

P:/C: The powers of heaven shall be shaken, and then shall they see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory. Alleluia!

The EPISTLE Romans 15:4-13 (NKJV)

For whatever things were written before were written for our learning, that we through the patience and comfort of the Scriptures might have hope. Now may the God of patience and comfort grant you to be like-minded toward one another, according to Christ Jesus, that you may with one mind and one mouth glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Therefore receive one another, just as Christ also received us, to the glory of God. Now I say that Jesus Christ has become a servant to the circumcision for the truth of God, to confirm the promises made to the fathers, and that the Gentiles might glorify God for His mercy, as it is written:

"For this reason I will confess to You among the Gentiles, And sing to Your name."

And again he says: "Rejoice, O Gentiles, with His people!"

And again: "Praise the LORD, all you Gentiles! Laud Him, all you peoples!"

And again, Isaiah says: "There shall be a root of Jesse; And He who shall rise to reign over the Gentiles, In Him the Gentiles shall hope."

Now may the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, that you may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

The SENTENCE for the Season (Psalm 25:6)

P:/C: Hallelujah! Remember, O Lord, Thy tender mercies: for they have been ever of old. Hallelujah!

The HOLY GOSPEL St. Luke 21:25-36 (NKJV)

"And there will be signs in the sun, in the moon, and in the stars; and on the earth distress of nations, with perplexity, the sea and the waves roaring; men's hearts failing them from fear and the expectation of those things which are coming on the earth, for the powers of heaven will be shaken.

"Then they will see the Son of Man coming in a cloud with power and great glory.

"Now when these things begin to happen, look up and lift up your heads, because your redemption draws near."

Then He spoke to them a parable: "Look at the fig tree, and all the trees. When they are already budding, you see and know for yourselves that summer is now near. So you also, when you see these things happening, know that the kingdom of God is near.

"Assuredly, I say to you, this generation will by no means pass away till all things take place. Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will by no means pass away.

"But take heed to yourselves, lest your hearts be weighed down with carousing, drunkenness, and cares of this life, and that Day come on you unexpectedly. For it will come as a snare on all those who dwell on the face of the whole earth. Watch therefore, and pray always that you may be counted worthy to escape all these things that will come to pass, and to stand before the Son of Man."