The Liturgy of the Word

The First Reading: Isaiah 35:1-10

35 The wilderness and the solitary place shall be glad for them; and the desert shall rejoice, and blossom as the rose. 2 It shall blossom abundantly, and rejoice even with joy and singing: the glory of Lebanon shall be given unto it, the excellency of Carmel and Sharon, they shall see the glory of the Lord, and the excellency of our God. 3 Strengthen ye the weak hands, and confirm the feeble knees. 4 Say to them that are of a fearful heart, Be strong, fear not: behold, your God will come with vengeance, even God with a recompence; he will come and save you. 5 Then the eyes of the blind shall be opened, and the ears of the deaf shall be unstopped.

6 Then shall the lame man leap as an hart, and the tongue of the dumb sing: for in the wilderness shall waters break out, and streams in the desert. 7 And the parched ground shall become a pool, and the thirsty land springs of water: in the habitation of dragons, where each lay, shall be grass with reeds and rushes. 8 And an highway shall be there, and a way, and it shall be called The way of holiness; the unclean shall not pass over it; but it shall be for those: the wayfaring men, though fools, shall not err therein. 9 No lion shall be there, nor any ravenous beast shall go up thereon, it shall not be found there; but the redeemed shall walk there: 10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return, and come to Zion with songs and everlasting joy upon their heads: they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Canticle 18 (Luke 1:47-55)

REFRAIN  My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.
My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Saviour; for He has looked with favour on His lowly servant. My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

From this day, all generations will call me blessed. The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name. My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

He has mercy on those who fear Him in every generation. He has shown the strength of His arm, He has scattered the proud in their conceit. My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, and has lifted up the lowly. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich He has sent away empty.
My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

He has come to the help of His servant, Israel, for He has remembered His promise of mercy, the promise He made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever. My spirit rejoices in God, my Saviour.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit: as it was in the beginning, is now and will be for ever. Amen.

The Second Reading: James 5:7-10

7 Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. 8 Be ye also patient; stablish your hearts: for the coming of the Lord draweth nigh. 9 Grudge not one against another, brethren, lest ye be condemned: behold, the judge standeth before the door. 10 Take, my brethren, the prophets, who have spoken in the name of the Lord, for an example of suffering affliction, and of patience.

The word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Gospel Hymn

Come, Thou Long Expected Jesus

1. 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 saints thou art
Dear desire of every nation
Joy of every longing heart

2. 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

The Gospel

Matthew 11:2-11

Reader:         The Lord be with you. 
People:          And with thy Spirit. 
Reader:         The Holy Gospel Of Our Lord
                    Jesus Christ according to MATTHEW.
People:         Glory to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

2 Now when John had heard in the prison the works of Christ, he sent two of his disciples, 3 And said unto him, Art thou he that should come, or do we look for another? 4 Jesus answered and said unto them, Go and shew John again those things which ye do hear and see: 5 The blind receive their sight, and the lame walk, the lepers are cleansed, and the deaf hear, the dead are raised up, and the poor have the gospel preached to them. 6 And blessed is he, whosoever shall not be offended in me. 7 And as they departed, Jesus began to say unto the multitudes concerning John, What went ye out into the wilderness to see? A reed shaken with the wind? 8 But what went ye out for to see? A man clothed in soft raiment? behold, they that wear soft clothing are in kings' houses. 9 But what went ye out for to see? A prophet? yea, I say unto you, and more than a prophet. 10 For this is he, of whom it is written, Behold, I send my messenger before thy face, which shall prepare thy way before thee. 11 Verily I say unto you, Among them that are born of women there hath not risen a greater than John the Baptist: notwithstanding he that is least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.

The Gospel of Christ. 
Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Offertory Hymn

95 - O Come, Divine Messiah

666 - Doxology