3rd Sunday of Advent 2024

Join us for the 3rd Sunday of Advent 2024 on December 15, 2024, as we celebrate a Rite One Mass at 9:00 AM. You are welcome to join us in person, participate via our live stream, or watch the replay of the service later. Our podcast will also be available by Monday.

Collect for the 3rd Sunday of Advent 2024

Stir up your power, O Lord, and with great might come among us; and, because we are sorely hindered by our sins, let your bountiful grace and mercy speedily help and deliver us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom, with you and the Holy Spirit, be honor and glory, now and for ever. Amen.

Readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent 2024

Here are the readings we will read during Mass for the 3rd Sunday of Advent 2024.

Old Testament: Zephaniah 3:14-20

14 Sing aloud, O daughter Zion; shout, O Israel! Rejoice and exult with all your heart, O daughter Jerusalem!
15 The LORD has taken away the judgments against you, he has turned away your enemies. The king of Israel, the LORD, is in your midst; you shall fear disaster no more.
16 On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands grow weak.
17 The LORD, your God, is in your midst, a warrior who gives victory; he will rejoice over you with gladness, he will renew you in his love; he will exult over you with loud singing
18 as on a day of festival. I will remove disaster from you, so that you will not bear reproach for it.
19 I will deal with all your oppressors at that time. And I will save the lame and gather the outcast, and I will change their shame into praise and renown in all the earth.
20 At that time I will bring you home, at the time when I gather you; for I will make you renowned and praised among all the peoples of the earth, when I restore your fortunes before your eyes, says the LORD.

Psalm: Canticle 9 — The First Song of Isaiah (Isaiah 12:2-6)

2 Surely, it is God who saves me; I will trust in him and not be afraid. *
For the Lord is my stronghold and my sure defense, and he will be my Savior.
3 Therefore you shall draw water with rejoicing *
from the springs of salvation.
4 And on that day you shall say, *
Give thanks to the Lord and call upon his Name;
5 Make his deeds known among the peoples; *
see that they remember that his Name is exalted.
6 Sing the praises of the Lord, for he has done great things, *
and this is known in all the world.
7 Cry aloud, inhabitants of Zion, ring out your joy, *
for the great one in the midst of you is the Holy One of Israel.

Epistle: Philippians 4:4-7

4 Rejoice in the Lord always; again I will say, Rejoice.
5 Let your gentleness be known to everyone. The Lord is near.
6 Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.
7 And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Gospel: Luke 3:7-18

7 John said to the crowds that came out to be baptized by him, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the wrath to come?
8 Bear fruits worthy of repentance. Do not begin to say to yourselves, ‘We have Abraham as our ancestor’; for I tell you, God is able from these stones to raise up children to Abraham.
9 Even now the ax is lying at the root of the trees; every tree therefore that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire.”
10 And the crowds asked him, “What then should we do?”
11 In reply he said to them, “Whoever has two coats must share with anyone who has none; and whoever has food must do likewise.”
12 Even tax collectors came to be baptized, and they asked him, “Teacher, what should we do?”
13 He said to them, “Collect no more than the amount prescribed for you.”
14 Soldiers also asked him, “And we, what should we do?” He said to them, “Do not extort money from anyone by threats or false accusation, and be satisfied with your wages.”
15 As the people were filled with expectation, and all were questioning in their hearts concerning John, whether he might be the Messiah,
16 John answered all of them by saying, “I baptize you with water; but one who is more powerful than I is coming; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandals. He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
17 His winnowing fork is in his hand, to clear his threshing floor and to gather the wheat into his granary; but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”
18 So, with many other exhortations, he proclaimed the good news to the people.

Hymns

• Opening Hymn: 65 Prepare the way, O Zion
• Sequence Hymn: 56 O Come, O Come, Emmanuel
• Closing Hymn: 68 Rejoice! Rejoice, Believers

Reflection on the Readings:

The readings for the 3rd Sunday of Advent remind us of God’s promise of salvation and highlight the importance of preparing our hearts for Christ’s coming. We are called to rejoice in Zephaniah because God is in our midst, bringing victory and renewal. This passage emphasizes the joy and hope stemming from God’s presence.

The Canticle from Isaiah reinforces this theme of joy and salvation, inviting us to trust in God and proclaim His deeds. It is a song of confidence in God’s saving power and a call to share this joy with others.

In his letter to the Philippians, Paul encourages us to rejoice always and present our requests to God with thanksgiving. This passage underscores the peace from trusting God’s providence and living a gratitude-filled life.

Lastly, in Luke’s Gospel, John the Baptist calls the people to repentance and urges them to prepare for the coming of Jesus. His message challenges us to examine our lives, bear good fruit, and live justly. It is a call to transformation and readiness for the arrival of the Messiah.