Gospel of December 9 2018

Book of Baruch 5,1: 9-XNUMX.
Put down, O Jerusalem, the garment of mourning and affliction, put on the splendor of the glory that comes to you from God forever.
Wrap yourself in the mantle of God's righteousness, put on your head the diadem of glory of the Eternal,
because God will show your splendor to every creature under the sky.
You will be called by God forever: Peace of justice and glory of piety.
Arise, O Jerusalem, and stand on the high ground and look to the east; see your children gathered from west to east, at the word of the Saint, exulting at the remembrance of God.
They walked away from you, pursued by enemies; now God brings them back to you in triumph as over a royal throne.
For God has determined to pave every high mountain and age-old cliffs, to fill the valleys and pave the earth for Israel to proceed safely under the glory of God.
Even the forests and every fragrant tree will cast a shadow over Israel by God's command.
Because God will bring Israel with joy to the light of his glory, with the mercy and justice that come from him.

Salmi 126(125),1-2ab.2cd-3.4-5.6.
When the Lord brought back the prisoners of Zion,
we seemed to dream.
Then our mouth opened to the smile,
our language melted into songs of joy.

Then it was said among the peoples:
"The Lord has done great things for them."
The Lord has done great things for us,
has filled us with joy.

Lord, bring our prisoners back,
like the streams of the Negheb.
Who sows in tears
will reap with jubilation.

In going, he leaves and cries,
bringing the seed to be thrown,
but in returning, he comes with jubilation,
carrying his sheaves.

Letter of Saint Paul the Apostle to the Philippians 1,4-6.8-11.
always praying with joy for you in all my prayers,
because of your cooperation in spreading the gospel from the first day to the present,
and I am persuaded that he who began this good work in you will carry it to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.
In fact, God is a witness to me of the deep affection I have for all of you in the love of Christ Jesus.
And therefore I pray that your charity will be enriched more and more in knowledge and in all kinds of discernment,
so that you can always distinguish the best and be whole and irreproachable for the day of Christ,
fill with those fruits of justice that are obtained through Jesus Christ, to the glory and praise of God.

From the Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Luke 3,1-6.
In the fifteenth year of the empire of Tiberius Caesar, while Pontius Pilate was governor of Judea, Herod tetrarch of Galilee, and Philip, his brother, tetrarch of Iturèa and Traconìtide, and Lysània tetrarch of Abilène,
under the high priests Anna and Caiaphas, the word of God descended on John, son of Zechariah, in the desert.
And he traveled throughout the Jordan region, preaching a baptism of conversion for the forgiveness of sins,
as it is written in the book of oracles of the prophet Isaiah: Voice of one crying in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord, make his paths straight!
Every ravine is filled, every mountain and every hill is lowered; the tortuous steps are straight; the impervious places leveled.
Every man will see the salvation of God!