8. A reading from the Prophet
Jeremiah 23:5-8
See, the days are coming – it
is the Lord who speaks –
when I will raise a virtuous
9. Branch for David, who will
reign as true king and be wise,
practising honesty and
integrity in the land.
In his days Judah will be
saved and Israel dwell in
10. confidence. And this is the
name he will be called:
The-Lord-our-integrity. So,
then, the days are coming – it
is the Lord who speaks – when
people will no longer say, “As
11. the Lord lives who brought the
sons of Israel out of the land
of Egypt!” but, “As the Lord
lives who led back and
brought home the
descendants of the House of
12. Israel out of the land of the
North and from all the
countries to which he had
dispersed them, to live on
their own soil.”
14. In his days justice
shall flourish, and
peace until the
moon fails. The Psalm
15. O God, give your judgement to the
king, to a king’s son your justice,
that he may judge your people in
justice and your poor in right
judgement.
The Psalm
16. In his days justice
shall flourish, and
peace until the
moon fails. The Psalm
17. For he shall save the poor when
they cry and the needy who are
helpless.
He will have pity on the weak
and save the lives of the poor.
The Psalm
18. In his days justice
shall flourish, and
peace until the
moon fails. The Psalm
19. Blessed be the Lord, God of Israel,
who alone works wonders,
ever blessed his glorious name.
Let his glory fill the earth.
Amen! Amen!
The Psalm
20. In his days justice
shall flourish, and
peace until the
moon fails. The Psalm
21. Alleluia, alleluia!
Ruler of the House of Israel,
who gave the law to Moses
on Sinai, come and save us
with outstretched arm.
Alleluia! Gospel Acclamation
22. The Lord be with you.
And with your spirit.
A Reading from the holy Gospel
according to Matthew 1:18-24
Glory to you, O Lord.
The Gospel
23. This is how Jesus Christ came
to be born. His mother Mary
was betrothed to Joseph; but
before they came to live
together she was found to be
with child through the Holy
24. Spirit. Her husband Joseph;
being a man of honour and
wanting to spare her publicity,
decided to divorce her
informally. He had made up his
mind to do this when the angel
25. of the Lord appeared to him in
a dream and said, ‘Joseph son
of David, do not be afraid to
take Mary home as your wife,
because she has conceived
what is in her by the Holy
26. Spirit. She will give birth to a
son and you must name him
Jesus, because he is the one
who is to save his people from
their sins.’ Now all this took
place to fulfil the words
27. spoken by the Lord through
the prophet:
The virgin will conceive and
give birth to a son and they
will call him Emmanuel, a
name which means ‘
28. with-us.’ When Joseph woke
up he did what the angel of the
Lord had told him to do: he
took his wife to his home.
29. The Gospel of the Lord
Praise to you, Lord
Jesus Christ.
30.
31. The Peace of the Lord be
with you always.
And with your
spirit.
Let us offer each other
the sign of peace
We Share God’s Peace
32.
33. Father, slow to anger,
abounding in mercy,
you find your way to us when we
cannot find our way to you,
you are always faithful when we are
unfaithful.
34. Jesus Christ, you entered
the house of sinners,
you sat at the table of the
poor,
you mounted the Cross,
your throne of mercy.
35. Holy Spirit, you pour your
healing gifts over our wounds,
you anoint us to bring good
news to the poor,
you send us out as
missionaries of mercy.
36. God of Mercies, have mercy on
us, so that where sin abounds
your grace may abound all the
more,
and we shall become like you,
Merciful. Amen.
