Scripture Readings

1st Reading: The Birth of Jesus Foretold
Luke 1:26-38

26 “ In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth,  27  to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary.  28  And he came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.” [a]   29  But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of greeting this might
be.  30  The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God.  31  And now, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus.  32  He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will give to him the throne of his ancestor David.  33  He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.”  34  Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” [b]   35  The angel said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born [c]  will be holy; he will be called Son of God.  36  And now, your relative Elizabeth in her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her who was said to be barren.  37  For nothing will be impossible with God.”  38  Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.”

2nd Reading: The Birth of Jesus
Luke 2:1-7
2 “In those days a decree went out from Emperor Augustus that all the world should be registered.  2  This was the first registration and was taken while Quirinius was governor of Syria.  3  All went to their own towns to be registered.  4  Joseph also went from the town of Nazareth in Galilee to Judea, to the city of David called Bethlehem, because he was descended from the house and family of David.  5  He went to be registered with Mary, to whom he was engaged and who was expecting a child.  6  While they were there, the time came for her to deliver her child.  7  And she gave birth to her firstborn son and wrapped him in bands of cloth, and laid him in a manger, because there was no place for them in the inn.”

3 rd Reading: The Shepherds and the Angels
Luke 2:8-20
8 “ In that region there were shepherds living in the fields, keeping watch over their flock by night.  9  Then an angel of the Lord stood before them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified.  10  But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for see—I am bringing you good news of great joy for all the people:  11  to you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, who is the Messiah, [a]  the Lord.  12  This will be a sign for you: you will find a child wrapped in bands of cloth and lying in a manger.”  13  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host, [b]  praising God and saying, 14  “Glory to God in the highest heaven, and on earth peace among those whom he favors!” [c] 15  When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go now to Bethlehem and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”  16  So they went with haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the child lying in the manger.  17  When they saw this, they made known what had been told them about this child;  18  and all who heard it were amazed at what the shepherds told them.  19  But Mary treasured all these words and pondered them in her heart.  20  The shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, as it had been told them.”

4 th Reading: The Wise Men Bring Gifts to Jesus
Matthew 2:1-11
2 “In the time of King Herod, after Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, magi [a]  from the east came to Jerusalem,  2  asking, “Where is the child who has been born king of the Jews? For we observed his star in the east [b]  and have come to pay him homage.”  3  When King Herod heard this, he was frightened, and all Jerusalem with him,  4  and calling together all the chief priests and scribes of the people, he inquired of them where the Messiah [c]  was to be born.  5  They told him, “In Bethlehem of Judea, for so it has been written by the prophet: 6  ‘And you, Bethlehem, in the land of Judah, are by no means least among the rulers of Judah, for from you shall come a ruler    who is to shepherd [d]  my people Israel.’ ” 7  Then Herod secretly called for the magi [e]  and learned from them the exact time when the star had appeared.  8  Then he sent them to Bethlehem, saying, “Go and search diligently for the child, and when you have found him, bring me word so that I may also go and pay him homage.”  9  When they had heard the king, they set out, and there, ahead of them, went the star that they had seen in the east, [f]  until it stopped over the place where the child was.  10  When they saw that the star had stopped, [g]  they were overwhelmed with joy.  11  On entering the house, they saw the child with Mary his mother, and they knelt down and paid him homage. Then, opening their treasure chests, they offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh.”

Old Testament Reading – Isaiah 35:1-10 (NLT)

Hope for Restoration
35 Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days.
    The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses.
2  Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers
    and singing and joy!

The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon,
    as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon.
There the LORD will display his glory,
    the splendor of our God.
3  With this news, strengthen those who have tired hands,
    and encourage those who have weak knees.
4  Say to those with fearful hearts,
    “Be strong, and do not fear,
for your God is coming to destroy your enemies.
    He is coming to save you.”
5  And when he comes, he will open the eyes of the blind
    and unplug the ears of the deaf.
6  The lame will leap like a deer,
    and those who cannot speak will sing for joy!
Springs will gush forth in the wilderness,
    and streams will water the wasteland.
7  The parched ground will become a pool,
    and springs of water will satisfy the thirsty land.
Marsh grass and reeds and rushes will flourish
    where desert jackals once lived.
8  And a great road will go through that once deserted land.
    It will be named the Highway of Holiness.
Evil-minded people will never travel on it.
    It will be only for those who walk in God’s ways;
    fools will never walk there.
9  Lions will not lurk along its course,
    nor any other ferocious beasts.
There will be no other dangers.
    Only the redeemed will walk on it.
10  Those who have been ransomed by the LORD will return.
    They will enter Jerusalem [a]  singing,
    crowned with everlasting joy.
Sorrow and mourning will disappear,
    and they will be filled with joy and gladness.

Gospel Reading – Luke 21:25-36 (NRSV)

The Coming of the Son of Man
25  “There will be signs in the sun, the moon, and the stars and on the earth distress among nations confused by the roaring of the sea and the waves.  26  People will faint from fear and foreboding of what is coming upon the world, for the powers of the heavens will be shaken.  27  Then they will see ‘the Son of Man coming in a cloud’ with power and great glory.  28  Now when these things begin to take place, stand up and raise your heads, because your redemption is drawing near.” [a]

The Lesson of the Fig Tree
29 “ Then he told them a parable: “Look at the fig tree and all the trees;  30  as soon as they sprout leaves you can see for yourselves and know that summer is already near.  31  So also, when you see these things taking place, you know that the kingdom of God is near.  32  Truly I tell you, this generation will not pass away until all things have taken place.  33  Heaven and earth will
pass away, but my words will not pass away.”

Exhortation to Watch
34  “Be on guard so that your hearts are not weighed down with dissipation and drunkenness and the worries of this life and that day does not catch you unexpectedly,  35  like a trap. For it will come upon all who live on the face of the whole earth.  36  Be alert at all times, praying that you may have the strength to escape all these things that will take place and to stand before
the Son of Man.”

Gospel Reading – Matthew 25:31-46 (NLT)

The Final Judgment
31  “But when the Son of Man [a]  comes in his glory, and all the angels with
him, then he will sit upon his glorious throne.  32  All the nations [b]  will be
gathered in his presence, and he will separate the people as a shepherd
separates the sheep from the goats.  33  He will place the sheep at his right
hand and the goats at his left.
34  “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed
by my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the creation of the
world.  35  For I was hungry, and you fed me. I was thirsty, and you gave me a
drink. I was a stranger, and you invited me into your home.  36  I was naked,
and you gave me clothing. I was sick, and you cared for me. I was in
prison, and you visited me.’
37  “Then these righteous ones will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you
hungry and feed you? Or thirsty and give you something to drink?  38  Or a
stranger and show you hospitality? Or naked and give you
clothing?  39  When did we ever see you sick or in prison and visit you?’
40  “And the King will say, ‘I tell you the truth, when you did it to one of the
least of these my brothers and sisters, [c]  you were doing it to me!’
41  “Then the King will turn to those on the left and say, ‘Away with you, you
cursed ones, into the eternal fire prepared for the devil and his
demons. [d]   42  For I was hungry, and you didn’t feed me. I was thirsty, and you

didn’t give me a drink.  43  I was a stranger, and you didn’t invite me into your
home. I was naked, and you didn’t give me clothing. I was sick and in
prison, and you didn’t visit me.’
44  “Then they will reply, ‘Lord, when did we ever see you hungry or thirsty or
a stranger or naked or sick or in prison, and not help you?’
45  “And he will answer, ‘I tell you the truth, when you refused to help the
least of these my brothers and sisters, you were refusing to help me.’
46  “And they will go away into eternal punishment, but the righteous will go
into eternal life.”