Reading for Revised Common Lectionary, Cycle A

Readings for Revised Common Lectionary, Cycle A

Prepared by Lutheran Bible Ministries (

December 22, 2013

Fourth Sunday in Advent

FIRST READING: Isaiah 7:10-16

10Once again the LORD God spoke to King Ahaz. This time he said,11"Ask me for proof that my promise will come true. Ask for something to happen deep in the world of the dead or high in the heavens above."
12"No, LORD," Ahaz answered. "I won't test you!"
13Then I said:

Listen, every one of you in the royal family of David. You have already tried my patience. Now you are trying God's patience by refusing to ask for proof.14But the LORD will still give you proof. A virgin is pregnant; she will have a son and will name him Immanuel. 15-16Even before the boy is old enough to know how to choose between right and wrong, he will eat yogurt and honey, and the countries of the two kings you fear will be destroyed.

PSALMODY: Psalm 80:1-7, 17-19

1Shepherd of Israel, you lead the descendants of Joseph,
and you sit on your throne
above the winged creatures.
Listen to our prayer and let your light shine
2for the tribes of Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh.
Save us by your power.
3Our God, make us strong again! Smile on us and save us.
4LORD God All-Powerful, how much longer
will the prayers of your people make you angry?
5You gave us tears for food,
and you made us drink them by the bowlful.
6Because of you, our enemies who live nearby
laugh and joke about us.
7But if you smile on us, we will be saved..
17But help the one who sits at your right side,
the one you raised to be your own.
18Then we will never turn away.
Put new life into us, and we will worship you.
19LORD God All-Powerful, make us strong again!
Smile on us and save us.

SECOND READING: Romans 1:1-7

From Paul, a servant of Christ Jesus.
God chose me to be an apostle, and he appointed me to preach the good news 2that he promised long ago by what his prophets said in the holy Scriptures. 3-4This good news is about his Son, our Lord Jesus Christ! As a human, he was from the family of David. But the Holy Spirit proved that Jesus is the powerful Son of God, because he was raised from death.
5Jesus was kind to me and chose me to be an apostle,c so that people of all nations would obey and have faith. 6You are some of those people chosen by Jesus Christ.
7This letter is to all of you in Rome. God loves you and has chosen you to be his very own people.
I pray that God our Father and our Lord Jesus Christ will be kind to you and will bless you with peace!

GOSPEL: Matthew 1:18-25

18This is how Jesus Christ was born. A young woman named Mary was engaged to Joseph from King David's family. But before they were married, she learned that she was going to have a baby by God's Holy Spirit. 19Joseph was a good man and did not want to embarrass Mary in front of everyone. So he decided to quietly call off the wedding.
20While Joseph was thinking about this, an angel from the Lord came to him in a dream. The angel said, "Joseph, the baby that Mary will have is from the Holy Spirit. Go ahead and marry her. 21Then after her baby is born, name him Jesus, because he will save his people from their sins."
22So the LORD'S promise came true, just as the prophet had said, 23"A virgin will have a baby boy, and he will be called Immanuel," which means "God is with us."
24After Joseph woke up, he and Mary were soon married, just as the LORD'S angel had told him to do. 25But they did not sleep together before her baby was born. Then Joseph named him Jesus.