2ND SUNDAY OF ADVENT
SUNDAY, DECEMBER 7TH, 2025​

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INTRODUCTION​

At the heart of our Advent preparation stands John the Baptist, who calls us to
     repent and make a new beginning. As the darkness increases we turn toward the
     approaching light of Christ. For Christians he is the root of Jesse, the righteous
     judge who welcomes all, especially the poor and meek of the earth. We wait with
     hope for that day when the wolf will dwell with the lamb, and there will be no more
     hurt or destruction. From the Lord’s table we are sent in the spirit of John the
     Baptist to proclaim that in Christ the kingdom of God has come near.

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PRAYER OF THE DAY

Stir up our hearts, Lord God, to prepare the way of your only Son. By his coming nurture
     our growth as people of repentance and peace; through Jesus Christ, our Savior and Lord,
     who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.​

FIRST READING

ISAIAH 11:1-10
Isaiah describes the coming of a future, ideal ruler who will renew David’s royal
     line (the stump of Jesse). Gifted by the spirit of God, this ruler will reign with
     perfect justice. Enmity and danger will be restored to harmony and peaceful
     coexistence.

1 A shoot shall come out from the stump of Jesse,
and a branch shall grow out of his roots.
2 The spirit of the Lord shall rest on him,
the spirit of wisdom and understanding,
the spirit of counsel and might,
the spirit of knowledge and the fear of the Lord.
3 His delight shall be in the fear of the Lord.

  He shall not judge by what his eyes see
  or decide by what his ears hear,
  4 but with righteousness he shall judge for the poor
  and decide with equity for the oppressed of the earth;
  he shall strike the earth with the rod of his mouth,
  and with the breath of his lips he shall kill the wicked.
  5 Righteousness shall be the belt around his waist
  and faithfulness the belt around his loins.

  6 The wolf shall live with the lamb;
  the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
  the calf and the lion will feed together,
  and a little child shall lead them.
  7 The cow and the bear shall graze;
  their young shall lie down together;
  and the lion shall eat straw like the ox.
  8 The nursing child shall play over the hole of the asp,
  and the weaned child shall put its hand on the adder’s den.
  9 They will not hurt or destroy
  on all my holy mountain,
  for the earth will be full of the knowledge of the Lord
  as the waters cover the sea.

10 On that day the root of Jesse shall stand as a signal to the peoples; the
     nations shall inquire of him, and his dwelling shall be glorious.

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PSALM

PSALM 72:1-7, 18-19
(Response) May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace. (Ps. 72:7)

1 Give the king your justice, O God,
and your righteousness to the king’s son;
2 that he may rule your people righteously
and the poor with justice;
3 that the mountains may bring prosperity to the people,
and the hills, in righteousness.
4 Let him defend the needy among the people,
rescue the poor, and crush the oppressor.
(Response) May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace. (Ps. 72:7)

5 May he live as long as the sun and moon endure,
from one generation to another.
6 Let him come down like rain upon the mown field,
like showers that water the earth.
7 In his time may the righteous flourish;
and let there be an abundance of peace till the moon shall be no more.
18 Blessed are you, Lord God, the God of Israel;
  you alone do wondrous deeds!
  19 And blessed be your glorious name forever,
  and may all the earth be filled with your glory. Amen. Amen.
(Response) May the righteous flourish; let there be an abundance of peace. (Ps. 72:7)

SECOND READING

ROMANS 15:4-13
God’s promise to include Gentiles within the circle of God’s blessed people has
     been fulfilled in Jesus Christ. Christians live out their unity by welcoming and
     encouraging each other just as Christ has welcomed them into God’s family.

4 Whatever was written in former days was written for our instruction, so that by
     steadfastness and by the encouragement of the scriptures we might have hope.
     5 May the God of steadfastness and encouragement grant you to live in harmony
     with one another, in accordance with Christ Jesus, 6 so that together you may
     with one voice glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

7 Welcome one another, therefore, just as Christ has welcomed you, for the glory
     of God. 8 For I tell you that Christ has become a servant of the circumcised on
     behalf of the truth of God in order that he might confirm the promises given to the
     ancestors 9 and that the gentiles might glorify God for his mercy. As it is written,
     “Therefore I will confess you among the gentiles
     and sing praises to your name”;
     10 and again he says,
     “Rejoice, O gentiles, with his people”;
     11 and again,
     “Praise the Lord, all you gentiles,
     and let all the peoples praise him”;
     12 and again Isaiah says,
     “The root of Jesse shall come,
     the one who rises to rule the gentiles;
    in him the gentiles shall hope.”
     13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace in believing, so that you    
     may abound in hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

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​​​​GOSPEL ACCLAMATION
Alleluia. Prepare the way of the Lord. All flesh shall see the salvation of God. Alleluia. (Luke 3:4, 6)

GOSPEL READING

MATTHEW 3:1-12
Just before Jesus begins his public ministry, John the Baptist appears, calling
     people to mend their ways and speaking of a powerful one who is to come.

1 In those days John the Baptist appeared in the wilderness of Judea,
     proclaiming, 2 “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven has come near.” 3 This is the
     one of whom the prophet Isaiah spoke when he said,
     “The voice of one crying out in the wilderness:
     ‘Prepare the way of the Lord;
     make his paths straight.’ ”
     4 Now John wore clothing of camel’s hair with a leather belt around his waist, and
     his food was locusts and wild honey. 5 Then Jerusalem and all Judea and all the
     region around the Jordan were going out to him, 6 and they were baptized by him
     in the River Jordan, confessing their sins.

     7 But when he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees coming for his
     baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers! Who warned you to flee from the
     coming wrath? 8 Therefore, bear fruit worthy of repentance, 9 and do not
     presume 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. 10 Even now the
     ax is lying at the root of the trees; therefore every tree that does not bear good
     fruit will be cut down and thrown into the fire.

     11 “I baptize you with water for repentance, but the one who is coming after me is
     more powerful than I, and I am not worthy to carry his sandals. He will baptize
     you with the Holy Spirit and fire. 12 His winnowing fork is in his hand, and he will
     clear his threshing floor and will gather his wheat into the granary, but the chaff
     he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

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