First Reading

Reading from the book of Isaiah

Isaiah 49, 1-6

Listen to me, O islands;
pay attention, you distant peoples.
The Lord called me from the womb;
from my mother’s belly he pronounced my name.

He made my mouth like a sharp sword,
he hid me in the shadow of his hand,
he made me a polished arrow,
he kept me in his quiver and said to me:
“You are my servant, Israel;
in you I will manifest my glory.”
Then I thought, “I have labored in vain,
I have spent my strength for nothing;
yet my cause was in the hands of the Lord,
my reward was with my God.”

Now the Lord speaks,
he who formed me from the womb
to be his servant,
to bring Jacob back to him
and gather Israel around him
–so greatly did the Lord honor me
and my God became my strength–.
Now the Lord says:
“It is too little that you should be my servant
only to restore the tribes of Jacob
and gather the survivors of Israel;
I will make you a light to the nations,
so that my salvation may reach
to the ends of the earth.”

Reading from the Acts of the Apostles

Acts 13, 22-26

In those days, Paul said to the Jews: “Brothers and sisters: God gave our ancestors David as king, of whom he made this praise: I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart, who will carry out all my purposes.

From David’s line, according to the promise, God has brought forth for Israel a savior: Jesus. John prepared his coming by preaching to all the people of Israel a baptism of repentance, and toward the end of his life, John said: ‘I am not the one you think I am. After me comes one whose sandals I am not worthy to untie.’

Brothers and sisters, descendants of Abraham, and all who fear God: this message of salvation has been sent to you.”

Gospel

Reading from the holy Gospel according to Saint Luke

Luke 1, 57-66. 80

In those days, the time came for Elizabeth to give birth, and she had a son. When her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her such great mercy, they rejoiced with her.

On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they wanted to name him Zechariah after his father; but the mother objected, saying: “No. His name will be John.” They said to her: “But none of your relatives has that name.”

Then they made signs to the father to find out what he wanted to name the child. He asked for a tablet and wrote: “His name is John.” Everyone was astonished. At that moment Zechariah’s tongue was loosened, he regained his speech, and he began to praise God.

Fear came over all the neighbors, and throughout the hill country of Judea this event was talked about. All who heard of it wondered in amazement: “What will this child become?” They said this because the hand of God was truly with him.

The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he lived in the desert until the day he appeared publicly to the people of Israel.