Revised Common Lectionary (Complementary)
Chapter 35
Israel’s Deliverance[a]
1 The wilderness and the parched land will exult;
the Arabah will rejoice and bloom;(A)
2 Like the crocus it shall bloom abundantly,
and rejoice with joyful song.
The glory of Lebanon will be given to it,
the splendor of Carmel and Sharon;
They will see the glory of the Lord,
the splendor of our God.(B)
3 Strengthen hands that are feeble,
make firm knees that are weak,(C)
4 Say to the fearful of heart:
Be strong, do not fear!
Here is your God,
he comes with vindication;
With divine recompense
he comes to save you.(D)
5 Then the eyes of the blind shall see,
and the ears of the deaf be opened;(E)
6 Then the lame shall leap like a stag,
and the mute tongue sing for joy.
For waters will burst forth in the wilderness,
and streams in the Arabah.(F)
7 The burning sands will become pools,
and the thirsty ground, springs of water;
The abode where jackals crouch
will be a marsh for the reed and papyrus.
8 A highway will be there,
called the holy way;
No one unclean may pass over it,
but it will be for his people;
no traveler, not even fools, shall go astray on it.(G)
9 No lion shall be there,
nor any beast of prey approach,
nor be found.
But there the redeemed shall walk,(H)
10 And the ransomed of the Lord shall return,
and enter Zion singing,
crowned with everlasting joy;
They meet with joy and gladness,
sorrow and mourning flee away.(I)
II
5 Blessed the one whose help is the God of Jacob,
whose hope is in the Lord, his God,
6 The maker of heaven and earth,
the seas and all that is in them,(A)
Who keeps faith forever,
7 secures justice for the oppressed,(B)
who gives bread to the hungry.
The Lord sets prisoners free;(C)
8 the Lord gives sight to the blind.
The Lord raises up those who are bowed down;(D)
the Lord loves the righteous.
9 The Lord protects the resident alien,
comes to the aid of the orphan and the widow,(E)
but thwarts the way of the wicked.
10 The Lord shall reign forever,
your God, Zion, through all generations!(F)
Hallelujah!
The Canticle of Mary. 46 (A)And Mary said:[a]
“My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord;(B)
47 my spirit rejoices in God my savior.(C)
48 For he has looked upon his handmaid’s lowliness;
behold, from now on will all ages call me blessed.(D)
49 The Mighty One has done great things for me,
and holy is his name.(E)
50 His mercy is from age to age
to those who fear him.(F)
51 He has shown might with his arm,
dispersed the arrogant of mind and heart.(G)
52 He has thrown down the rulers from their thrones
but lifted up the lowly.(H)
53 The hungry he has filled with good things;
the rich he has sent away empty.(I)
54 He has helped Israel his servant,
remembering his mercy,(J)
55 according to his promise to our fathers,
to Abraham and to his descendants forever.”(K)
Patience and Oaths. 7 [a]Be patient, therefore, brothers, until the coming of the Lord. See how the farmer waits for the precious fruit of the earth, being patient with it until it receives the early and the late rains.[b] 8 You too must be patient. Make your hearts firm, because the coming of the Lord is at hand.(A) 9 Do not complain, brothers, about one another, that you may not be judged. Behold, the Judge is standing before the gates. 10 Take as an example of hardship and patience, brothers, the prophets who spoke in the name of the Lord.
IV. Opposition from Israel
The Messengers from John the Baptist. 2 [a](A)When John heard in prison[b] of the works of the Messiah, he sent his disciples to him 3 [c]with this question, “Are you the one who is to come, or should we look for another?” 4 Jesus said to them in reply, “Go and tell John what you hear and see: 5 [d]the blind regain their sight, the lame walk, lepers are cleansed, the deaf hear, the dead are raised, and the poor have the good news proclaimed to them.(B) 6 And blessed is the one who takes no offense at me.”
Jesus’ Testimony to John.[e] 7 As they were going off, Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, “What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind?(C) 8 Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. 9 Then why did you go out? To see a prophet?[f] Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written:
‘Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you;
he will prepare your way before you.’(D)
11 Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist; yet the least in the kingdom of heaven is greater than he.[g]
Scripture texts, prefaces, introductions, footnotes and cross references used in this work are taken from the New American Bible, revised edition © 2010, 1991, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, Inc., Washington, DC All Rights Reserved. No part of this work may be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.