Readings for Celebrating Advent

“My heart praises the Lord;
⁴⁷     my soul is glad because of God my Savior,
^{48     (A)}for he has remembered me, his lowly servant!
From now on all people will call me happy,
⁴⁹     because of the great things the Mighty God has done for me.
His name is holy;
⁵⁰     from one generation to another
    he shows mercy to those who honor him.
⁵¹ He has stretched out his mighty arm
    and scattered the proud with all their plans.
^52 (B)He has brought down mighty kings from their thrones,
    and lifted up the lowly.
⁵³ He has filled the hungry with good things,
    and sent the rich away with empty hands.
⁵⁴ He has kept the promise he made to our ancestors,
    and has come to the help of his servant Israel.
^55 (C)He has remembered to show mercy to Abraham
    and to all his descendants forever!”