Readings for Celebrating Advent

⁶⁸ “Blessed be the Lord, Israel’s God!
He’s come to his people and bought them their freedom.
⁶⁹ He’s raised up a horn of salvation for us
in David’s house, the house of his servant,
⁷⁰ just as he promised, through the mouths of his prophets,
the holy ones, speaking from ages of old:
⁷¹ salvation from our enemies, rescue from hatred,
⁷² mercy to our ancestors, keeping his holy covenant.
⁷³ He swore an oath to Abraham our father,
⁷⁴ to give us deliverance from fear and from foes,
so we might worship him, ⁷⁵ holy and righteous
before his face to the end of our days.
⁷⁶ You, child, will be called the prophet of the Highest One,
You’ll go before the Lord, preparing his way,
⁷⁷ letting his people know of salvation,
through the forgiveness of all their sins.
⁷⁸ The heart of our God is full of mercy,
that’s why his daylight has dawned from on high,
⁷⁹ bringing light to the dark, as we sat in death’s shadow,
guiding our feet in the path of peace.”