Readings for Celebrating Advent

⁶⁸ “Let us praise the Lord, the God of Israel,
    because he has come to help his people and has given them freedom.
⁶⁹ He has given us a powerful Savior
    from the family of God’s servant David.
⁷⁰ He said that he would do this
    through his holy prophets who lived long ago:
⁷¹ He promised he would save us from our enemies
    and from the power of all those who hate us.
⁷² He said he would give mercy to our ancestors
    and that he would remember his holy promise.
⁷³ God promised Abraham, our father,
⁷⁴ that he would save us from the power of our enemies
    so we could serve him without fear,
⁷⁵ being holy and good before God as long as we live.

⁷⁶ “Now you, child, will be called a prophet of the Most High God.
    You will go before the Lord to prepare his way.
⁷⁷ You will make his people know that they will be saved
    by having their sins forgiven.
⁷⁸ With the loving mercy of our God,
    a new day from heaven will dawn upon us.
⁷⁹ It will shine on those who live in darkness,
    in the shadow of death.
It will guide us into the path of peace.”