The Daily Readings for SUNDAY, December 18, 2016- 4th Sunday in Advent

Light four candles to watch for Messiah:
let the light banish darkness.
He is coming, tell the glad tidings.
Let your light be shining.

First Reading
from the Old Testament

Again the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put the LORD to the test. Then Isaiah said: "Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted. (Isaiah 7:10-16, NRSV)

This is the Word of the Lord

Responsorial Psalm

Psalm 80:1-7, 16-18 Prayer for Israel’s Restoration
1  Give ear, O Shepherd of Israel, you who lead Joseph like a flock! You who are enthroned upon the cherubim, shine forth
2  before Ephraim and Benjamin and Manasseh. Stir up your might, and come to save us!
3  Restore us, O God; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
4  O Lord God of hosts, how long will you be angry with your people’s prayers?
5  You have fed them with the bread of tears, and given them tears to drink in full measure.
6  You make us the scorn[a] of our neighbors; our enemies laugh among themselves.
7  Restore us, O God of hosts; let your face shine, that we may be saved.
16  They have burned it with fire, they have cut it down; may they perish at the rebuke of your countenance.
17  But let your hand be upon the one at your right hand, the one whom you made strong for yourself.
18  Then we will never turn back from you; give us life, and we will call on your name.

Second Reading
from the Epistles

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ, To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:1-7, NRSV)

This is the Word of the Lord

New Revised Standard Version Bible, copyright 1989, Division of Christian Education of the National Council of the Churches of Christ in the United States of America. Used by permission. All rights reserved. The New Revised Standard Version Bible may be quoted and/or reprinted up to and inclusive of five hundred (500) verses without express written permission of the publisher, provided the verses quoted do not amount to a complete book of the Bible or account for fifty percent (50%) of the total work in which they are quoted.