Questions for this week

Erin sent these questions with readings for this week, so I'm posting them here. 

We plan to be at mom's group this week.

First Reading:
Question 1: The Lord sent Isaiah to bring glad tidings to the poor, to heal the brokenhearted, give liberty to captives and release to prisoners. Do you participate in the sorrows of the world in any way? Are these lines glad tidings for you? On the other hand, do you help give healing to the poor and brokenhearted, and liberation to prisoners?

Second Reading:
Question 2: How can you actively ensure that the Spirit has opportunities to work in you? How would "test everything and pray without ceasing" work toward that end?

Gospel:
Question 3: In the first reading Isaiah was sent with a message from God. In the Gospel God sends John to testify to the light of Christ. Does God send you? How could you testify to the light in some way?



Third Sunday of Advent




Reading 1 Is 61:1-2a, 10-11

The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me,
because the LORD has anointed me;
 he has sent me to bring glad tidings to the poor,
to heal the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to the captives
and release to the prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from the LORD
and a day of vindication by our God.

I rejoice heartily in the LORD,
in my God is the joy of my soul;
for he has clothed me with a robe of salvation
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
like a bridegroom adorned with a diadem,
like a bride bedecked with her jewels.
 As the earth brings forth its plants,
and a garden makes its growth spring up,
so will the Lord GOD make justice and praise
spring up before all the nations.


Reading 2 1 Thes 5:16-24

Brothers and sisters:
Rejoice always. Pray without ceasing.
In all circumstances give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
Do not quench the Spirit.
Do not despise prophetic utterances.
 Test everything; retain what is good.
Refrain from every kind of evil.

May the God of peace make you perfectly holy
and may you entirely, spirit, soul, and body,
be preserved blameless for the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ.
 The one who calls you is faithful,
and he will also accomplish it.


Gospel Jn 1:6-8, 19-28

A man named John was sent from God.
 He came for testimony, to testify to the light,
so that all might believe through him.
He was not the light,
but came to testify to the light.

And this is the testimony of John.
When the Jews from Jerusalem sent priests
 and Levites to him
to ask him, "Who are you?"
He admitted and did not deny it,
but admitted, "I am not the Christ."
So they asked him,
"What are you then? Are you Elijah?"
And he said, "I am not."
 "Are you the Prophet?"
He answered, "No."
So they said to him,
"Who are you, so we can give an answer to those who sent us?
What do you have to say for yourself?"
He said:
"I am the voice of one crying out in the desert,
 'make straight the way of the Lord,'"
as Isaiah the prophet said."
Some Pharisees were also sent.
They asked him,
"Why then do you baptize
 if you are not the Christ or Elijah or the Prophet?"
 John answered them,
"I baptize with water;
but there is one among you whom you do not recognize,
the one who is coming after me,
whose sandal strap I am not worthy to untie."
This happened in Bethany across the Jordan,
 where John was baptizing.