December 10, 2003, 2nd Sunday of Advent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

Comfort. Give comfort to my people, says your God.

Speak tenderly to Jerusalem, and proclaim to her that her service is at an end.

Her guilt is expiated.

Indeed, she has received from the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. A voice cries out,

In the desert, prepare the way of the Lord.

Make straight in the wasteland, a highway for our God.

Every valley shall be filled in. Every mountain and hill shall be made low.

The rugged land shall be made a plain, the rough country, a broad valley.

Then the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all people shall see it together,

for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.

Go up on to a high mountain, Zion, Herald of Glad Tidings.

Cry out at the top of your voice.

Jerusalem, Herald of Good News.

Fear not to cry out, and say to the cities of Judah,

Here is your God.

Here comes with power power the Lord God

who rules by his strong arm

here is his reward with him

his recompense before him

like a shepherd

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