December 17, 2003, 3rd Sunday of Advent.

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah,

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 broken-hearted,

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 adorn with a diadem, like a bride

be decked 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

The Word of the Lord

The Word

The Lord My soul rejoices in my God, my soul rejoices in my God. My soul rejoices in my God. My soul rejoices in my God. My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord. My spirit rejoices in God, my Savior.

For he has looked upon his lowly servant.

From this day all generations will call me blessed.

My soul rejoices in my God.

My soul rejoices in my God.

The Almighty has done great things for me, and holy is His name.

He has mercy on those who fear him in every generation.

My soul rejoices in my God. My soul rejoices in my God. He has filled the hungry with good things, and the rich he has sent away empty.

He has come to the help of his servant Israel,

for he has remembered his promise of mercy.

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