This is the third Sunday of Advent. The lesson is from the Apostle Paul to the Philippians

chapter 4, verses 4 through 7. Brethren, rejoice in the Lord always, again I say rejoice. Let your

moderation be known to all men. The Lord is near. Have no anxiety, but in every prayer and supplication with Thanksgiving,

let your petitions be made known to God. And may the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,

guard your hearts and your minds in Christ, Jesus, our Lord.

Continuation of the Holy Gospel according to St. John, chapter 1, verses 19 to 28.

At that time, the Jews sent to John from Jerusalem priests and Levites to ask him,

Who are you? And he acknowledged and did not deny, and he acknowledged,

I am not the Christ.

And they asked him, what then?

Are you Elias?

And he said, I am not.

Are you the prophet?

And he answered no.

They therefore said to him, who are you, that we may give an answer to those who sent us.

What have you to say of yourself?

He said, I am the voice of one crying in the desert, make straight the way of the Lord,

as said Isaiah's the prophet.

And they who had been sent were from among the Pharisees, and they asked him and said to him, Why then do you baptize if you are not the Christ, nor Elias, nor the prophet?

John said to them in answer, I baptize with water, but in the midst of you there has stood one

whom you do not know. He it is who is to come after me, who has been set above me? The strap of whose sandal I am not

worthy to loosen. These things took place at Bethany beyond the Jordan, where John was baptizing.

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