First reading
Micah 5:1–4
He will stand and feed his flock with the power of the Lord.
Responsorial psalm
Psalm 79 (80):2–3, 15–16, 18–19
R. Lord, make us turn to you; let us see your face and we shall be saved.
Second reading
Hebrews 10:5–10
God, here I am! I am coming to obey your will.
Gospel acclamation
Luke 1:38
I am the servant of the Lord: may his will for me be done.
Gospel
Luke 1:39–45
Why should I be honoured with a visit from the mother of my Lord?
Images from the Word
- Leapt in her womb
- Mother of my Lord
- Promise made her
- Born for me
- Here I am
Liturgical notes
By the Fourth Sunday of Advent Christmas is very near. The mood of the liturgy shifts from the intense calls to conversion to a focus on the events immediately surrounding the birth of Jesus, a shift highlighted in the second preface for the Advent season.
—Homiletic Directory, §96
We are now well into the second part of Advent as we gather for Mass today. We are recounting the events that precede and lead to the birth of our Saviour, and these events cannot be related without reference to the full paschal mystery of Christ. We know that the one born in the crib is the paschal lamb who died and rose for our salvation. So, we are invited to be ‘watchful in prayer and exultant in his praise’. We look to our musicians to carry this call in the music they provide for us this Sunday.
‘Behold, a Virgin shall conceive and bear a son; and his name will be called Emmanuel.’
—communion antiphon