Sunday 16 November Second Sunday before Advent

FIRST READING Malachi 4.1–2a

A reading from the book of the prophet Malachi.

1 See, the day is coming, burning like an oven,

when all the arrogant and all evildoers will be stubble;

the day that comes shall burn them up, says the LORD of hosts,

so that it will leave them neither root nor branch.

2 But for you who revere my name the sun of righteousness shall rise, with healing in its wings.

PSALM Psalm 98

R The Lord comes to judge the earth

[and the peoples with equity].

1 Sing to the Lord a new song,

for he has done marvellous things.

2 With his right hand and his holy arm

has he won for himself the victory.

3 The Lord has made known his victory;

his righteousness has he openly shown

in the sight of the nations. R

4 He remembers his mercy and faithfulness

to the house of Israel,

and all the ends of the earth have seen

the victory of our God.

5 Shout with joy to the Lord, all you lands;

lift up your voice, rejoice and sing. R

6 Sing to the Lord with the harp,

with the harp and the voice of song.

7 With trumpets and the sound of the horn

shout with joy before the King, the Lord. R

8 Let the sea make a noise and all that is in it,

the lands and those who dwell therein.

9 Let the rivers clap their hands,

and let the hills ring out with joy before the Lord,

when he comes to judge the earth.

10 In righteousness shall he judge the world,

and the peoples with equity. R

SECOND READING 2 Thessalonians 3.6–13

A reading from the second letter of Paul to the Thessalonians.

6 We command you, beloved,

in the name of our Lord Jesus Christ,

to keep away from believers who are living in idleness

and not according to the tradition that they received from us.

7 For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us;

we were not idle when we were with you,

8 and we did not eat anyone’s bread without paying for it;

but with toil and labour we worked night and day,

so that we might not burden any of you.

9 This was not because we do not have that right,

but in order to give you an example to imitate.

10 For even when we were with you,

we gave you this command:

Anyone unwilling to work should not eat.

11 For we hear that some of you are living in idleness,

mere busybodies, not doing any work.

12 Now such persons we command and exhort in the Lord Jesus Christ

to do their work quietly and to earn their own living.

13 Brothers and sisters, do not be weary in doing what is right.

GOSPEL Luke 21.5–19

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

5 When some were speaking about the temple,

how it was adorned with beautiful stones and gifts dedicated to God,

Jesus said,

6 ‘As for these things that you see,

the days will come when not one stone will be left upon another;

all will be thrown down.’

7 They asked him,

‘Teacher, when will this be,

and what will be the sign that this is about to take place?’

8 And Jesus said,

‘Beware that you are not led astray;

for many will come in my name and say,

“I am he!” and, “The time is near!”

Do not go after them.

9 When you hear of wars and insurrections,

do not be terrified;

for these things must take place first,

but the end will not follow immediately.’

10 Then he said to them,

‘Nation will rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom;

11 there will be great earthquakes,

and in various places famines and plagues;

and there will be dreadful portents

and great signs from heaven.

12 But before all this occurs,

they will arrest you and persecute you;

they will hand you over to synagogues and prisons,

and you will be brought before kings and governors

because of my name.

13 This will give you an opportunity to testify.

14 So make up your minds not to prepare your defence in advance;

15 for I will give you words and a wisdom

that none of your opponents will be able to withstand or contradict.

16 You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers,

by relatives and friends;

and they will put some of you to death.

17 You will be hated by all because of my name.

18 But not a hair of your head will perish.

19 By your endurance you will gain your souls.’

CHRIST THE KING YEAR C

SUNDAY 23rd NOVEMBER

FIRST READING Jeremiah 23.1–6

A reading from the book of the prophet Jeremiah.

1 Woe to the shepherds who destroy and scatter the sheep of my pasture! says the LORD.

2 Therefore thus says the LORD, the God of Israel,

concerning the shepherds who shepherd my people:

It is you who have scattered my flock,

and have driven them away,

and you have not attended to them.

So I will attend to you for your evil doings,

says the LORD.

3 Then I myself will gather the remnant of my flock

out of all the lands where I have driven them,

and I will bring them back to their fold,

and they shall be fruitful and multiply.

4 I will raise up shepherds over them who will shepherd them,

and they shall not fear any longer, or be dismayed,

nor shall any be missing, says the LORD.

5 The days are surely coming, says the LORD,

when I will raise up for David a righteous Branch,

and he shall reign as king and deal wisely,

and shall execute justice and righteousness in the land.

6 In his days Judah will be saved and Israel will live in safety.

And this is the name by which he will be called:

‘The LORD is our righteousness.’

=

CANTICLE OR PSALM

PSALM Psalm 46

R The Lord of hosts is with us:

the God of Jacob is our stronghold.

1 God is our refuge and strength,

a very present help in trouble;

2 Therefore we will not fear, though the earth be moved,

and though the mountains be toppled

into the depths of the sea;

3 Though its waters rage and foam,

and though the mountains tremble at its tumult. R

[ 4 The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our stronghold. ]

5 There is a river whose streams

make glad the city of God,

the holy habitation of the Most High.

6 God is in the midst of her;

she shall not be overthrown;

God shall help her at the break of day.

7 The nations make much ado

and the kingdoms are shaken;

God has spoken and the earth shall melt away. R

[ 8 The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our stronghold. ]

9 Come now and look upon the works of the Lord,

what awesome things he has done on earth.

10 It is he who makes war to cease in all the world;

he breaks the bow and shatters the spear

and burns the shields with fire.

11 ‘Be still, then, and know that I am God;

I will be exalted among the nations;

I will be exalted in the earth.’ R

[The Lord of hosts is with us;

the God of Jacob is our stronghold. ]

SECOND READING Colossians 1.11–20

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Colossians.

Brothers and sisters:

11 May you be made strong

with all the strength that comes from his glorious power,

and may you be prepared to endure everything with patience,

12 while joyfully giving thanks to the Father,

who has enabled you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the light.

13 He has rescued us from the power of darkness

and transferred us into the kingdom of his beloved Son,

14 in whom we have redemption,

the forgiveness of sins.

15 He is the image of the invisible God,

the firstborn of all creation;

16 for in him all things in heaven and on earth were created,

things visible and invisible,

whether thrones or dominions or rulers or powers –

all things have been created through him and for him.

17 He himself is before all things,

and in him all things hold together.

18 He is the head of the body, the church;

he is the beginning, the firstborn from the dead,

so that he might come to have first place in everything.

19 For in him all the fullness of God was pleased to dwell,

20 and through him God was pleased to reconcile to himself all things,

whether on earth or in heaven,

by making peace through the blood of his cross.

GOSPEL Luke 23.33–43

Hear the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Luke.

33 When they came to the place that is called The Skull,

they crucified Jesus there with the criminals,

one on his right and one on his left.

34 Then Jesus said,

‘Father, forgive them;

for they do not know what they are doing.’

And they cast lots to divide his clothing.

35 And the people stood by, watching;

but the leaders scoffed at him, saying,

‘He saved others;

let him save himself if he is the Messiah of God, his chosen one!’

36 The soldiers also mocked him,

coming up and offering him sour wine,

37 and saying, ‘If you are the King of the Jews, save yourself!’

38 There was also an inscription over him,

‘This is the King of the Jews.’

39 One of the criminals who were hanged there

kept deriding him and saying,

‘Are you not the Messiah?

Save yourself and us!’

40 But the other rebuked him, saying,

‘Do you not fear God,

since you are under the same sentence of condemnation?

41 And we indeed have been condemned justly,

for we are getting what we deserve for our deeds,

but this man has done nothing wrong.’

42 Then he said,

‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’

43 Jesus replied,

‘Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.’