Sunday 7 December 2025
Second Sunday of Advent (Year A)
First Reading - Isaiah 11.1-5,10a
A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.
A new son of David
will appear.
And the spirit of the Lord will be with him:
the spirit of wisdom, and understanding,
of authority, and strength,
of knowledge, and honouring the Lord.
He will not judge by appearances,
but with righteousness
he will bring justice
for the humble, the weak, and the poor.
The power of his words
will shake the earth,
and strike down the wicked.
Righteousness
and faithfulness
will be his strength,
and all the nations
will turn to him.
This is the word of the Lord.
Second Reading - Romans 15.4-9a
A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans.
Everything that was written
in former times
was written
to instruct us, and
to encourage us,
so that we can trust in God
with confidence,
patience, and endurance.
So I pray
that the God who gives encouragement
and confidence
will help you to live
in harmony with one another
in Christ Jesus,
and to give glory to God,
the Father
of our Lord Jesus Christ,
with one united voice.
For you should accept and welcome
one another,
just as Christ
has accepted
and welcomed you.
Christ became a servant,
first, to the descendants of Abraham,
to fulfil the promises
God made long ago.
And Christ also became
a servant to all,
so that people of every nation
will give glory to God
for God’s great mercy,
as the scriptures foretold.
This is the word of the Lord.
Gospel - Matthew 3.1-12
Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ
according to Matthew.
The prophet Isaiah
spoke
of the voice of one
crying out in the wilderness:
‘Prepare the way of the Lord.’
In fulfilment of this word,
John the Baptist appeared,
in the wilderness of Judea,
saying, ‘Repent,
for the kingdom of heaven
is near.’
John wore clothing made from camel’s hair,
and a leather belt around his waist.
And his food
was locusts
and wild honey.
People from Jerusalem,
and all Judea,
and all the region around the Jordan,
went out to hear John,
and they were baptised, by John,
in the river Jordan,
confessing their sins.
When John saw
that many religious leaders
were coming to him for baptism,
he said to them, ‘You brood of vipers!
You think
you can flee
from the judgement
that is coming.
But you must bear fruit
that shows
your repentance!
Do not imagine
that it is enough
to have Abraham as your father.
God could raise up,
from these stones,
children to Abraham!
The axe is ready,
and any tree
that does not
bear good fruit
will be cut down
and thrown into the fire.
I baptise you with water, for repentance,
but after me
comes one who is more powerful.
I am not worthy
even to carry his shoes.
He will baptise you
with the Holy Spirit
and with fire.
And he will separate the wheat from the chaff,
gathering the wheat into his barn,
and throwing the chaff
into the fire.’
This is the Gospel of the Lord.
