Sunday between 18 and 24 December    

Fourth Sunday of Advent (Year A)

First Reading - Isaiah 7.10-14

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The Lord said to Ahaz, ‘Ask for a sign from the Lord your God. Let it be as deep as the underworld, or as high as heaven.’ But Ahaz replied, ‘I will not ask for a sign, for I will not put the Lord to the test.’ Now hear this, you people of David. You try the patience of mortals. You even try the patience of God! And yet the Lord will indeed give you a sign. A young woman will bear a son, and name him Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us”. This is the word of the Lord.

Second Reading - Romans 1.1-7

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans. From Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called by God to be an apostle. The gospel we proclaim was promised long ago, through the prophets, in the holy scriptures. It is the gospel of the Son of God, Jesus Christ our Lord. In the flesh, he was descended from David. In the Holy Spirit, he was declared, in great power, by his resurrection from the dead, to be the Son of God. Through him, we have received God’s grace, and we have been commissioned as apostles, to call people of all nations to faith, including yourselves, who are called to belong to Jesus Christ. We write now to all God’s beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints. Grace to you, and peace, from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ. This is the word of the Lord.

Gospel - Matthew 1.18-23

Hear the Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ according to Matthew. The birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. Mary, his mother, was pledged in marriage to Joseph. But before they came together, she was found to be expecting a child by the Holy Spirit. Joseph, being a righteous man, and not wishing to expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just as he had resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream, and said, ‘Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived within her is from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, which means, “the Lord is our Saviour”, for he will save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil the word of the Lord through the prophet Isaiah: ‘A young woman will bear a son, and name him Emmanuel, which means, “God is with us”.’ This is the Gospel of the Lord.