FIRST READING Malachi 3:1-4 The Coming Messenger

 1. See, I am sending my messenger to prepare the way before me, and the Lord whom you seek will suddenly come to his temple. The messenger of the covenant in whom you delight--indeed, he is coming, says the Lord of hosts. 2. But who can endure the day of his coming, and who can stand when he appears? For he is like a refiner's fire and like fullers' soap; 3. he will sit as a refiner and purifier of silver, and he will purify the descendants of Levi and refine them like gold and silver, until they present offerings to the Lord in righteousness. 4. Then the offering of Judah and Jerusalem will be pleasing to the Lord as in the days of old and as in former years.

GOSPEL READING Luke 1:67-80

67. Then his father Zechariah was filled with the Holy Spirit and spoke this prophecy: 68. “Blessed be the Lord God of Israel, for he has looked favorably on his people and redeemed them. 69. He has raised up a mighty savior for us in the house of his servant David, as he spoke through the mouth of his holy prophets from of old, that we would be saved from our enemies and from the hand of all who hate us. 72. Thus he has shown the mercy promised to our ancestors, and has remembered his holy covenant, 73. the oath that he swore to our ancestor Abraham, to grant us 74. that we, being rescued from the hands of our enemies, might serve him without fear, 75. in holiness and righteousness before him all our days. 76. And you, child, will be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his ways, 77. to give knowledge of salvation to his people by the forgiveness of their sins. 78. By the tender mercy of our God, the dawn from on high will break upon us, 79. to give light to those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, to guide our feet into the way of peace."

80. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the wilderness until the day he appeared publicly to Israel.