THIRD SUNDAY OF ADVENT A Lectionary #7
At first glance, today's readings seem to echo the previous Sunday's in theme and its “players” (e.g., John the Baptizer). But there is a subtle and important shift that moves us closer to the mystery of the incarnation celebrated at Christmas.
Isaiah 35:1-6, 10. The messianic age is a transformative time. The land that once was home to one of Israel's bitterest enemies, the Kingdom of Edom, will be transformed after Edom's destruction into a garden. God is acting on behalf of the people, even to the point of healing people who are blind, deaf, and otherwise afflicted. This passage is directly quoted in the Gospel today.
Psalm of the Day: Ps (145) 146
This is an “acrostic” poem, each line beginning with the next letter of the Hebrew alphabet, which celebrates God as king. The divine rule is marked by the same signs that herald the coming messianic age: justice, freedom, healing, and mercy.
Alaba, Alma Mía, al Señor: Respuesta II (Reza) FYC 277
Lord, Come and Save Us (Alstott) BB
Lord, Come and Save Us (Ancell) JS 113
Lord, Come and Save Us (Batastini/Murray) CBW 23
Lord, Come and Save Us (Guimont) GC2 1010/LPMG 7
Lord, Come and Save Us (Honoré) WC 445/WS
Lord, Come and Save Us (Janco) PRM A3/PMB 560
Lord, Come and Save Us (Joncas) GP 283/SP2 74
Lord, Come and Save Us (LeBlanc/Gelineau) WOR 772/RS 194/LPGG 772
Lord, Come and Save Us (Schiavone) LP 14/JS 884
Ven, Señor/Lord, Come and Save Us (Schiavone) SS
Ven, Señor, a Salvarnos: Respuesta II (Taulé) FYC 278
James 5:7-10. James weighs in with a call for patience (see the second reading for last Sunday), but this time the call is not for patience with each other in the Christian community but for patience with God.
Matthew 11:2-11. On the two previous Sundays, the images of the end time found in the first reading and in the Gospel were in strong contrast. Now they are united in a focus on the messianic age as a time of healing, justice, and mercy. Jesus holds up the example of John as the expected messenger who would herald the coming of the new age. But he also points out that those who participate in God's new age can be considered greater even than John.
Songs for the Liturgy
Advent Gathering (1,G) GC 324/GC2 338/RS 492
*Are You the Coming One? (G) HG 71
Arise, Your Light Is Come! (1,G) CBW 302
Awake! Awake, and Greet the New Morn (1,G) GC2 351/WOR 360/CBW 303/RS 494/WC 461/WS
Awake, Awake: Fling Off the Night (1) CBW 304
Be Light for Our Eyes (1,G) GC 509/GC2 511/CBW 305
Be Strong! (1) LMGM 237
Clear the Voice (G) JS 317
Come, Emmanuel (1) PMB 192/WC 474/WS
Come, Light of the World (1) WC 459/WS
Come, Lord Jesus (1,Ps) BB
Come, O Long Expected Jesus (1,G) WOR 364/CBW 300, 306/BB/LMGM 5/GC 323/GC2 345/WC 455/JS 328/RS 496/GP 309/PMB 189/WS
Creator Alme Siderum‑‑Latin/English (1,G) WOR 368/CBW 307/BB/LMGM 7/GC 337/GC2 334/WC 472/JS 325/RS 483/GP 305/PMB 187/WS
Each Winter as the Year Grows Older (G) GC 339/GC2 350
Flow River Flow (1) MI‑BB/JS 541/GP 455
God Has Chosen Me (1,Ps,G) MI‑BB/GC 682/GC2 669/JS 831/GP 546
God of All People (G) GC 331/GC2 349/CBW 314
Hail to the Lord's Anointed (1,G) PMB 225/WC 510
*Hold Me in Life (G) MI‑BB/JS 702/GP 596/GC 599
Listen, My People (1,G) CBW 309
Lo, How a Rose E'er Blooming (1) WOR 374/BB/LMGM 24/GC 368/GC2 373/WC 490/JS 338/GP 320/PMB 210/WS
Maranatha (1) BB/GP 295/GC2 324, 335
O Come, Divine Messiah (1,G) WOR 367/CBW 310/BB/GC 333/GC2 333/WC 463/JS 316/RS 479/PMB 195/WS
*O Heavens, Let the Just One (E) IH 4
On Jordan's Bank (G) WOR 356/CBW 351/LMGM 8/BB/GC 321, 322/GC2 344/WC 467/JS 315/RS 490/GP 296/PMB 190/WS
Patience, People (2) GP 303/BB/JS 314
People, Look East (1) WOR 359/BB/GC 318/GC2 337/WC 456/JS 329/RS 482/GP 300/PMB 188/WS
People of the Night (2) GC 340/GC2 346
Proclaim the Joyful Message (1,G) PMB 197/WC 476/WS
Ps 85: Lord, Let Us See Your Kindness (1)
Ready the Way (1) BB/JS 323
The Spirit of God (G) PMB 399/GC 458/WC 793/WS
The Voice of God Goes Out through All the World (G) WOR 358/CBW 433
Walk in the Reign (1) GC 319/GC2 325
Warm the Time of Winter (1) GC2 339
When the King Shall Come Again (1,G) WOR 355/GC 327/GC2 327/RS 487/JS 318
You Have Anointed Me (1,Ps,G) GC 676/GC2 662/RS 795/GP 555
Your Mercy Like Rain (1,G) GC 330
| Title of Anthem, Voicing & Instrumentation | Composer/arranger/editor | Publisher & edition # | |
|
Advent Carol, An (Unison) |
Lindh, Jody |
Choristers Guild (CGA-648) |
(2) |
|
All the Earth Rejoicing (SSAATTBB) |
Mendelssohn, Felix |
Walton (M-109) |
(1) |
|
And the Glory of the Lord (from Messiah, SATB) |
Handel, G.F. |
Various |
(1) |
|
Behold, I Send a Messenger (SA) |
Willan, Healy |
Concordia (97-7160) * |
(G) |
|
Confortamini (Be Ye Comforted) (SATB) |
DiLasso, Orlando |
Concordia (98-2422) * |
(1) |
|
Drop Down Dew, O Heavens |
Twynham, Robert |
OCP Publications (9631) |
(1) |
|
E'en So, Lord Jesus, Quickly Come (SATB) |
Manz, Paul |
Morning Star #50 - 0001 |
(G) |
|
Eyes of the Blind, The (from Messiah, solo) |
Handel, G.F. |
Various |
(1) |
|
Go and Tell John (3-part) |
Pfautsch, Lloyd |
Hope (939) |
(2) |
|
Go and Tell John |
Fleming, Larry L. |
Augsburg (11-10282) |
(2) |
|
Hark! The Glad Sound! (from Anthems (p. 126) |
Davies, H.W. |
Oxford |
(G) |
|
Hold Me in Life |
Huijbers |
OCP Publications (8835) |
(G) |
|
How Lovely Are Thy Messengers |
Mendelssohn, Felix |
|
|
| On Jordan's Bank | Armstrong | Concordia | (G) |
|
Praise the Lord, O My Soul (SATB) |
Butler, Eugene |
Abingdon (APM-918) |
(PS) |
|
Prepare the Way of the Lord (SATB/2-part) |
Rowan, William |
Hope (A 596) |
(G) |
|
Prepare! (SB) |
Pote, Allen |
Choristers Guild (CGA-705) |
(G) |
|
Psalm 146 (SATB) |
Berger, Jean |
Augsburg (11-1952) * |
(PS) |
|
Psalm 146 (SB) |
Powell, Robert |
GIA (G-2089) |
(PS) |
|
Redeemed of the Lord, The (SATB) |
Jaeschke, Christian |
Boosey & Hawkes (#6032) |
(1) |
|
Say to Them That Are of a Fearful Heart(SATB) |
Titcomb, Everett |
Carl Fischer (CM 436) |
(1) |
|
Springs in the Desert (SATB) |
Jennings, Arthur |
H.W. Gray (CMR 580) |
(1) |
| Veni Jesu Amor Mi | GIA |