Third Sunday of Advent Year B First Reading (No Psalm)

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah.

The Spirit of Almighty God is upon me,
for God has anointed me;
God has sent me to bring good news to the poor,
to bind the wounds of the brokenhearted,
to proclaim liberty to captives
and release to prisoners,
to announce a year of favor from Our God,
and the day of God’s vindication.
I will joyfully exult in Our God,
who is the joy of my soul.
God has clothed me with a robe of salvation,
and wrapped me in a mantle of justice,
the way a bridegroom puts on a crown,
and a bride bedecks herself with jewels.
For as the earth brings forth plants,
and a garden brings its seeds to blossom,
so does Our God make justice sprout,
and praise spring up before all nations.

The Word of God recorded in the book of the prophet Isaiah.