Responsorial Psalm
He is the God of my salvation;
in him I trust and am not afraid,
Yahweh is my strength: him I will praise,
the one who saved me."
You will draw water with joy
from the very fountain of salvation.
Then you will say: "Praise to the Lord,
break into songs of joy for him,
proclaim his marvellous deeds among the nations
and exalt his Name.
Sing to the Lord: wonders he has done
let these be known all over the earth.
Sing for joy, O people of Zion,
for great in your midst is the Holy One of Israel."
2nd. READING (Phil 4,4-7)
Rejoice in the Lord always. I say it again: rejoice and may everyone experience your
gentle and understanding heart. The Lord is near: do not be anxious about anything.
In everything resort to prayer and supplication together with thanksgiving and bring
your requests before God. Then the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding,
will keep your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.
Gospel
When all people asked John: "What are we to do?" And John answered, "If you have
two coats, give one to the person who has none; and if you have food, do the same."
Even tax collectors came to be baptized and asked him, "Master, what must we do?"
John said to them, "Collect no more than your fixed rate." People serving as soldiers
asked John, "What about us? What are we to do?" And he answered, "Don't take
anything by force or threaten the people by denouncing them falsely. Be content with
your pay." The people were wondering about John's identity, "Could he be the
Messiah?" Then John answered them, "I baptize you with water, but the one who is
coming will do much more: he will baptize you with Holy Spirit and fire. As for me, I
am not worthy to untie his sandal. He comes with a winnowing fan to clear his
threshing floor and gather the grain into his barn. But the chaff he will burn with fire
that never goes out." With these and many other words John announced the Good
News to the people
