Responsorial Psalm
"My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit exults in God my savior!
He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness,
and people forever will call me blessed.
The Mighty One has done great things for me,
Holy is his Name!
From age to age his mercy extends
to those who live in his presence.
He has filled the hungry with good things
but has sent the rich away empty.
He held out his hand to Israel, his servant,
for he remembered his mercy.
2nd. READING (1Thes 5,16-24)
Rejoice always, pray without ceasing and give thanks to God at every moment. This is
the will of God, your vocation as Christians. Do not quench the Spirit, do not despise
the prophets' warnings. Put everything to the test and hold fast to what is good. Avoid
evil, wherever it may be. May the God of Peace make you holy and bring you to
perfection. May you be completely blameless, in spirit, soul and body, till the coming
of Christ Jesus, our Lord; he who called you is faithful and will do it.
Gospel
A man came, sent by God; his name was John. He came to bear witness, as a witness
to introduce the Light so that all might believe through him. He was not the Light but a
witness to introduce the Light. This was the testimony of John when the jews sent
priests and levites to ask him, "Who are you?" John recognized the truth and did not
deny it. he said, "I am not the Messiah." And they asked him, "Then who are you?
Elijah?" He answered, "I am not." They said, "Are you the Prophet?" And he
answered, "No." Then they said to him, "Tell us who you are, so that we can give
some answer to those who sent us. How do you see yourself?" And John said, quoting
the prophet Isaiah, "I am the voice crying out in the wilderness: Make straight the way
of the Lord." Those who had been sent were Pharisees; so they put a further question
to John: "Then why are you baptizing if you are not the Messiah, or Elijah, or the
Prophet?" John answered, "I baptize you with water, but among you stands one
whom you do not know; although he comes after me, I am not worthy to untie the
strap of his sandal." This happened in Bethabara beyond the Jordan, where John was
baptizing.
