Second Sunday of Advent

Every Valley

Bob Dufford, SJ

Ev’ry valley shall be exalted and every hill made low.
And all God’s people shall see together the glory of the Lord.

A voice cries out in the wilderness,
“Prepare the way of the Lord.
Make straight in the desert a highway, a highway for our God."

Ev’ry valley shall be exalted and every hill made low.
And all God’s people shall see together the glory of the Lord.

Comfort all my people;
the time for war is gone.
The blind shall see,
the deaf shall hear,
the lame shall leap for joy.

Ev’ry valley shall be exalted and every hill made low.
And all God’s people shall see together the glory of the Lord.

Stand up on the mountain top;
lift up your voice to the world.
Sing joyfully Jerusalem;
“Behold, behold your God.”

Ev’ry valley shall be exalted and every hill made low.
And all God’s people shall see together the glory of the Lord.

People, Look East

Eleanor Farjeon

People, look East.
The time is near of the
crowning of the year.
Make your house fair
as you are able.
Trim the hearth
and set the table.
People, look East, and sing
today: Love, the Guest,
is on the way.

Furrows, be glad,
though earth is bare.
One more seed is planted there;
Give up your strength the
seed to nourish, that in course
the flow’r may flourish.
People, look East, and sing
today: Love, the Rose,
is on the way.

Stars, keep the watch
when night is dim.
One more light the bowl
shall brim.
Shining beyond the
frosty weather,
bright as sun and moon together.
People, look East, and sing
today: Love, the Star,
is on the way.

Angels, announce on this
great feast: Him who cometh
from the East.
Set ev’ry peak and valley
humming with the word,
the Lord is coming.
People, look East, and sing
today: Love, the Lord,
is on the way.

Psalmody

PSALMODY

Ant. 1 Zion is our mighty citadel, our saving Lord its wall and its defense; throw open the gates, for our God is here among us, alleluia.

Psalm 118
Song of joy for salvation

Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, *
for his love endures forever.

Let the sons of Israel say: *
“His love endures for ever.”
Let the sons of Aaron say: *
“His love endures for ever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say: *
“His love endures for ever.”

I called to the Lord in my distress; *
he answered and freed me.
The Lord is at my side; I do not fear. *
What can man do against me?
The Lord is at my side as my helper: *
I shall look down on my foes.

It is better to take refuge in the Lord *
than to trust in men:
it is better to take refuge in the Lord *
than to trust in princes.

The nations all encompassed me; *
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me, compassed me about; *
in the Lord’s name I crushed them.
They compassed me about like bees; †
they blazed like a fire among thorns. *
In the Lord’s name I crushed them.

I was hard-pressed and was falling *
but the Lord came to help me.
The Lord is my strength and my song; *
he is my savior.
There are shouts of joy and victory *
in the tents of the just.

The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; *
his right hand raised me.
The Lord’s right hand has triumphed; †
I shall not die, I shall live *
and recount his deeds.
I was punished, I was punished by the Lord, *
but not doomed to die.

Open to me the gates of holiness: *
I will enter and give thanks.
This is the Lord’s own gate *
where the just may enter.
I will thank you for you have answered *
and you are my savior.

The stone which the builders rejected *
has become the corner stone.
This is the work of the Lord, *
a marvel in our eyes.
This day was made by the Lord; *
we rejoice and are glad.

O Lord, grant us salvation; *
O Lord, grant success.
Blessed in the name of the Lord *
is he who comes.
We bless you from the house of the Lord; *
the Lord God is our light.

Go forward in procession with branches *
even to the altar.
You are my God, I thank you. *
My God, I praise you.
Give thanks to the Lord for he is good; *
for his love endures for ever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Lord God, you have given us the great day of rejoicing: Jesus Christ, the stone rejected by the builders, has become the cornerstone of the Church, our spiritual home. Shed upon your Church the rays of your glory, that it may be seen as the gate of salvation open to all nations. Let cries of joy and exultation ring out from its tents, to celebrate the wonder of Christ’s resurrection.

Ant. Zion is our mighty citadel, our saving Lord its wall and its defense; throw open the gates, for our God is here among us, alleluia.

Ant. 2 Come to the waters, all you who thirst; seek the Lord while he can be found, alleluia.

Canticle: Daniel 3:52-57
Let all creatures praise the Lord

Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers, *
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;

And blessed is your holy and glorious name, *
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.

Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory, *
praiseworthy and glorious above all forever.

Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom, *
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you who look into the depths †
from your throne upon the cherubim, *
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.

Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven, *
praiseworthy and glorious forever.

Bless the Lord, all you works of the Lord, *
praise and exalt him above all forever.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Come to the waters, all you who thirst; seek the Lord while he can be found, alleluia.

Ant. 3 Our God will come with great power to enlighten the eyes of his servants, alleluia.

Psalm 150
Praise the Lord

Praise God in his holy place, *
praise him in his mighty heavens.
Praise him for his powerful deeds, *
praise his surpassing greatness.

O praise him with sound of trumpet, *
praise him with lute and harp.
Praise him with timbrel and dance, *
praise him with strings and pipes.

O praise him with resounding cymbals, *
praise him with clashing of cymbals.
Let everything that lives and that breathes *
give praise to the Lord.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Psalm Prayer

Lord God, maker of heaven and earth and of all created things, you make your just ones holy and you justify sinners who confess your name. Hear us as we humbly pray to you: give us eternal joy with your saints.

Ant. Our God will come with great power to enlighten the eyes of his servants, alleluia.

READING
Romans 13:11-12

It is now the hour for you to wake from sleep, for our salvation is closer than when we first accepted the faith. The night is far spent; the day draws near. Let us cast off deeds of darkness and put on the armor of light.

RESPONSORY

Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.
– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

You are the one who is to come.
– Have mercy on us.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
– Christ, Son of the living God, have mercy on us.

GOSPEL CANTICLE

Ant. I am sending my angel before me to prepare the way for my coming.

Canticle of Zechariah
Luke 1:68-79
The Messiah and his forerunner

Blessed + be the Lord, the God of Israel; *
he has come to his people and set them free.

He has raised up for us a mighty savior, *
born of the house of his servant David.

Through his holy prophets he promised of old †
that he would save us from our enemies, *
from the hands of all who hate us.

He promised to show mercy to our fathers *
and to remember his holy covenant.

This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham: *
to set us free from the hands of our enemies,
free to worship him without fear, *
holy and righteous in his sight
all the days of our life.

You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; *
for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way,
to give his people knowledge of salvation *
by the forgiveness of their sins.

In the tender compassion of our God *
the dawn from on high shall break upon us,
to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, *
and to guide our feet into the way of peace.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. I am sending my angel before me to prepare the way for my coming.

INTERCESSIONS

To the Lord Jesus Christ, judge of the living and the dead, let us pray:

Lord Jesus, you came to save sinners,
– protect us in times of temptation.

You will come in glory to be our judge,
– show in us your power to save.

Help us to keep the precepts of your law with the strength of the Spirit,
– and to look forward in love to your coming.

You are praised throughout the ages; in your mercy help us to live devoutly and temperately in this life,
– as we wait in joyful hope for the revelation of your glory.

THE LORD’S PRAYER

(Gathering our prayer and praises into one, let us offer the prayer Christ himself taught us:)

Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name;
thy kingdom come;
thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread;
and forgive us our trespasses
as we forgive those who trespass against us;
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us from evil.

CONCLUDING PRAYER

God of power and mercy,
open our hearts in welcome.
Remove the things that hinder us from receiving Christ with joy,
so that we may share his wisdom
and become one with him
when he comes in glory,
for he lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

Or:

Almighty and merciful God,
may no earthly undertaking hinder those
who set out in haste to meet your Son,
but may our learning of heavenly wisdom
gain us admittance into his company.
Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
God, for ever and ever.
– Amen.

DISMISSAL

If a priest or deacon presides, he dismisses the people:

The Lord be with you.
– And with your spirit.

May almighty God bless you,
the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit.
– Amen.

Another form of the blessing may be used, as at Mass.

Then he adds:

Go in peace.
– Thanks be to God.

In the absence of a priest or deacon and in individual recitation, Morning Prayer concludes:

May the Lord + bless us,
protect us from all evil
and bring us to everlasting life.
– Amen.

******

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Psalm 24
The Lord’s entry into his temple

The Lord’s is the earth and its fullness, *
the world and all its peoples.
It is he who set it on the seas; *
on the waters he made it firm.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Who shall climb the mountain of the Lord? *
Who shall stand in his holy place?
The man with clean hands and pure heart, †
who desires not worthless things, *
who has not sworn so as to deceive his neighbor.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

He shall receive blessings from the Lord *
and reward from the God who saves him.
Such are the men who seek him, *
seek the face of the God of Jacob.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Who is the king of glory? †
The Lord, the mighty, the valiant, *
the Lord, the valiant in war.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

O gates, lift high your heads; †
grow higher, ancient doors. *
Let him enter, the king of glory!

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Who is he, the king of glory? †
He, the Lord of armies, *
he is the king of glory.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Go to the Hymn

Psalm 67
People of all nations will worship the Lord

O God, be gracious and bless us *
and let your face shed its light upon us.
So will your ways be known upon earth *
and all nations learn your saving help.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Let the nations be glad and exult *
for you rule the world with justice.
With fairness you rule the peoples, *
you guide the nations on earth.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Let the peoples praise you, O God; *
let all the peoples praise you.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

The earth has yielded its fruit *
for God, our God, has blessed us.
May God still give us his blessing *
till the ends of the earth revere him.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Go to the Hymn

Psalm 100
The joyful song of those entering God’s temple

Cry out with joy to the Lord, all the earth. †
Serve the Lord with gladness. *
Come before him, singing for joy.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Know that he, the Lord, is God. †
He made us, we belong to him, *
we are his people, the sheep of his flock.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Go within his gates, giving thanks. †
Enter his courts with songs of praise. *
Give thanks to him and bless his name.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Indeed, how good is the Lord, †
eternal his merciful love. *
He is faithful from age to age.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Glory to the Father, and to the Son, *
and to the Holy Spirit:
as it was in the beginning, is now, *
and will be for ever. Amen.

Ant. Come, let us worship the Lord, the King who is to come.

Go to the Hymn

Hear the herald voice resounding:
“Christ is near,” it seems to say,
“Cast away the dreams of darkness,
Welcome Christ, the light of day!”

Wakened by this solemn warning,
Let the earthbound soul arise;
Christ her sun, all sloth dispelling,
Shines upon the morning skies.

See the Lamb so long expected,
Comes with pardon down from heav’n;
Hasten now, with tears of sorrow,
One and all to be forgiv’n.

So when next he comes with glory,
Shrouding all the earth in fear,
May he then as our defender
On the clouds of heav’n appear.

Honor, glory, virtue, merit,
To the Father and the Son,
With the co-eternal Spirit,
While eternal ages run.

Tune: Merton 87.87
Music. W. H. Monk, 1823-1889
Text: , sixth century
Translation: F. Caswall, 1814-1878, adapted by Anthony G. Petti

Go to the Psalmody

Or:

Lift up your heads, ye mighty gates;
Behold, the King of glory waits;
The King of kings is drawing near;
The Savior of the world is here!

Fling wide the portals of your heart;
Make it a temple, set apart
From earthly use for heaven’s employ,
Adorned with prayer and love and joy.

Redeemer, come, with us abide;
Our hearts to thee we open wide;
Let us thy inner presence feel;
Thy grace and love in us reveal.

Thy Holy Spirit lead us on
Until our glorious goal is won;
Eternal praise, eternal fame
Be offered, Savior, to thy name!

Tune: Truro L.M.
Music:
Text: Georg Weissel, 1590-1635
Translation: Catherine Winkworth, 1827-1878

Go to the Psalmody

Or:

The King shall come when morning dawns
And light triumphant breaks,
When beauty gilds the eastern hills
And life to joy awakes.

Not as of old, a little child,
To suffer and to die,
But crowned with glory like the sun
That lights the morning sky.

The King shall come when morning dawns
And earth’s dark night is past;
O haste the rising of that morn
Whose day shall ever last.

And let the endless bliss begin,
By weary saints foretold,
When right shall triumph over wrong,
And truth shall be extolled,

The King shall come when morning dawns
And light and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ, the Lord! Your people pray:
Come quickly, King of kings.

Tune: Morning Song C.M.
Music: John Wyeth, 1770-1858
Text: John Brownlie, 1857-1925

Go to the Psalmody

- Menu -

Glory to God

Mass of Christ the Savior
Dan Schutte, SJ

Glory to God! Glory to God!
Glory to God in the highest!
And on earth, peace on earth,
peace to people of good will.

We praise You, we bless You,
We adore You, we glorify You,
We give You thanks
for Your great glory,
Lord God, Heavenly King,
O God, almighty Father.

Lord Jesus Christ,
Only Begotten Son,
Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,
You take away the
sins of the world,
have mercy on us;
You take away the sins of
the world, receive our pray'r;
You are seated at the
right hand, the right hand of
the Father, have mercy on us.

For You alone
are the Holy One;
You alone are the Lord.
You alone are the Most High,
Jesus Christ,
With the Holy Spirit, in the
glory of God, the Father.

Glory to God! Glory to God!
Glory to God in the highest!
And on earth, peace on earth,
peace to people of good will.

Amen! Amen!

1st Reading

Is 11:1-10

A reading from the Book of the Prophet Isiaiah

On that day, a shoot shall sprout from the stump of Jesse,
   and from his roots a bud shall blossom.
The spirit of the LORD shall rest upon him:
   a spirit of wisdom and of understanding,
a spirit of counsel and of strength,
   a spirit of knowledge and of fear of the LORD,
   and his delight shall be the fear of the LORD.
Not by appearance shall he judge,
   nor by hearsay shall he decide,
but he shall judge the poor with justice,
   and decide aright for the land’s afflicted.
He shall strike the ruthless with the rod of his mouth,
   and with the breath of his lips he shall slay the wicked.
Justice shall be the band around his waist,
   and faithfulness a belt upon his hips.
Then the wolf shall be a guest of the lamb,
   and the leopard shall lie down with the kid;
the calf and the young lion shall browse together,
   with a little child to guide them.
The cow and the bear shall be neighbors,
   together their young shall rest;
   the lion shall eat hay like the ox.
The baby shall play by the cobra’s den,
   and the child lay his hand on the adder’s lair.
There shall be no harm or ruin on all my holy mountain;
   for the earth shall be filled with knowledge of the LORD,
   as water covers the sea.
On that day, the root of Jesse,
   set up as a signal for the nations,
the Gentiles shall seek out,
   for his dwelling shall be glorious.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Responsorial Psalm

℟. (cf. 7) Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

O God, with your judgment endow the king,
   and with your justice, the king’s son;
he shall govern your people with justice
   and your afflicted ones with judgment.

℟. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

Justice shall flower in his days,
   and profound peace, till the moon be no more.
May he rule from sea to sea,
   and from the River to the ends of the earth.

℟. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

For he shall rescue the poor when he cries out,
   and the afflicted when he has no one to help him.
He shall have pity for the lowly and the poor;
   the lives of the poor he shall save.

℟. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

May his name be blessed forever;
   as long as the sun his name shall remain.
In him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed;
   all the nations shall proclaim his happiness.

℟. Justice shall flourish in his time, and fullness of peace for ever.

2nd Reading

Rom 15:4-9

A reading from the Letter of Saint Paul to the Romans

Brothers and sisters:
Whatever was written previously was written for our instruction,
   that by endurance and by the encouragement of the Scriptures
   we might have hope.
May the God of endurance and encouragement
   grant you to think in harmony with one another,
   in keeping with Christ Jesus,
   that with one accord you may with one voice
   glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Welcome one another, then, as Christ welcomed you,
   for the glory of God.
For I say that Christ became a minister of the circumcised
   to show God’s truthfulness,
   to confirm the promises to the patriarchs,
   but so that the Gentiles might glorify God for his mercy.
As it is written:
   Therefore, I will praise you among the Gentiles
      and sing praises to your name.

The Word of the Lord.
Thanks be to God.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Prepare the way of the Lord, make straight his paths;
all flesh shall see the salvation of God.

Alleluia, Alleluia.

Gospel

Mt 3:1-12

✠ A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

John the Baptist appeared, preaching in the desert of Judea
   and saying, “Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand!”
It was of him that the prophet Isaiah had spoken when he said:
      A voice of one crying out in the desert,
      Prepare the way of the Lord,
         make straight his paths.
John wore clothing made of camel’s hair
   and had a leather belt around his waist.
His food was locusts and wild honey.
At that time Jerusalem, all Judea,
   and the whole region around the Jordan
   were going out to him
   and were being baptized by him in the Jordan River
   as they acknowledged their sins.

When he saw many of the Pharisees and Sadducees
   coming to his baptism, he said to them, “You brood of vipers!
Who warned you to flee from the coming wrath?
Produce good fruit as evidence of your repentance.
And do not presume to say to yourselves,
   ‘We have Abraham as our father.’
For I tell you,
   God can raise up children to Abraham from these stones.
Even now the ax lies at the root of the trees.
Therefore every tree that does not bear good fruit
   will be cut down and thrown into the fire.
I am baptizing you with water, for repentance,
   but the one who is coming after me is mightier than I.
I am not worthy to carry his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.
His winnowing fan is in his hand.
He will clear his threshing floor
   and gather his wheat into his barn,
   but the chaff he will burn with unquenchable fire.”

At the end of the Gospel, the Deacon, or the Priest, acclaims:

The Gospel of the Lord.

All reply:

Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ.

Then he kisses the book, saying quietly:

Through the words of the Gospel
may our sins be wiped away.

The Creed is said.

The Gospel of the Lord.
Praise to You, Lord Jesus Christ.

Nicene Creed

I believe in one God,
the Father almighty,
maker of heaven and earth,
of all things visible and invisible.

I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.

God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made,
consubstantial with the Father;
through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation
he came down from heaven,
and by the Holy Spirit was incarnate of
the Virgin Mary, and became man.

For our sake he was crucified
under Pontius Pilate,
he suffered death and was buried,
and rose again on the third day
in accordance with the Scriptures.

He ascended into heaven
and is seated at the right
hand of the Father.

He will come again in glory
to judge the living and the dead
and his kingdom will have no end.

I believe in the Holy Spirit,
the Lord, the giver of life,
who proceeds from the
Father and the Son,
who with the Father and the Son
is adored and glorified,
who has spoken through the prophets.

I believe in One, Holy,
Catholic and Apostolic Church.
I confess one Baptism
for the forgiveness of sins
and I look forward to
the resurrection of the dead
and the life of the world to come.

Amen.

O Come Divine Messiah

O come, Divine Messiah,
O Word of God
and Mary's Son:
we long to see your triumph
when sin and death are done!

Lord Jesus, come!
Come to your own!
With eager eyes, we watch
the skies 'till on the clouds
You take Your Throne!

O come, Divine Messiah,
O Word of God
and Mary's Son:
we long to see your triumph
when sin and death are done!

Lord Jesus, come!
Come to our earth! and there begin to banish sin and bring us all to heavenly birth!

O come, Divine Messiah,
O Word of God
and Mary's Son:
we long to see your triumph
when sin and death are done!

Dear Savior, haste!
Come, come to earth!
Dispel the night and show
Your face and bid us hail the dawn of grace.

O come, Divine Messiah,
O Word of God
and Mary's Son:
we long to see your triumph
when sin and death are done!

The King Shall Come When Morning Dawns

John Brownlie

The King shall come when
morning dawns and light
triumphant breaks, when
beauty gilds the eastern hills
and life to joy awakes.

Not as of old a little child,
to bear and fight and die,
but crowned with glory like the
sun that lights the morning sky.

O, brighter than the
rising morn when Christ,
victorious, rose and left the
lonesome place of death
despite the rage of foes.

O, brighter than that
glorious morn shall dawn
upon our race the day when
Christ in splendor comes
and we shall see His face.

The King shall come when
morning dawns and light
and beauty brings.
Hail, Christ the Lord!
Your people pray:
Come quickly, King of Kings.

Holy

Mass of Christ the Savior
Dan Schutte, SJ

Holy, holy, holy
Lord God of Hosts.
Heaven and Earth are full,
are full of Your glory.
Hosanna, hosanna,
hosanna in the highest.

Blessed is he who comes,
who comes in the
name of the Lord.
Hosanna, hosanna,
hosanna in the highest.

Memorial Acclamation A

Mass of Christ the Savior
Dan Schutte, SJ

We proclaim your Death,
O Lord,
and profess your Resurrection
until you come again.

The Lord's Prayer

Traditional

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name;
Thy kingdom come,
thy will be done on earth
as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses,
as we forgive those who
trespass against us; (Hmm)
and lead us not into temptation,
but deliver us,
deliver us from evil.

For the kingdom,
the power and the glory are yours now and forever.

Lamb of God

Eric Robert M. Santos

Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
have mercy on us,
have mercy on us.

Lamb of God, you take away
the sins of the world,
grant us peace.

A Voice Cries Out

Michael Joncas

Console my people,
the ones dear to me;
speak to the heart of
Jerusalem: the time of your
mourning is ended now,
the Lord of life will come.

A voice cries out
in the wilderness:
“Prepare a way for the Lord!”
A voice cries out
in the wilderness:
“Make straight
a highway for God!”

Ev’ry valley is made a plain,
ev’ry mountain is leveled;
the glory of God shall
then be revealed, and the
nations will sing in praise.

A voice cries out
in the wilderness:
“Prepare a way for the Lord!”
A voice cries out
in the wilderness:
“Make straight
a highway for God!”

A voice shouts “Cry!”
O what shall I cry?
All flesh is like grass
and its flowers:
the grass may wither, the flowers may fade, but the
Word of the Lord is forever.

A voice cries out
in the wilderness:
“Prepare a way for the Lord!”
A voice cries out
in the wilderness:
“Make straight
a highway for God!”

Zion, shout from the
mountain top, lift up your
voice, O Jerusalem, and say to
the people of God’s own land,
“Behold, behold your God!”

A voice cries out
in the wilderness:
“Prepare a way for the Lord!”
A voice cries out
in the wilderness:
“Make straight
a highway for God!”

Maranatha! Come, Lord Jesus

J.S. Whitaker