The following are the readings for the Third Sunday in Advent, Dec. 17, according to the Revised Common (RCL), Episcopal (ECUSA), Roman Catholic, Canadian BAS, and the Church of England (Common Worship) lectionaries. All readings are taken from the New Revised Standard Version (NRSV) of the Bible. Unless otherwise noted, the ECUSA, Canadian and Common Worship readings are identical to the RCL this Sunday.

OLD TESTAMENT:  Isaiah 61: 1 - 4, 8 - 11  (RCL)
                               Isaiah 61: 1 - 2a, 10 - 11   (Roman Catholic)

Isai 61:1 (NRSV) The spirit of the Lord GOD is upon me, 
because the LORD has anointed me; 
he has sent me to bring good news to the oppressed, 
to bind up the brokenhearted, 
to proclaim liberty to the captives, 
and release to the prisoners; 
2 to proclaim the year of the LORD's favor, 
and the day of vengeance of our God; 
to comfort all who mourn; 
3 to provide for those who mourn in Zion-- 
to give them a garland instead of ashes, 
the oil of gladness instead of mourning, 
the mantle of praise instead of a faint spirit. 
They will be called oaks of righteousness, 
the planting of the LORD, to display his glory. 
4 They shall build up the ancient ruins, 
they shall raise up the former devastations; 
they shall repair the ruined cities, 
the devastations of many generations. 

8 For I the LORD love justice, 
I hate robbery and wrongdoing; 
I will faithfully give them their recompense, 
and I will make an everlasting covenant with them. 
9 Their descendants shall be known among the nations, 
and their offspring among the peoples; 
all who see them shall acknowledge 
that they are a people whom the LORD has blessed. 
10 I will greatly rejoice in the LORD, 
my whole being shall exult in my God; 
for he has clothed me with the garments of salvation, 
he has covered me with the robe of righteousness, 
as a bridegroom decks himself with a garland, 
and as a bride adorns herself with her jewels. 
11 For as the earth brings forth its shoots, 
and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up, 
so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise 
to spring up before all the nations. 

PSALM 126  (RCL)

Psal 126:1 (NRSV) When the LORD restored the fortunes of Zion, 
we were like those who dream. 
2 Then our mouth was filled with laughter, 
and our tongue with shouts of joy; 
then it was said among the nations, 
"The LORD has done great things for them." 
3 The LORD has done great things for us, 
and we rejoiced. 
4 Restore our fortunes, O LORD, 
like the watercourses in the Neg'eb. 
5 May those who sow in tears 
reap with shouts of joy. 
6 Those who go out weeping, 
bearing the seed for sowing, 
shall come home with shouts of joy, 
carrying their sheaves. 

126   In convertendo   (ECUSA BCP)
 
1  	When the Lord restored the fortunes of Zion, *
 then were we like those who dream.
 
2  	Then was our mouth filled with laughter, *
 and our tongue with shouts of joy.
 
3  	Then they said among the nations, *
 "The Lord has done great things for them."
 
4  	The Lord has done great things for us, *
 and we are glad indeed.
 
5  	Restore our fortunes, O Lord, *
 like the watercourses of the Negev.
 
6  	Those who sowed with tears *
 will reap with songs of joy.
 
7  	Those who go out weeping, carrying the seed, *
 will come again with joy, shouldering their sheaves.

Luke 1: 47 - 55   (alt. for RCL)
Luke 1: 46 - 50, 53 - 54   (Roman Catholic)

Luke 1:46 (NRSV) And Mary said, 
"My soul magnifies the Lord, 
47 and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, 
48 for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his servant. 
Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 
49 for the Mighty One has done great things for me, 
and holy is his name. 
50 His mercy is for those who fear him 
from generation to generation. 
51 He has shown strength with his arm; 
he has scattered the proud in the thoughts of their hearts. 
52 He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, 
and lifted up the lowly; 
53 he has filled the hungry with good things, 
and sent the rich away empty. 
54 He has helped his servant Israel, 
in remembrance of his mercy, 
55 according to the promise he made to our ancestors, 
to Abraham and to his descendants forever." 

Note: The ECUSA lectionary actually calls for Canticles 3 or 15, which are the above passage, from the King James or a contemporary translation, respectively. Common Worship and the Canadian BAS also call for the Canticle Magnificat, as printed therein.

15    The Song of Mary    Magnificat   (ECUSA BCP)

Luke 1:46-55

My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord,
my spirit rejoices in God my Savior; *
   for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant. 
From this day all generations will call me blessed: *
   the Almighty has done great things for me,
   and holy is his Name. 
He has mercy on those who fear him *
   in every generation. 
He has shown the strength of his arm, *
   he has scattered the proud in their conceit. 
He has cast down the mighty from their thrones, *
   and has lifted up the lowly. 
He has filled the hungry with good things, *
   and the rich he has sent away empty. 
He has come to the help of his servant Israel, *
   for he has remembered his promise of mercy, 
The promise he made to our fathers, *
   to Abraham and his children 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. 

NEW TESTAMENT:  1 Thessalonians 5: 16 - 24  (RCL, Roman Catholic)

1The 5:16 (NRSV) Rejoice always, 17 pray without ceasing, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 19 Do not quench the Spirit. 20 Do not despise the words of prophets, 21 but test everything; hold fast to what is good; 22 abstain from every form of evil. 
23 May the God of peace himself sanctify you entirely; and may your spirit and soul and body be kept sound and blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 24 The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do this. 

GOSPEL:  John 1: 6 - 8, 19 - 28   (all)

John 1:6 (NRSV) There was a man sent from God, whose name was John. 7 He came as a witness to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. 8 He himself was not the light, but he came to testify to the light. 

19 This is the testimony given by John when the Jews sent priests and Le'vites from Jerusalem to ask him, "Who are you?" 20 He confessed and did not deny it, but confessed, "I am not the Messiah." 21 And they asked him, "What then? Are you Eli'jah?" He said, "I am not." "Are you the prophet?" He answered, "No." 22 Then they said to him, "Who are you? Let us have an answer for those who sent us. What do you say about yourself?" 23 He said, 
"I am the voice of one crying out in the wilderness, 
"Make straight the way of the Lord,'" 
as the prophet Isai'ah said. 
24 Now they had been sent from the Phar'isees. 25 They asked him, "Why then are you baptizing if you are neither the Messiah, nor Eli'jah, nor the prophet?" 26 John answered them, "I baptize with water. Among you stands one whom you do not know, 27 the one who is coming after me; I am not worthy to untie the thong of his sandal." 28 This took place in Beth'any across the Jordan where John was baptizing.