Thursday of the 1st week of Advent

First reading

Isaiah 26:1-6
Open the gates; let the upright nation come in
That day, this song will be sung in the land of Judah:
We have a strong city;
to guard us he has set
wall and rampart about us.

Open the gates! Let the upright nation come in,
she, the faithful one
whose mind is steadfast, who keeps the peace,
because she trusts in you.
Trust in the Lord for ever,
for the Lord is the everlasting Rock;
he has brought low those who lived high up
in the steep citadel;
he brings it down, brings it down to the ground,
flings it down in the dust:
the feet of the lowly, the footsteps of the poor
trample on it.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalms 118:1 and 8-9, 19-21, 25-27A

R. (26a) Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

¹ Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
⁸ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in man.
⁹ It is better to take refuge in the LORD
than to trust in princes.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

¹⁹ Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
²⁰ This gate is the LORD’s;
the just shall enter it.
²¹ I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me
and have been my savior.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

²⁵ O LORD, grant salvation!
O LORD, grant prosperity!
²⁶ Blessed is he who comes in the name of the LORD;
we bless you from the house of the LORD.
^27A The LORD is God, and he has given us light.
R. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.

Gospel Acclamation -Is40:9-10
Alleluia, alleluia!
Shout with a loud voice, joyful messenger to Jerusalem.
Here is the Lord God coming with power.
Alleluia!
Gospel

Matthew 7:21,24-27
The wise man built his house on a rock
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘It is not those who say to me, “Lord, Lord,” who will enter the kingdom of heaven, but the person who does the will of my Father in heaven. Therefore, everyone who listens to these words of mine and acts on them will be like a sensible man who built his house on rock. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and hurled themselves against that house, and it did not fall: it was founded on rock. But everyone who listens to these words of mine and does not act on them will be like a stupid man who built his house on sand. Rain came down, floods rose, gales blew and struck that house, and it fell; and what a fall it had!’