Second Sunday of Advent

The beginning of the Gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God. As it has been written by the prophet Isaiah: “Behold, I send my Angel before your face, who shall prepare your way before you. The voice of one crying out in the desert: Prepare the way of the Lord; make straight his paths.” John was in the desert, baptizing and preaching a baptism of repentance, as a remission of sins. And there went out to him all the region of Judea and all those of Jerusalem, and they were baptized by him in the river Jordan, confessing their sins. And John was clothed with camel’s hair and with a leather belt around his waist. And he ate locusts and wild honey. And he preached, saying: “One stronger than me comes after me. I am not worthy to reach down and loosen the laces of his shoes. I have baptized you with water. Yet truly, he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit.”