December 18th : First Reading I will raise a virtuous Branch for David.A Reading from the Book of Jeremiah 23: 5-8.

December 18th : First Reading 

I will raise a virtuous Branch for David.

A Reading from the Book of Jeremiah 23: 5-8.

See, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks –

when I will raise a virtuous Branch for David,

who will reign as true king and be wise,

practising honesty and integrity in the land.

In his days Judah will be saved

and Israel dwell in confidence.

And this is the name he will be called:

The-Lord-our-integrity.

So, then, the days are coming – it is the Lord who speaks – when people will no longer say, “As the Lord lives who brought the sons of Israel out of the land of Egypt!” but, “As the Lord lives who led back and brought home the descendants of the House of Israel out of the land of the North and from all the countries to which he had dispersed them, to live on their own soil.”

The Word of the Lord.