Readings for the Fourth Sunday of Advent – 21st December 2025

Collect for the Fourth Sunday of Advent

God our redeemer, who prepared the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the mother of your Son; grant that, as she looked for his coming as our saviour, so we may be ready to greet him when he comes again as our judge; who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.

Amen

A reading from the book of the prophet Isaiah, chapter 7, verses 10 to 16

Again, the LORD spoke to Ahaz, saying, Ask a sign of the LORD your God; let it be

deep as Sheol or high as heaven. But Ahaz said, I will not ask, and I will not put

the LORD to the test. Then Isaiah said: ‘Hear then, O house of David! Is it too little for

you to weary mortals, that you weary my God also? Therefore the Lord himself will give

you a sign. Look, the young woman is with child and shall bear a son, and shall name

him Immanuel. He shall eat curds and honey by the time he knows how to refuse the

evil and choose the good. For before the child knows how to refuse the evil and choose

the good, the land before whose two kings you are in dread will be deserted.

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans, chapter 1, verses 1 to 7

Paul, a servant of Jesus Christ, called to be an apostle, set apart for the gospel of

God, which he promised beforehand through his prophets in the holy scriptures, the

gospel concerning his Son, who was descended from David according to the flesh and

was declared to be Son of God with power according to the spirit of holiness by

resurrection from the dead, Jesus Christ our Lord, through whom we have received

grace and apostleship to bring about the obedience of faith among all the Gentiles for

the sake of his name, including yourselves who are called to belong to Jesus Christ,

To all God's beloved in Rome, who are called to be saints: Grace to you and peace

from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.

A reading from the gospel according to Matthew, chapter 1, verses 18 to 25

Now the birth of Jesus the Messiah took place in this way. When his mother Mary had

been engaged to Joseph, but before they lived together, she was found to be with child

from the Holy Spirit. Her husband Joseph, being a righteous man and unwilling to

expose her to public disgrace, planned to dismiss her quietly. But just when he had

resolved to do this, an angel of the Lord appeared to him in a dream and said, ‘Joseph,

son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary as your wife, for the child conceived in her is

from the Holy Spirit. She will bear a son, and you are to name him Jesus, for he will

save his people from their sins.’ All this took place to fulfil what had been spoken by the

Lord through the prophet: ‘Look, the virgin shall conceive and bear a son, and they shall

name him Emmanuel’, which means, ‘God is with us.’ When Joseph awoke from sleep,

he did as the angel of the Lord commanded him; he took her as his wife but had no

marital relations with her until she had borne a son; and he named him Jesus.

Second Collect

Heavenly Father, who chose the Blessed Virgin Mary to be the

mother of the promised saviour; fill us your servants with your grace, that in all things

we may embrace your holy will and with her rejoice in your salvation; through Jesus

Christ our Lord.

Amen