The Catholic Lectionary for Mass (1998 USA Edition)
tables compiled by Felix Just, S.J., Ph.D.

Readings for the Sundays of Advent

NOTE: The new "Liturgical Year"already begins on the First Sunday of Advent (Nov. 27 - Dec. 3), not just on January 1:

Advent 2022 was part of the 2023 liturgical year (Sunday Cycle A), which began on November 27, 2022.
Advent 2023 was part of the 2024 liturgical year (Sunday Cycle B), which began on December 3, 2023.
Advent 2024 is part of the 2025 liturgical year (Sunday Cycle C), which begins on December 1, 2024.

See the Calendar of Lectionary Cycles and Movable Liturgical Feasts for other years.

Date	#	Sunday	First Reading	Responsorial Psalm	Second Reading	Alleluia Verse	Gospel
11/30/25	1	1^st Sunday of Advent - A	Isa 2:1-5	Ps 122:1-2, 3-4a, 4b-5, 6-7, 8-9	Rom 13:11-14	Ps 85:8	Matt 24:37-44
12/7/25	4	2^nd Sunday of Advent - A	Isa 11:1-10	Ps 72:1-2, 7-8, 12-13, 17	Rom 15:4-9	Luke 3:4+6	Matt 3:1-12
12/14/25	7	3^rd Sunday of Advent - A	Isa 35:1-6a, 10	Ps 146:6c-7, 8-9a, 9b-10	Jas 5:7-10	Isa 61:1 (cited in Lk 4:18)	Matt 11:2-11
12/21/25	10	4^th Sunday of Advent - A	Isa 7:10-14	Ps 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6	Rom 1:1-7	Matt 1:23	Matt 1:18-24
12/3/23	2	1^st Sunday of Advent - B	Isa 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7	Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19	1 Cor 1:3-9	Ps 85:8	Mark 13:33-37
12/10/23	5	2^nd Sunday of Advent - B	Isa 40:1-5, 9-11	Ps 85:9ab+10, 11-12, 13-14	2 Pet 3:8-14	Luke 3:4+6	Mark 1:1-8
12/17/23	8	3^rd Sunday of Advent - B	Isa 61:1-2a, 10-11	Luke 1:46-48, 49-50, 53-54	1 Thess 5:16-24	Isa 61:1 (cited in Lk 4:18)	John 1:6-8, 19-28
12/24/23	11	4^th Sunday of Advent - B	2 Sam 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16 (diff)	Ps 89:2-3, 4-5, 27+29	Rom 16:25-27	Luke 1:38	Luke 1:26-38
12/1/24	3	1^st Sunday of Advent - C	Jer 33:14-16	Ps 25:4-5, 8-9, 10+14	1 Thess 3:12–4:2	Ps 85:8	Luke 21:25-28, 34-36
12/8/24	6	2^nd Sunday of Advent - C	Bar 5:1-9	Ps 126:1-2a, 2b-3, 4-5, 6	Phil 1:4-6, 8-11	Luke 3:4+6	Luke 3:1-6
12/15/24	9	3^rd Sunday of Advent - C	Zeph 3:14-18a	Isa 12:2-3, 4bcd, 5-6	Phil 4:4-7	Isa 61:1 (cited in Lk 4:18)	Luke 3:10-18
12/22/24	12	4^th Sunday of Advent - C	Mic 5:1-4a	Ps 80:2-3, 15-16, 18-19	Heb 10:5-10	Luke 1:38	Luke 1:39-45

Notes:

Dates in the first column are linked to the full text of the readings provided on the website of the USCCB, if available.
Numbers in the second column are the official reading numbers from the Ordo Lectionum Missae, second typical edition, 1981; they are identical to the corresponding numbers from the first edition, 1969.
Readings that are new or different from the 1970 Lectionary are marked in the table above; click on the underlined links (new) or (diff) for detailed explanations.

Rationale:

The official "Introduction" to the Lectionary (Second Edition, 1981) briefly explains the rationale for the reading choices for the Sundays of Advent:

"Each Gospel reading has a distinctive theme: the Lord's coming at the end of time (First Sunday of Advent), John the Baptist (Second and Third Sunday), and the events that prepared immediately for the Lord's birth (Fourth Sunday). The Old Testament readings are prophecies about the Messiah and the Messianic age, especially from the Book of Isaiah. The readings from an Apostle contain exhortations and proclamations, in keeping with the different themes of Advent." (Lectionary for Mass, "Introduction," chap. 5, par. 93)

Related Resources:

An Overview of the Seasons of Advent and Christmas
Readings for the Weekdays of Advent
How Long Is Advent?
"Advent in 2 Minutes" - Don't miss this wonderful video by "Busted Halo"!

1998 USA Lectionary (Main Page)

Season of Advent	Season of Christmas	Season of Lent	Season of Easter
Solemnities of the Lord	Ordinary Time - Year A	Ordinary Time - Year B	Ordinary Time - Year C

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