Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Advent

Reading I 2 Sm 7:1-5, 8b-12, 14a, 16

When King David was settled in his palace,
and the LORD had given him rest from his enemies on every side,
he said to Nathan the prophet,
“Here I am living in a house of cedar,
while the ark of God dwells in a tent!”
Nathan answered the king,
“Go, do whatever you have in mind,
for the LORD is with you.”
But that night the LORD spoke to Nathan and said:
“Go, tell my servant David, ‘Thus says the LORD:
Should you build me a house to dwell in?

“‘It was I who took you from the pasture
and from the care of the flock
to be commander of my people Israel.
I have been with you wherever you went,
and I have destroyed all your enemies before you.
And I will make you famous like the great ones of the earth.
I will fix a place for my people Israel;
I will plant them so that they may dwell in their place
without further disturbance.
Neither shall the wicked continue to afflict them as they did of old,
since the time I first appointed judges over my people Israel.
I will give you rest from all your enemies.
The LORD also reveals to you
that he will establish a house for you.
And when your time comes and you rest with your ancestors,
I will raise up your heir after you, sprung from your loins,
and I will make his Kingdom firm.
I will be a father to him,
and he shall be a son to me.
Your house and your Kingdom shall endure forever before me;
your throne shall stand firm forever.’”

Responsorial Psalm 89:2-3, 4-5, 27 and 29

R.   (2) For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
   through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
   in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness.
R.   For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“I have made a covenant with my chosen one,
   I have sworn to David my servant:
Forever will I confirm your posterity
   and establish your throne for all generations.”
R.   For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
“He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
   my God, the rock, my savior.’
Forever I will maintain my kindness toward him,
   and my covenant with him stands firm.”
R.   For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.