First reading: Micah 5:1-4

The Lord says this:
But you, Bethlehem Ephrathah, 
the least of the clans of Judah,
out of you will be born for me 
the one who is to rule over Israel;
his origin goes back to the distant past, 
to the days of old.
The Lord is therefore going to abandon them
till the time when she who is to give birth gives birth.
Then the remnant of his brothers will come back
to the sons of Israel.
He will stand and feed his flock 
with the power of the Lord,
with the majesty of the name of his God.
They will live secure, for from then on he will extend his power
to the ends of the land.
He himself will be peace.