In the sixth month, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town
in Galilee, to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph,
a descendant of David. The virgin's name was Mary. The angel went
to her and said, "Greetings, you who are highly favored! The
Lord is with you."
Mary
was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting
this might be. But the angel said to her, "Do not be afraid,
Mary, you have found favor with God. You will be with child and
give birth to a son, and you are to give him the name Jesus. He
will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The
Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he
will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never
end."
"How
will this be," Mary asked the angel, "since I am a virgin?"
"The
angel answered, "The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and
the power of the Most High will overshadow you. So the holy one
to be born will be called the Son of God. Even Elizabeth your
relative is going to have a child in her old age, and she who
was said to be barren is in her sixth month. For nothing is impossible
with God."
"I
am the Lord's servant," Mary answered. "May it be to
me as you have said." Then the angel left her. (Luke 1:26-38,
NIV)
Hymn: I Am Your Servant or
Antiphonal Carol
At that time Mary got ready and hurried to a town in the hill
country of Judea, where she entered Zechariah's home and greeted
Elizabeth.
When
Elizabeth heard Mary's greeting, the baby leaped in her womb,
and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. In a loud voice
she exclaimed: "Blessed are you among women, and blessed
is the child you will bear! But why am I so favored, that the
mother of my Lord should come to me? As soon as the sound of your
greeting reached my ears, the baby in my womb leaped for joy.
Blessed is she who has believed that what the Lord has said to
her will be accomplished!"
And
Mary said: "My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior." (Luke 1:39-47, NIV)
Hymn: My Soul Exalts You, Lord
