SCRIPTURE READING
Luke 1:26-56
26In the sixth month the angel Gabriel was sent by God to a town in
Galilee called Nazareth, 27to a virgin engaged to a man whose name was
Joseph, of the house of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28And he
came to her and said, “Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.”
29But she was much perplexed by his words and pondered what sort of
greeting this might be. 30The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary,
for you have found favor with God. 31And now, you will conceive in
your womb and bear a son, and you will name him Jesus. 32He will be
great, and will be called the Son of the Most High, and the Lord God will
give to him the throne of his ancestor David. 33He will reign over the
house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom there will be no end.” 34Mary
said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” 35The angel
said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the
Most High will overshadow you; therefore the child to be born will be
holy; he will be called Son of God. 36And now, your relative Elizabeth in
her old age has also conceived a son; and this is the sixth month for her
who was said to be barren. 37For nothing will be impossible with God.”
38Then Mary said, “Here am I, the servant of the Lord; let it be with me
according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her. 39In those
days Mary set out and went with haste to a Judean town in the hill
country, 40where she entered the house of Zechariah and greeted
Elizabeth. 41When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leaped in
her womb. And Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit
42and exclaimed with a loud cry, “Blessed are you among women, and
blessed is the fruit of your womb. 43And why has this happened to me,
that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44For as soon as I heard the
sound of your greeting, the child in my womb leaped for joy. 45And
blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what was
spoken to her by the Lord.”
46And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, 47and my spirit rejoices
in God my Savior, 48for he has looked with favor on the lowliness of his
servant. Surely, from now on all generations will call me blessed; 49for
the Mighty One has done great things for me, and holy is his name. 50His
mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation. 51He has
shown strength with his arm; he has scattered the proud in the thoughts
of their hearts.
52He has brought down the powerful from their thrones, and lifted up the
lowly; 53he has filled the hungry with good things, and sent the rich away
empty. 54He has helped his servant Israel, in remembrance of his mercy,
55according to the promise he made to our ancestors, to Abraham and to
his descendants forever.” 56And Mary remained with her about three
months and then returned to her home.
Reader: Word of God. Word of life.
All: Thanks be to God.