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Then an angel of the Lord appeared to him, standing at the right side of the altar of incense.
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When Zechariah saw him, he was startled and was gripped with fear.
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But the angel said to him: “Do not be afraid, Zechariah; your prayer has been heard. Your wife Elizabeth will bear you a son, and you are to call him John.
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The angel said to him, “I am Gabriel. I stand in the presence of God, and I have been sent to speak to you and to tell you this good news.
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Meanwhile, the people were waiting for Zechariah and wondering why he stayed so long in the temple.
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“The Lord has done this for me,” she said. “In these days he has shown his favor and taken away my disgrace among the people.”
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You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.
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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,
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“I am the Lord’s servant,” Mary answered. “May your word to me be fulfilled.” Then the angel left her.
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But why am I so favored, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?
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for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
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for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
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His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.
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He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
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Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown her great mercy, and they shared her joy.
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On the eighth day they came to circumcise the child, and they were going to name him after his father Zechariah,
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Everyone who heard this wondered about it, asking, “What then is this child going to be?” For the Lord’s hand was with him.
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to show mercy to our ancestors and to remember his holy covenant,
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to rescue us from the hand of our enemies, and to enable us to serve him without fear
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in holiness and righteousness before him all our days.
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And you, my child, will be called a prophet of the Most High; for you will go on before the Lord to prepare the way for him,
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because of the tender mercy of our God, by which the rising sun will come to us from heaven
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He went there to register with Mary, who was pledged to be married to him and was expecting a child.
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and she gave birth to her firstborn, a son. She wrapped him in cloths and placed him in a manger, because there was no guest room available for them.
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Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord.
