-
The Birth of John the Baptist Foretold
In the time of Herod king of Judea there was a priest named Zechariah, who belonged to the priestly division of Abijah; his wife Elizabeth was also a descendant of Aaron.
-
Both of them were righteous in the sight of God, observing all the Lord’s commands and decrees blamelessly.
-
But they were childless because Elizabeth was not able to conceive, and they were both very old.
-
Once when Zechariah’s division was on duty and he was serving as priest before God,
-
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.
-
for he will be great in the sight of the Lord. He is never to take wine or other fermented drink, and he will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
-
He will bring back many of the people of Israel to the Lord their God.
-
Zechariah asked the angel, “How can I be sure of this? I am an old man and my wife is well along in years.”
-
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.
-
And now you will be silent and not able to speak until the day this happens, because you did not believe my words, which will come true at their appointed time.”
-
When he came out, he could not speak to them. They realized he had seen a vision in the temple, for he kept making signs to them but remained unable to speak.
-
The Birth of Jesus Foretold
In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee,
-
The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
-
But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God.
-
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,
-
The angel answered, “The Holy Spirit will come on 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 unable to conceive is in her sixth month.
-
For no word from God will ever fail.”
-
In a loud voice she exclaimed: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!
-
Blessed is she who has believed that the Lord would fulfill his promises to her!”
-
and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior,
-
for he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed,
-
for the Mighty One has done great things for me— holy is his name.
-
He has helped his servant Israel, remembering to be merciful
-
but his mother spoke up and said, “No! He is to be called John.”
