Revised Common Lectionary (Semicontinuous)

The annunciation of the birth of Jesus

²⁶ In the sixth month, Gabriel (the angel) was sent from God to a town in Galilee called Nazareth, ²⁷ to a virgin engaged to a man called Joseph, from the family of David. The virgin was called Mary.

²⁸ “Greetings, favored one!” said the angel when he arrived. “May the Lord be with you!”

²⁹ She was disturbed at this, and wondered what such a greeting might mean.

³⁰ “Don’t be afraid, Mary,” said the angel to her. “You’re in favor with God. ³¹ Listen: you will conceive in your womb and will have a son; and you shall call his name Jesus. ³² He will be a great man, and he’ll be called the son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of David his father, ³³ and he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever. His kingdom will never come to an end.”

³⁴ “How will this happen?” said Mary to the angel. “I’m still a virgin!”

³⁵ “The holy spirit will come upon you,” replied the angel, “and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. For that reason the holy one who is born from you will be called God’s Son.

³⁶ “Let me tell you this, too: your cousin Elizabeth, in her old age, has also conceived a son. This is the sixth month for her, a woman who people used to say was barren. ³⁷ With God, you see, nothing is impossible.”

³⁸ “Here I am,” said Mary; “I’m the Lord’s servant-girl. Let it happen to me as you’ve said.”

Then the angel left her.